The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-04


adopted for the establishment of a
national committee to be known as
the Committee of Smyrna Relief and
| to consist of one well-known -Ameri-
can citizen, prominent in public life
and in whom the public had conf
dence. from each state in the Union,
| together with representatives from the
different religious, welfare and phil
anthropic organizations who were CO.
operating. The purpose of the selec-
ton of the national committee being
| to Immediately engage in an emer-
gency campaign to provide foodstuffs
and clothes for the hundreds of thou
sands of refugees who have been
evacuated from Asia Minor and now
| located on the different Greek islands
| in and about the Aegean sea.
The United States Citizens National
committee also appointed a special
committee to confer with the national
officers of Near East Relief request
| ing that organization to place both
their United States and overseas per-
sonnet at the service of the national
committee for the purpose of provfd-
| ing the machinery thru which the
National Citizens committee could act
| in the collection and distribution of
the relief which America will provide.
The Kansas state director of Near
East Relief said today that while he
had not yet received notice of the ap-
pointment of the committeeman to
represent this area on the national
committee, he had been advised with
in the past few hours that the ma
| tional executive committee of Near
| East Relief had responded to the re-
quest of the other philanthropie So
cieties and authorized the use of their
| organization turnout the United States
in the collection of funds to meet the
Smyrna relief disaster, and at the
same time had arranged for Near East
Relief personnel overseas, who were
already serving as the central agency
for the distribution of American relief
to continue in that capacity for such
time as the United States Citizens
committee desired to use them.
The New York office of the Near
East Relief also advised at the same
| time that they had already withdrawn
| 100000 worth of foodstuffs from
| their Constantinople warehouses and
purchased on the Mediterranean. from
ships en- route to Smyrna and other
| seaports, "a large amount of food which
| they were distributing among the diff
| ferent islands, and would spare no ef-
| fort to relieve the situation all pos
task which had been assigned to them
at times almost overwhelmed them.
Special Smyrna Fund.
Following receipt of this cable, Of
| ficials of the Near East Relief an
nounced the opening of q, special
|
| the situation, with national emer-
gency appropriation of $4,000. the
same being equal to the combined con-
| tributions received from other sources
at that time.
At the office of the organization 1t
was said that this action was taken
| largely at the instance of the United
| States department of state.
| William A. Biby, state director of
| Near East Relief for Kansas, who only
| recently returned from the scene or
| the SMYRNA disaster, says that he is
most anxious to Immediately start a
| movement in Kansas to assist in the
relief of these Christian refugees. But
| that while his organization is Coop
| Grating in full measure with the Ma
| tional Citizens committee who has the
matter in charge, he hesitates to take
! the initiative until they have desig-
mated their choice as the representa-
| tive on the committee from this area.
He has asked that if&there are
| those who desire to contribute to this
relief in advance of the movement
which will, no doubt, be started as
soon as the national committee have
made their selection for this state,
that the Kansas State Near East Re
lief office will be glad to handle the
| matter for those interested, asking
only that when they send in their
| check that they designate it as for
Smyrna refugee relief" in order
that such contributions may not be
confused with the regular Near East
| Relief income
| He also states that he is ready to
place his state organization behind
any effort which is made by other
organizations turnout the state to as
| sist in this work. particularly the
| communities which desire to make a
shipment of foodstuff.. flour or corn
| grits. and would be glad and would
appreciate it if those who are inter-
ested in the situation would esta blish
| communication with his office, 700
| Kansas avenue, at the earliest mo-
ment to the end that when the ma
tional committeeman has been Sc
| lected. which no doubt will be with
in the next few hours. that the in
terested elements may be in a posi-
ton to Immediately cooperate with
i z frit tnc n