HELP FOR BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 3

HELP FOR BELGIUM

NEED IS URGENT MANY PEOPLE STARVING Some time ago there were cabled to New Zealand certain news messages which made it appear that there was a possibility that food and clothing sent from New Zealand for the Belgians might fall into the hands of the onemy. The Government' made inquiries, and waji ab]e to give the patriotic societies a : definite assurance" that none of the funds sent from hero were being used in'such a way as to mako it possible for tho enemy to appropriate them. More recently the Minister of Internal Affairs has addressed a circular letter to all patriotic societies and 1 committees, covering two pamphlets dealing with the urgency of the need for relief of the starving people. Mr. Russell writes:— "I have the honour to enclose herewith for your information two pamphlets issued by tho British National Committee for Relief in Belgium, which show botli liow necessary it is that contributions should be continued and that food for tlie Belgian population does not get into. Gorman hands. Tho smaller pamphlet, on the cover of which is a reproduction of a cartoon by Raemakers, is an appeal on behalf of the British National Committee, signed, among others, by the of Canterbury, Cardinal Bourne, and tho heads of'the other religious denominations in • the United Kingdom, as well as by the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Rosebery, Lord Brycc, Mr. Arthur Henderson, and Mr. Joim Redmond. It is inconceivable that if there were any real danger of supplies being misappropriated .such men as-these, whose intelligence,- integrity, and national standing speak for themselves, would have signed their names to this statement: — - .. | " 'In the conviction that the 'methods of distributing relief in Belgium rendor it practically impossible for any appreciable Quantity of tho food to get into German hands, and with tlie evidence to justify this conviction, we do not hesitate again urgently to peal to the British nation for further' contributions.' "As to tho urgency of tlieso further contributions, tho illuminating evidenco of Mr. \F. C. Walcotfc (a wellknown American, who, at the request of tho Rockefeller Foundation investigated the work of the Neutral Commission for relief in Belgium), as set out in an interview which forms the substance of. the larger pamphlet, is commendcd to your attention. "Among other things lie states:— 'There would be wholesale starvation within two or three weeks if the importation of the food into Belgium were stopped.' , 'In the cities of Belgium I have recently seen' thousands of people lined up in the snow or rain, soaked and chilly,- waiting for bread and soun. I have returned to some of the distributing stations/at the end of the day and have found many men, women,- and children still standing in line, but as the doors were then closed they were compelled to go back to their pitiful homes cold, wet, and miserable. It was not until eighteen weary hours afterwards that they got- the meal they missed.', '

" 'Almost any amount of money that can 1)0 donated be immediately used to tlie best ■possible advantage of the Belgians ill Belgium, and I trust that the work of the British National Committee, whose benevolent assistance lias I)eon invaluable to the Neutral Relief-Commission, will not be hampered by misstatement emanating from those wlio have not had the opportunity of visiting Belgium since tlie German occupation.'

"It is impossible to doubt the evH dence so clearly. placed , before us, which, as intimated to you in my last circular, is confirmed by the result of the High Commissioner's inquiries; and I have- no hesitation, in recommending your and your society or committee to' continue the excellent work for the relief of our gallant and noble Allies."