THE CRY FROM BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2397, 1 March 1915, Page 5

THE CRY FROM BELGIUM

STATEMENT BY THE COMMISSION ■" WE ARE THE WARDS OF THE WORLD " (Rec. March 1, 1.35 a.m.) Sidney, February 28. The. Belgian Commission cables its regrets at the failure of the tegotia-. tions for fixing the accommodation between belligerents by which the finances of the Commission would be worked. But, it adds, this does not alter the fact that Belgium.'s seven millions must be fed. "We do not propbse to lay down the burden because there is no remedy/ actually in view "From various sources the Commission has delivered £3,000,000 worth of food, and has another 1£1,400,000 worth o-i Toute. ' Yet we have only enough to last a month. It should be borne in mind that money and food are not interchangeable in Belgium at the present moment. The whole population is o.i a daily ration through the Commission. The possession of millions of money could not buy one more atom of food than is given tho most destituto - . . j "The Commission will cease to send food the instant the-Germans fail to abide by their agreement not to requisition for foodstuffs from Belgium s destitute, who are the wards of the world. There is no solution of their misery and hunger, save charity. Having failed to secure the Government's help, we appeal to the individual mercy of people in every land." J