Evening star., 1940-03-10

Ouakers really after? Did they not
plan to spy on Germany and then con
coct tales of atrocities to tell the
world? Utter benevolencc was too in
credible.
The Quakers presented a statement,
a remarkable document. In part 1t
read:
I'VE represent no governments, no
international organizations, no par
ties, no sects. and we have no interest
in propaganda in any form. . We
came to Germany at the close OF the
World War, directed the feeding of
German children. . We were the first
to arrive in Vienna after the war,
where we brought in 800 cows and sup
Piled the children in the hospitals with
milk. and brought in coal for the hos
pltal fires After the different revolu-
tons in Austria we gave relief to the
families of those who suffered most -
always having permission from the
existing government to do so. .
I'VE have not aimed to make any
converts to our own views. E. We do
not ask who is to blame for the trouble
which may exist, or what has produced
the sad situation.
I'VE have come now IN the same
spirit. .. We do not come to judge or
to criticize. or to push ourselves IN,
but to inquire IN the most friendly
manner whether there is anything we
can do to promote life and human
welfare and to relieve suffering
At long last, the Nazls were per
suadcd The Ouakers were to be al
lowed to send IN commissioners. An
order telcgraphed to every police sta
tron in Germany would give them
permission to 60 anywhere, talk with
anyone of any race or religion, dis
tribute relief without discrimination
when we left the room, says
Rufus Jones, they helped us on with
our overcoats." Mlschievously, he
adds, That's more than anyone in
Washington ever did for US
Thereafter, five to eight commits
sioners were in Germany for the
Ouakers until the outbreak of war;
some of them still are there. Besides
supervising the actual distribution of
supplies, they have guided would-be
refugees through the mazes of red tape
that tangle all roads to the frontiers,
and have offered friendly counsel to
harassed and perplexed victims -
Jewish Catholic and Protestant -
who suffer from isolation and ostraclsm
more keenly, sometimes, than from
physical prlvatlon This is the type of
work they are now waiting to start IN
Poland, and. in addition, they hope to
administer direct relief on a big scale.
Most Quaker work is less romantic.
1t is such routine as operating the Cen
ter in Amsterdam, where day after
day refugees come with their depress-
ing stories Or looking after the health
of children in the dead coal-mining
towns of West Virginia. They operate
an agricultural school for refugees in
Cuba and hostel for refugees in rural
Iowa.
The American Friends Service Com
mlttee originated during the last war.
The Quakers were eager for channel
through which to demonstrate that,
while they would not accept military
service, in wartime they were ready to
accept danger and hardship. Rufus
Jones organized the American Friends
Service Committee in 1917 and fought
long, discouraglng, but eventually
successful battle in Washington to
have service with the Friends units
overseas accepted as an alternative to
service under arms. 1t was not soft
way out. Many of the villages they
rebuilt were destroyed again when a
new wave of German advance rolled
in, and the volunteers we're often
enough under fire as they helped evaC-