The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-03

lief of their war victims. :,
 Because of the neutrality law, 1t
 is now possible to check up on those
 contributions to see where this money came from and where 1t has gone. Every organization soliciting funds for foreign relief is required
 to register with the Department Of State. All must file monthly reports
 on their collections, disbursements and expenses.
 The registration has done some good, too. In 0 few instances 1t has been found that the costs of collec-
 ton run well over half the amount
 collected and all such cases can be
 spotted as charity rackets and pup
 lie opinioned out of existence.
 ANTI-sUCKER
 MACHINERY
 Protection of the public is the main purpose of this registration, intended to avoid the phony war charities which mulcted big-hearted Americans out of so many millions In the last war. One famous incl dent of that was the new celebrated case of a good priest in New Haven, Conn, who, asked for contribution to aid the starving Armenians, seri- ously reached in his pocket and pro- duced a cent. What2 Was that ell the father would give9 That's all the Armenians would get anyway, even If I'd give you more," he an. swered, and the matter was dropped.
 Nearly 500 charities for foreign relief are now registered with the Department of State. This does not include the American Red Cross which has always been required to submit Its disbursements to the sec retary of war. The list does include all sorts of organizations from Bun dleS for Britain to the Caledonian Club of Boise, Ida, the Silver Thimble of New Orleans, La, and the Pelham, N. r., Overseas Knit ting Circle
 Polish charities, numbering more than 100, form the largest group as Poland was the first country in- vaded. Most Polish relief funds are collected in Polish communities but the amounts they have collected total over $4 million. British and French funds number more than 100. Greek collections have inc creased in the last few months. There are dozen or so societies collecting money for relief of Ger man prisoners captured by the al- lies. Top collections have been these:
 American Jewish Joint Distribu- ton Committee, $3,240,000.
 British American Am bulance Corps, $i,047,0o0.
 British War Relief Society, Inc, $5 ,843 900.
 Bundles for Britain, $l,o57,0o0.
 Greek War Relief Association, g ,825 900.
 Hadassah, Inc, $l,2o5 900. q
 Of the total of $30 million col- lected by these war relief charities, the costs of collection have aver aged about 10 per cent. Many of the organizations report no costs ct all, paying for their drives and campaigns out of their own pockets. Those are the ones that stand out as the most sincere in their efforts to help.
 On top of cash contributions, there have been collections of colthes, blankets and medical sup. plies totaling nearly $6 million. British War Relief and Bundles for Britain head this list with SIS million worth of goods, from am- balances and rolling kitchens to baby blankets and handages, sent to Britain.
 TEN MILLION ..". -. FROM TAXES
 Red Gross donations of money and materials equal the $30 million privately collected, and BIO million Of this is U. 8. government money given to the semi -odacial organiza- ton for the relief of wounded pris- oners of war and non-belligerents in six European countries and China. Britain has received half of this Red Cross relief, France S4 million, Greece @ million and the rest was about equally divided between Spain, Finland and JugoSlavia.
 All this charity Is interesting to study because 1t is, of course, only the beginning. The longer the war lasts, the greater will be the de- mand for war relief, if permission can be obtained from Germany and Britain to do relief work in the