The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-20
Hoover Does Not Wait for
Official Notification.
Work of Getting Food Started
Commenced at Once.
SOVIET CLAIMS PEACE TOO
BoIsheyiki Make HOOver's Men
Immune From Arrest.
Pact Calls for Feeding Million
Children in YOIga.

Riga, Aug. 2O.-The agreement for
American relief in Russia was signed
at 11:15 O'Clock this morning.
The document, which stipulated in
detail how the gigantic work of has
tening food and sanitary relief to the
millions of starving Russians in the
Volga district, was signed by Walter
Lyman Brown as representative of the
American relief administration ana
Maxim Litvinoff for the Russian So
Wet government.
Ceremony Was Impressive.
The signing ceremony was. impress
sive. It took place on the top floor
of the foreign office in room filled
with newspaper correspondents from
many countries, to the accompaniment
of the clicking of three moving pic
ture machines and the swapping of
several "still" cameras.
Commissioner Brown read the text
of the agreement to the assemblage,
which listened with intense attention
Three copies were signed and then
sealed with red wax. NJ. Litvinoff. in
n brief speech, thanked the govern
ment of Latv1a. of which Riga is the
capital. for its aid in bringing Amer
lea and Russia together.
Transportation To Be Free.
All American famine relief ship
ments will be transported free to
points selected by the Americans, who
will have absolute control of distribu-
ton. II is the plan to restrict relief
measures to those persons who are in
actual distress.
The Russian famine committee will
cooperate with the American relief
administration and the Americans
viii not operate in districts where the
1sus slams are able to provide ration5.
Race. creed and political status VIII
be forgotten Observers here have
declared the agreement confers upon
the American relief administration
facilities never before granted any
foreign organization by the Russian
government.
Philip Carroll of Portland. Ore,
will be at least temporarily head of
the work of feeding the starving peo-
pc of Russia The first parry of
workers probably will leave here fer
Moscow on Thursday next.
The other members of the first
party viii include John p. Gregg of
Portland, r. c.. Neurland of Califor-
ma, Carlton c.. Bowen, a Rhodes
scholar, and VIII G.. Shaffrons of Den
yer. Mr. Brown will return to London
with his secretary.
Same as Peace Pact.
Litvinoff declared the result of this
agreement was virtually the same as
signing peace between the United
States and Russia.
He paid eloquent tribute to the hu-
manitarian motives actuating the
United States in undertaking the great
relief work and told how it would re-
suit in mitigating the sufferings of
numberless men, women and children.
He complimented Commissioner
Brown on his fair minded attitude
ftla
limfnary negotiations.
Commissioner Brown replied:
"On behalf of Mr.. Hoover, thank
Latvia. My friend, NJ. Lftvinoff,
shared our spirit. the keynote of
which was to save the children first
I earnestly hope that the work will
prove of great benefit"
Premier Meirowitz of Latvfa, speak
ing for his government. promised that
1t would do all in its power to help
the American relief workers and pro-
vlding it with facilities.
Hundred L. S. Relief Workers.
The earlier agreement, Litvinoff said,
was hindered by Mr.. Brown Gamer
lean relief administrator who did
not have fun powers, but had to refer
everything to Mr. Hoover"
The full ration for the Russian chill
dren is LOO calories; the Americans
plan to give a supplementary of $40
calOries for each child in the form of
rice. flour, milk, cocoa and sugar.
The agreement specifies that ap-
proximately 100000 sick children in
the Volga district will be fed.
The number of American relief
workers will not exceed 100. The So
viets are reserving the right to veto
the appointment of non-American re-
lief workers.
The principal difficulty was that
the Americans wished to retain entire
freedom of action, which would mean
the absence of cooperation with us,
but the compromise which we have
now reached. bridges over this. The
Americans wished to have free hand
In choosing the districts for relief,
whereas, We desired the specification
Of the Volga district.
Another difficulty was that our
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