The New York herald., 1922-04-30


tain amount of support was drawn.
This support from alliedS sources be-
ing preponderant in the work for Bel.
gium before Americas entrance into
the war. gradually decreased with
the exhaustion of allied resources and
the taking over of an ever larger
share OF the financial burdens OF the
war by the United States. After 1917
a large share Of allied food resources
were supplied on credit by the United
States European cooperation con-
tinued as formal thing after the
signing OF the armistice, but contribu-
tions by European nations were OF
necessity small. Since the signing of
Speace all American food relief has
been independently administered.
Relic Carried to Friend and Foe
And to Europe's New States
During the eight years in which
American agencies have been con-
cerned in the. feeding of Europe relief
operations have~ extended into all
countries. with the exception of Nor
way and Sweden on the north, Spain.
and Portugal on the south. Switzerland
and Greece. American relief has been
extended to Belgium as an innocent
victim of the war, to the Allies as
colleagues in the war and to friend
and foe alike. as well as to the new
states OF Europe after the close OF
hostilities.
In the last eight years America has
participated in relief in the following
countries:
Poland, Latvia. Lithuania, Esthonia,
Northwest Russia, Finland. Holland,
Denmark. Germany, Czecho- -Slovakia,
Greater Serbia. German Austria. Ar
menia. South Russia. Rumania. Italy.
Hungary, Bulgaria. Turkey, Belgium
and Northern France.
While this work has been carried
on under organizations with different
names, all of them have had con-
tinuing identity in that they have been
under the direction OF one man
Herbert Hooyer-who first invented
international food relief on modern
lines and then administered it with
unbroken efficiency for upward OF
decade. The world has never seen
anything remotely resembling this
record for the consistent development
Of a program and its consistent ap-
plication to wide field Of activity
and need. f. 1859 so
In order that we may understand
what has been accomplished during
these three periods we must inquire
into the peculiar problems OF the vary
ing situations Of the periods. The re-
lief OF Belgium presented itself first
az an humanitarian undertaking in
behalf Of an innocent victim OF the
war. 1t soon became manifest that 1t
could neither be carried in this way,
nor that this repreEented the facts OF
the case. Belgium was in fact a LA,
bility on the Allies. Either they had
to support her or the fortunes and
policies of war would draw her as
yassal into the camp OF Germany. The
idea with which relief started there.
fore--that Belgium could be largely
supported by American charIty--was
by necessity as well an by policy
dropped in favor Of the principle Of
sillad support OF Belgium. America
continued TO supply the direction.
which would Of course have been i'm
possible except under neutral conduct.
Sand also supplied during the period OF
Nar neutrality certain contributions OF
money and foodstuffs. These contrbu-
tons now appear small beside the
larger contributions made later for
Tho relief OF Europe by American
agencies.
For purposes OF the digest it may be
uDcful TO distinguish between char
liable contributions made by America
to- the feeding of Belgium throughout
the period of our interest and those
Government grants from which came
the mass OF the support.
Herbert Hoover Invented"
Relief on Modern Lines
Americas charitable contributions
hogan In 1914 and continued to 1920.
yrhror xkrrn hath IN cach and in lind