The New York herald., 1921-08-21
sign RUSSIAN PACT
FOR FAMINE RELIEF
Walter Lyman Brown and
Maxim Litvinoff Complete
the Agreement.
BLESSING In DISGUISE
Soviet Officials Declare Suf-
fering Unites Russians
of All Classes.
PROVIDES FOR NEXT YEAR
First Grain Taxes to Go for
Seeding Saratoff and
Samara.
PROVIDES FOR NEXT YEAR

RIGA, Aug. 20.-The formal agree
ment between the United States and
Russia providing for American relief
for the famine stricken districts of
Russia was signed this morning by
Walter Lyman Brown and Maxim
Litvinoff.
Hope that the signing of the agree
ment would lead to further relations
between Russia and America was ex-
pressed in speeches made by NJ Lit
vinoff and NJ Meirovitz. the Letvian
Premier Mr. Brown confined his re-
marks TO formal words of thanks and
the expression of the hope that the
agreement would result in the saving
of lives.
Despite all the suffering involved,
Soviet officials are quoted as describing
the famine sas blessing in Disguise
for the solution of Russias problems.
Not only is it bringing Russians of all
classes into action against the COM
mon foe but according to Russian oflI-
cials it is bringing foreign organiza-
tons into close touch with the Boil
shevist Government.
NJ. Kalinin, president of the All Rus
sian Central Executive Committee, who
| is popularity known as "the peasant
President Of Russia" has taken the
attitude that good will come of the
disaster.
Welding the Soul of Russia.
NJ. Kalinin, who also is head of the
Central Commission for Famine Re-
lief, is making a trip through the
famine regions. While en- route to
Samara, in the famine area. he told a
crowd Of the hungry population at n
station that the first pools of grain
collected for the natural tax would go
for seeding the fields of the Saratoff
and Samara Governments. He de-
clared THE great calamity is welding
together the whole soul of Russia"
Independent advices from Moscow as
sert that no sign of starvation can be
seen there. although prices of foodstuffs
are high. All necessary food. even
white bread. can be secured at the
markets. In Samara. the heart of the
famine region. bread is extremely scarce
and costs six times as much as an
equal weight of meat. The peasants
have been accustomed to a diet con-
sisting largely of heavy black bread.
The food shortage is declared not to
be extremely acute in towns, provided
purchasers are able TO pay the prices
asked. In villages where transport Is
lacking and food has to be supplied
from local sources, the reports say there
Is great suffering. scores dying daily In
the regions most affected
Moscow newspapers and other advices
received In Riga say the Russian people
are coming forward on all sides with
such contributions as they can make to-
ward famine relief. These donations of
food from meagrr rations or of piles Of
almost worthless Soviet ruble notes are
described as pitlfu in comparison with
the needs of the starving in the Volga
region.
Fridtjof Nansen believes that the first
activities OF the various European or
ganizations interested in Russian relief
should be the supplying of seed grain
to prevent famine next year.
DR.. Nansen and Herbert Hoover re-
Gently were named high commissioners
ments with the Russian authorities for
the control of relief work decided upon
at the Geneva conference of the various
associations which desire to aid Russia s
famine sufferers
DR.. Nansen said that while European
relief orkers must cooperate with the
Americans, they must particularly avoid
blocking transport He declared he had
experience with Bolshevist methods In
connection with prisoner repatriation
work. and found them efficient. He
would have no hesitation in placing
actual distribution in their hands II II
were properly supervised.
In the organization OF the American
relief, Philip Carroll Of Portland, Ore.
will at least temporarily head the actua
| work of eding the starving. Director
| Brown announced to-day that Mr.. Car
roll would lead the first party OF relief
| workers, which probably will leave here
! for Moscow on Thursday next Mr..
Carroll made an excellent record by his
work in Germany. South Russia and
Serbia.
The other members of the first party will
include John p. Gregg of Portland, who
has had experience with the Relief Ad.
ministration in Poland and Lithuania : Z
G.. Neurland of California. who comes
from post in Austria; Carlton G. Bowen
Rhodes scholar who was with the f1rsi
American relief workers In Belgium and
who latterly has been in Hungary, and
VIII @. Shaffrons OF Denver. who has
worked for the relief administration ir
Poland and Czecho-Slovakia.
Capt. Miller at Base.
Mr. Rrnvn Will rattirn fn I.ondon ,yfth