New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-02-21
ACCUSES RUSSIA OF
selling FO0DSTUff
While Begging for Relief, They
Are Exporting Grain


foodsiuifs are being exported fFem
Russia By the Soviet government,
while appeals for s,aee.aee starving
Russians are heing sent cut and an
swered all aser the woFld, according
10 James n, Walsh, of 81 East Sixty
nth street. who has Just returned
from Russia where he served with
the American Relief administration.
Mr.. Walsh left Moscow on Jan, ~,
and sailed from Helsingfers, Finland,
u was told al RnHkie. Finnish
border tewn.s said Me-, Walsh. that
b carloads OF grain ISLE tonsl were
expected the next day. and that dur
ing the month preceding my arrival
a total of eos carloads ts,ots tonsl
had passed over the Russian border.
But the most startling figures given
me were those dealing with future
deliveries OF grain from a country
which then was passing through FAM
inc. II was said that the soyiets
we're starting 10 ship from Petrograd
alone more than 1000 tona of grain
and that for spring and summer de-
livery they would have available 3s.-
600 tons
The only raw material accepted by
the Soviet government IN exchange for
grain. Mr.. Walsh said. was print ps-
per. and that II they were unable 20
exchange grain for print paper the
soviets demanded payment either In
Finnish marks or American dollars.
Mr. Walsh declared that the export
figures obtained by him tailed with
those furnished TO Charles @. Kagey.
United States minister 10 Finland. Mr..
Walsh served In Ribinsk. Elizabeth
grad and Saratov for the American
Relief administration. lie pegan his
relief work In Russia last April.
Shipments From Odessa
From Odessa the Soviet government
has exported more than $4,000 tons OF
grains OF different kinds, according to
Information gathered by investiga-
tors Reports from Petrograd indi-,
cate that Mr.. Walsh's figures on food
exports were probably TOO conserva-
tive. These shipments included rye
and other grains taken out of the
Volga region itself. w'/rc starvation
has made Its greatest ravages. The
exports from Petrograd. 1t is said,
went to Finland and to the Scandina-
Wan countries. The bulk Of the food
exports from Odessa Is said to have
gone into Germany.
From Novorossisk, an important port |
on the northeast side OF the Black
Sea. the Russian government is said
to have shipped $4,000 tons of rye,
barley and wheat. Investigators
have obtained copies of statement
by Klishko. representative of the ALI
Russian Cooperative Organizations
who said that the Soviet was not CO.
ing to ship much grain out of the
and that the total probably
would not exceed 100000 tons. The
Russian export budget of the Board
of Trade includes 100000 bushels OF /
wheat, rye and barley.
100000 Children to be Fed.
While the Soviet government is ex-
porting foodstuffs theAmerican Relief
Administration is feeding 1900, 900
children daily, and its program cavs
for the feeding of 100000 when the
peak of relief requirements is reach
ed in Maya Ten days ago the corr
mission on Russian Relief. in report
10 its parent, organization, the Ma
tional Information Bureau, Inc, esti-
mated at 100000 the number of
people who would have to be fed in
Russia this year. According to the
commission, Kameney said:
OF course, owing to the extensive
territory of the Russian Republic,
there may be single instances of ex-
portation Of cereals, but / can assure
you that this is question of such
Quantities and at all
events Of such cereals as, through
transport or other reasons, cannot be
utilized in the districts in need of
bread"
For the work of the American re-
ief Administration Congress made an
of $20,000,0 900. For
supplies the American Red
Cross gave $3,50o.oOO which congress
with $3,7S9,O76 worth
If surplus army medical supplies. Up ,
% Dec. IA, 1922, the American Re-
lief Administration had shipped into
Russia more than $4,000 tons of
oodstuffs, seeds, medical supplies and
clothing. When 1t discontinued its
eeding of the adult population KAN
nev begged that relief be continued
aving 100000 starving children.