IN THE GRIP OF FAMINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18090, 15 May 1922, Page 6

IN THE GRIP OF FAMINE.

RUSSIA'S CALAMITY.

" SITUATION IS DESPERATE." [Br TELE. GUI A PH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHKISTCHtTRCH. Sunday. The president of the Christchurch Jewish congregation has rcccived the following cablegram from London: "The terrible crisis iu East European Jewry makes a fresh appeal necessary by the united relief organisations of Great Britain. One million of our co-religion-ists are in the grip of starvation and pestilence, over 100,000 being homeless oqihans. I)r. Nansen, the High Commissioner for the League of Nations, telegraphs : The situation is desperate among the Jewish population. Immediate large foreign relief is necessary.' Help us. Avert an appalling catastrophe. We hope for the immediate co operation of all Jews in the British Empire." The message is signed by the Chief Rabbi, Dr. J. H. Hertz, and by Mr. Lionel De Rothschild, Lord Swaythling, Mr. Claude Montefiore. and Lord Rothschild.

TEN MILLIONS STARVING.

DROUGHT IN VOLGA REGION. The following appeal, which has been ipceived from the Lord Mayor of London, had been forwarded for publication by the Rev. W. G. Monckton: "The calamity which lias befallen Russia should unite us j all in pity arid help for the millions of tier suffering peasantry. Throughout the wide region, of the Volga a burning drought has destroyed the harvest. The tota'ly destitute population of these stricken districts, which will perish unless prompt help is rendered, numbers at the very lowest computation 10,000.000. "We earnestly appeal to every organisation which can influence public opinion to make the need widely and promptly known, to organise collections, and to stir the British people to generous national effort. Of all the countries of Euiopc scourged by the war, none has suffered so terribly as Russia, and none has received so little of the healing gift of sympathy. It will bo well for the future of the world that broken links should be restored bv a common effort to save life and alleviate pain." Signed: James Roll, Lord Mayor of London; Randall T. Cantuar, Archbishop of Canterbury; Birkenhead, Lord Chancellor ; 1). Lioyd George, Prime Minister; 11. H. Asquith; J. R. Clynes, and 40 others.