New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-12
Russia to Have
Free Hand in
Dividing Food
Brown. in Conference With
Litvinoff. Arranges for
Distribution of Supplies
to Starving Children
1000 Tons in Ports
Soyieis Deny Americans
Are Being Detained and
Offer Full Cooperation

DOWNRIGHT. 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
RIGA, Aug. 1.-THE actual distribu-
ton Of supplies of the American re
lief administration TO famine stricken
Russian children will be left in the
hands o. local committees, il was indi-
Gated to-day by Waiter Lyman Brown,
European director. who is here nego-
siating with Maxim Litvinof The gem
eral distribution viii be supervised by
members Of the American personnel at
a few central points. The plan of the
relief Administration, Mr.. Brown said.
was TO deliver the food at Riga, Petro-
grad and possibly Black Sea ports,
leaving the rest in the hands of the
Soviets, after making sure that the
supplies reached the proper destina-
.ions.
5000 Tons on HAND
About s00o tons of food are stored
at Hamburg and Danzig, Mr.. Brown
said, which he hopes to move within
two weeks, provided negotiations with
Litvinoff are satisfactory. They will
hold another conference tomorrow.
No Americans have been or are being
detained in Russia VINO have not ac-
tually been Imprisoned for various Of
lenses, and all those still in Russia
are at liberty to leave by applying to
the Soviet authorities for passports.
Litvinof told American correspondents
to-day. This was fatty contradicted
however. by Charles r. Crane, former
American Minister to China, who has
arrived here after trip across Siberia
and Russla. and said many rot actually
imprisoned had been prevented from
leaving.
Litvinoff also emphasized strongly in
his interview with correspondents
that the Soviet government does not
intend to surrender any Of its rights
or prerogatives IN admitting relief
workers from America or any other
country. This is interpreted as mean
ing that the Soviet government would
not accede to any demand, should such
be made by the American relief adj
ministrarlon, for the turning over to
this organization OF any part of the
Russian railway system or of admins
trative authority. So far as is known
here the relief adm inistration has no
intention OF making any such demands,
but, on the contrary, intends to give
the Soviet authorities as free a hand
as possible.
Must Be Non-Political
In general, while dwelling at great
length on the point that relief work
must be absolutely non-political, both
from the side of the relief workers and
that Of the Soviet government, LitvinoF
appeared 10 be at considerable pains to
emphasize that "the government, cor
trary 10 declarations in the foreign
press, will be greatly strengthened
rather than weakened by the famine"
National calamities.' he said, like
war and famine, usually unite the
bonds between a government and its
people"
The food which will be distributed in
Russia will consist Of regular chill
dren's rations, such as were distributed
BY the American relief administration
IN other countries, Mr. Brown said.
He limited that If necessary the admin
istration may supply light cars to carry
the food into the interior. The relief
later may be amplifed TO include cloth
ing and indictments, he said