THE RELIEF OF BELGIUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1916, Page 6

THE RELIEF OF BELGIUM.

To the Editor. Sir,—Eleven months ago we formeil the National Committee for Relief in Belgium and appealed to our fellow-sub-jects throughout the British Empire on behalf of a million and a half Belgians, oppressed and threatened with starvation in their own outraged country. The number of destitute Belgians in Belgium to-day exceeds three millions. Most of these are women and children.

Since we made our previous appeal it has been conclusively proved that the Germans, contrary to every civilised precedent, will adhere to their "openly expressed intention not to support the Belgian population or supply them with food." The words quoted are those used by Lord Robert Cecil, on behalf of the Government, in the House of Commons on January 27 last. That Lord Robert Cecil does not over-estimate the calculated cruelty of the German intention is shown by the fact that in Poland, where there is no neutral channel for the distribution of relief, the civilian population have been allowed to die like flies, and over 300,000 able-bodied Polish men have been driven into Germany, there to work in the mines and industries, thus freeing 300,000 Germans to go to the fighting front. The same thing would undoubtedly happen in Belgian but for food which reaches the Belgians through the Allies. I It has also been definitely ascertained that the food sent into Belgium does not reach or benefit the Germans. Lord Robert Cecil, on February 21 last, stated in the House of Commons that the "Go'vcrnment are satisfied with the manner in which the Relief Cominision has carried on its work and have exacted giial'antees from the German authorities who might otherwise have taken advantage of the supplies." The confidential evidence of Belgians of repute, allowed out of Belgium, and of reliable neutrals, permitted into Belgium, confirms this official declaration. The neutral Relief Commission, of which Ml'. Herbert Hoover is chairman, and which is conducted under the supervision of the American and Spanish diplomatic representatives, has been accurately described by Earl Curzon as "an absolute miracle of scientific organisation, synonymous with economy and efficiency combined." Receipts from the 2,700 Belgian Communes show that every toil of food imported into Belgium lias been faithfully distributed by Belgians to Belgians under the close supervision of this Commission and its self-sacrificing American workers. The British NationaU Committee, with the approval of the British and Belgian Governments, hands all its funds, without any deduction, to Mr. Hoover's Commission to be expended in food.

In the conviction tlmt the methods of distributing relief in Belgium render it practically impossible for any appreciable quantity of the food to get into German hands, and with the evidence to justify this conviction, we do not hesitate again urgently to appeal to tlie British nation for further contributions. Our original appeal, up to date, has brought in over .■£■1.300.000, but this is almost £1,000,000 short of what is required, from British benevolent sources, to enable the destitute in Belgium to maintain life with loyalty. Of the total so far received, more than £1,000,000 has come from Australia and New Zealand.

Over seven million defenceless civilians in Belgium, for more than a year and a-half, have suffered a tyranny almost inconceivable to those in our own uninvaded land. Nevertheless, they have maintained a resistance none the less courageous because it must be passive, and, with almost negligible exceptions, they have refused to work for the Hermails. Practically half of the whole of this population in Belgium, through no fault of their own, are now destitute and live on a pitiful ration. Is there any debt of honor more pressing' or any work of humanity with a stronger claim than that of helping to keep body and soul together in' the men, women and children in Belgium, who, in spite of misery and privation, endure all tilings and loyally await the coming of the. Allies?

Donations and regular subscriptions, for which we most earnestly ask, should be sent to Dominion, Colonial or local committees, wherever they have been formed, or to A. Shirley Benn, Ksq., M.P., Hon. Treasurer, National Committee for Relief in Belgium, Trafalgar ■Buildings, Trafalgar Square, I.ondon. Signed, 011 behalf of the National Committee:

Charles Cheers Wakefield, Lord Mayor of London, chairman; Randall Cantuar; Francis, Cardinal Bourne; David Paul, Moderator, Church of Scotland; J. IT. Shakespeare, President, Free Church Council; J. H. Hertz, Chief Rabbi; Norfolk; Lansdown; Rosebery; Bryce; Arthur Henderson; John E. Redmond; A. Shirley Benn, Hon. Treasurer ; W. A. M. Goode, Hon. Secretary. London, March 30, 1010.