Washington Journal., 1922-12-08
Reprint from sunday star Dec. ad 1922 @rt IL
for Justice and Aid
for Starving in Germany.
GEORGE M. KOBER, NJ. D.. Ii, D.,
Dean OF the Georgetown University school of Medicine. washington. d G.

would not interfere with the ability OF
Germany to repaythe emergency loan.
Rank and File Suffer.
The charge made of ~"scandalous
prosperity and extravaganza" may APP
ply to INSCRIPTIONS war prohteers,
but is wholly unfounded as against
the rank and file Of the German peo-
pie. The people were in a state OF
semi-starvation at the close of the
war, the deaths from consumption
had doubled and their lot would have
been most pitiful if it had not been
for the splendid aid rendered by
Hoover, the Quakers and the central
committee for relief of distress in
Germany and German Austria, OF
which the. Hon. Charles Nagel is
president. This committee is now
feeding 100000 children and only re-
Gently borrowed 100000 for imme-
date emergency use. The people Of
neutral countries in Europe and even
in. England have been most generous
in relieving distress, and much per-
sonal relief has been extended by
citizens Of this country. But much
more needs to be done to avert the
impending catastrophe.
The writer knows that the eight
families he has helped to support since
the armistice are all Woodworking,
God-fearing people, who do not mis-
represent actual conditions and need
not fear starvation for themselves,
But they, like DR.. Copeland, the health
officer and senator-elect from New
York, have witnessed the emaciated
forms Of children and the silent agony
OF starving men and women of the
middle and intellectual classes. |
know that the poorly salaried scientific
staff OF the Smithsonian Institution
has responded to the appeal for food
to appease the hunger of scientific
eo-workers abroad. Hunger riots
have already been reported and If not
appeascd may lead to civil war, ar
archy and starvation.
Making Earnest Effort.
AS the son IF an ardent advocate
of a German republic in 1s4s, who
had vowed that none Of his sons
should serve under a German prince
and ~potentate, | firmly believe that
The great majority Of the German peo-
pie are making an earnest and sim
cere effort to maintain such a form
of government, and that nothing
short of hunger and starvation will
drive them into anarchy and confu-
sion. | base this conclusion upon a
! study Of the motives which prompted
the German element to migrate to our
hospitable shores and the role which
they have played in the development
and in the defense Of their adopted
country.
1t would be a grave injustice
fraught with terrible menace, il
French anti-G German agitation should
at this time deter humanitarian Amer
leans from affording succor to those
who need it so desperately in centra
Europe. These Americans of the Dis.
trict who respond to the appeal for
food and clothing for the starving
Germans and German Austrians are
sending their money contributions tc
Mrs. M. d. Koenig, financial secre.
tary, District of Columbia relief com
mittee. 400 Seward square southeast
old clothing to the Concord Club, 314
C street northwest, or both to the
Central Relief Committee, Incorporat,
ed, 247 East 41st street, New York
city. All money contributed will, il
is promised, be converted into -four
fats and milk powder and forwarded
to the German Red Cross.
GEORGE M. KOBER.