Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-21
Dr.. Walsh Organizing
Local Committee on
Finnish Relief
Acts on Request Of
Hoover to Supplement
Red Cross Work

At the request of former President
Herbert Hoover, who is mobilizing
the Finnish Relief Fund, Inc, on
q Nationwide basis. DR.. Edmund
A. Walsh, vice president of George
town University, has begun organ
izing a local volunteer committee
to take charge Of the Washington
campaign for the rehabilitation Of
war stricken civilians in Finland.
AS former member of the Amer
lean Relief Mission to Russia dur
ing the great famine of 1922. DR..
Walsh was invited to New York
recently to consult with Mr.. Hoover,
who is bringing into the new organ
ization former colleagues who dis
pensed American relief in Belgium
and Russia during and after the
World War. DR.. Walsh returned
here yesterday, after accepting
service to head the Washington
activities in the campaign.
Bishop Freeman to Serve.
He announced that the Right Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop of WASH
ington, has consented to serve on
the local committee. Robert V.
Fleming, president of Riggs National
Bank and former president of the
American Bankers Association, is
serving as treasurer. Other men,
bers of the committee will be an
nounced soon, DR.. Walsh said, and
In the meantime arrangements are
being made to secure the offer of
an Office headquarters in a down.
town building.
by the volunteer service of all
who are to serve on the committee"
DR.. Walsh explained, lone dollar of
every dollar that is contributed will
60 forward to the embattled civilian
population of Finland" DR.. Walsh
stressed that Finnish Relief Fund
is intended solely to supplement the
humanitarian work and relief being
done in that country through the
American Red Cross.
100000 Already Cabled.
In announcing the beginning of
organization here. DR.. Walsh made
the following statement: The old
members of the first great relief
movement in support of Belgium
and of the civilian population of
famine-stricken Russia are respond
ing these days with their tradi-
tional generosity to meet a new
emergency. Already 100000 has
been cabled to the Prime Minister
of Finland and additional sums will
60 forward probably in increasing
volume as this movement becomes
Nationwide.
1T is indeed gratifying to see
the old faces again and realize
that among them are Democrats
Republicans and residents of the
District of Columbia.
This is an historic moment for
the destiny of Europe and the
urgent need and cruel suffering of
innocent civilians in Finland are
bringing together men Of all
shades of political and other be-
liefs. AS the American Red Cross
is primarily organized to furnish
quick emergency relief in the form
OF medicine, bandages, hospital
supplies and limited category of
general relief, the Finnish Relief
Fund, so quickly modified by the
eX-President, will undertake to
supply the other basic needs of
civilians suffering from the inva-
sion and forced to depart from
the war zone.
Critical Moment of History.
"As in Belgium during the first
World War, these supplies will
serve work of subsistence and re-
Mobilization which the Red Cross
by its very nature cannot under
take. Thus it is hoped that one
will supplement the other in one
of the most critical moments of
European and possibly of world
history"
The Georgetown priest went to
Russia in 1922 soon after he had
founded the Foreign Service School
at Georgetown. He was appointed
as Catholic representative on the
American Relief Mission which fed
several million Russian civilians for
long period. While serving there
he was made director of the Papal
Relief Mission. From 1926 to 1881
DR.. Walsh also directed the Catho-
lie Near East Relief Association.