The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-05-16

versed the entire continent of Europe.
The span of these operations now COW
ers eight years, and during that period
America has contributed by charity
or credit, with certain small cash sales,
between $4,000,000,000 and $5,000000,-
900 worth in foodstuffs to keep Eu-
rope from starving.
| American food relief operations be-
gan in Belgium in 1914, Immediately
after the outbreak of the war. Begun
as a charitable and administrative I'M
dertaking while America was neutral,
| American participation broadened al
ter the United States entered the war
and took upon itself an official charac-
ter. Thereafter, and until the signing
of the peace, food relief for the allies
| in Europe provided one of the main
avenues of American helpfulneSs in the
war. After the war ended American re-
lief again became a private undertake
ing and has been so supported by in
dividual charity, supplemented by GER
tain governmental grants, to this day.
Allied Support Dwindled.
From the beginning of the war and
until the signing of the peace all re-
| lief operations were carried on in con-
ference with the chief allied nations,
from whose treasures certain amount
of support was drawn. This support
from allied sources became preponder-
ant in the work for Belgium before
Americas entrance into the war; but
gradually decreased with the exhaus-
ton of allied resources and the taking
over of an even larger share of the
financial burdens of the war by the
United States.
After 1917 a large share of the allied
food resources were supplied on cred
/ it by the United States. European CO.
operation continued as a formal thing
after the signing of the 'armistice, but
contributions by European nations
were Of necessity small. Since the
signing of peace all American food re-
lief has been independently admins
tered.
Relief for Friend and Foe.
During the eight years in which
American agencies have been concern
ed in the feeding of Europe relief OPP
erations have been extended to Bel
gium 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 re-
lief in the following countries:
Poland, Latvia, Lithunia, Esthonia,
northwest Russia, Finland, Holland,
Denmark, Germany, Czecho- S1ovakia,
Greater Serbia, German Austria, Ar
menia, south Russia, Rumania, Italy,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Belgium
and northern France.
Governmental subsidy to Belgium
falls into two periods. In the first pc
Rod, extending to the spring of 1917,
support of Belgian relief came from
subsidies extended by the treasures of
Great Britain and France. Together
these amounted to something less than
5000, 100000. During the second period
which began with Americas entrance
into the war, support of Belgian relief
came almost entirely from the United
States treasury, which extended to-
tai of $259632, 260.44 in credits to Bel
GUM.
While the commission for relief in
Belgium was extending relief to that
nation it was at the same time ex-
tending relief to the occupied regions
of northern France Total private
charity extended by the United States
for the feeding of northern France
amounted to $5,000000 In addition to
this there was expended by the United
States treasury to France for the sup
port of her occupied areas, between
June, 1917, and March, 1919, total
credits of $l27, 100000.
Credits to New Nations.
With the signing of the armistice
new countries which had been llberat-
ed from the enemy became dependent
upon the United States for food. Amer
ica's chief contribution OF credits to
the newer nations of Europe was de-
rived from the $100,000,000 appropria-
ton for European relief voted by con-
gress early in 1919. In each case prom
issory notes we're taken from the ma
ton accepting the supplies.
The expenditures under this grant
were roughly as follows: Poland, $50
100000; Czecho- Slovakia, Sc 100000;
Armenia, $10,000,000 Esthona 81
500, 600; Litvia, $2,900,000; Lithunia,
100000; Finland, $3,900,00O; North
Russia, $4,600000; total, $88,000C00
/ he relief OF former eHelIly tS.iItO-
ries provided special problems The
relief of Austria was accomplished by
means of credit of $48,000000 ex-
tended by the United States to Eng
land, Italy and France to cover credits
to Austria from these countries the
proceeds to be spent in purchase OF
relief supplies in America. The relief
of Bulgaria and Germany was done
on gold provided by these govern
mentS.
Total Relief Figures.
The total relief supplies delivered by
the United States between Dec. l,
1918, and Aug. 81, 1919, amounted to
an approximate value of $720, $50. $50;
OF this total S198, $4,000 or 20 per
cent. was delivered for cash; $780,
$50, 1928, or 695 per cent, was tnanc-
ed on credit, and S20,S25,374, or 20
per cent, was given as charity:
Much of the relief work in Europe
has been for undernourished children,
and in this work a number of individ-
uals and organizations have co-operat-
ed. At the end of the first year after
81