THE COMMISSION
3. Progress in Relief Organization. October-November 1914
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DOCUMENT NO. 13 Memorandum,
HOOVER TO PAGE, analyzing the problem of Belgian relief LONDON, 20 October 1914 FOR AMBASSADOR PAGE
1.---It appears from our discussions that the problem in Belgium falls under the following heads:
(A) That the whole population of Belgium is normally dependent on imports for from 75 per cent to 80 per cent of its breadstuffs and for large proportions of other commodities, while the destruction and requisition of the last harvest by the army has rendered the situation even more acute.
(B) A considerable proportion of the population have resources with which to pay for their food, if some economic rehabilitation can be effected.
(C) That through the entire stagnation of industry, the stoppage of communications and the moratorium, there has been an enormous augmentation in unemployment, which, together with the displacement of the people, has produced unparalleled destitution, with the result that a large section of the population is unable to procure food and clothing without charitable help, even if such food exists in the country.
2.---The present position of attempts to ameliorate this situation is as follows:
(A) There have sprung up in Belgium a number of committees in various centers, engaged in local relief work, each one acting independently and in competition, mostly intent on solution of local cases, regardless of the whole problem.
(B) Some of these committees, including the Brussels Committee, have obtained undertakings from the German military authorities that they will not requisition food supplies imported for the service of these committees.
(C) Of the various committees which have sent representatives to England, the Brussels Committee has secured a permit to export 2,500 tons of foodstuffs from England.
(D) There are in the United States, the British Empire, and in various parts of the world a number of committees which have sprung up, interested in Belgian relief.
3.---The organization and solution of this problem necessitates:
(A) The expansion of undertakings by the military authorities not to requisition foodstuffs imported for any portion of Belgium and further to cease the requisition of native foodstuffs.
(B) The permit of the English authorities, conditional on importing foodstuffs in neutral ships from neutral ports, needs extension, so as to include the use of English ships.
(C) In order to provide for the proper distribution of foodstuffs and relief there must be a consolidation of organization in Belgium on national lines with sub-
committees in the provinces and communes, under strong centralized control. The Brussels Committee embraces the strongest financial and administrative element in the country, and had already on the 15th inst. considered the question of expansion to the leadership in the creation of this national organization. To assist in the
extension of an organization, and to provide an element of cohesion, additional American membership to that of Messrs. Heineman, Hulse, and Gibson must be recruited at once.
(D) In order to provide for the purchase and shipment of foodstuffs abroad, for the mobilization of charity throughout the world, and for the guardianship of the supplies in Belgium and the supply of American members to Belgian committees, an American Committee will be set up under the patronage of the American Ambassadors and Ministers, with a head office in London and branches in New York, Rotterdam, and elsewhere, as may become necessary.
(E) These two organizations, to co-operate intimately in the solution of the financial and charitable and administrative problems, should interlock by membership and support. Furthermore, it is impossible to handle the situation except with the strongest centralization and effective monopoly, and therefore the two organizations will refuse to recognize any element except themselves alone.
4.---It is absolutely necessary, in order to solve the financial situation outside of charity, to obtain from the belligerent governments permits for exchange
transactions in and out of Belgium, and that in the first instance the organization should obtain possession of Belgian bank balances abroad, making counter- payments to the Belgian owners, from the sale of foodstuffs in Belgium, thus avoiding the actual transfer of money over the frontier. Furthermore, the
organizations will require a large amount of working capital with which to buy foodstuff and put it in transit, and therefore an endeavor should be made to effect a loan in England, guaranteed by the Belgian banks, for this purpose.
In the matter of the care of the destitute, we have in hand £100,000 contributed by the Belgian Relief Fund at Le Havre, and have an assurance of a contribution of
£100,000 from the British Government. These sums, however, will be wholly inadequate, and as the flow of public charity, no matter how great, will be irregular and of uncertain quantity, it is absolutely necessary to secure positive subventions from the Allied Governments in some form or other.
5.---The English Government has already given Mr. Shaler permission to purchase and export a small amount of foodstuffs to the city of Brussels. As this permission was for a very small quantity, it would be insufficient for the entire situation until we could get imports from overseas, and therefore we must seek further permits for emergency purposes.
6.---The present small permits for Brussels, granted by the British Government, stipulate that the food shall be shipped through the American Ambassador in London to the American Minister in Brussels. Such an arrangement is
impracticable for the provision of the entire country, and it is therefore necessary to seek an arrangement with the Allied Governments whereby this guarantee can be carried out by the American Committee and its delegates in various centers in substitution of the Minister.
7.---It appears that there was a great deal of antagonism on the Part of the Allies to the introduction of foodstuffs into Belgium, as in their view it was the duty of the occupying army to feed the civil Population. On the other hand, it was certain that the occupying army would do nothing of the kind and that in order to maintain open a gateway into Belgium and at the same time protect the native food supply from further absorption by the occupying army, it would be necessary to create the widest possible feeling, both in the belligerent and in neutral countries, as to the rights of the Belgian population in this unparalleled case of an entire country, under practical siege, which was dependent normally upon importation for its food
supply, that, therefore, one of the first duties of the American organization would be to create such public opinion as widely as possible, through the Press.
8.---As it is yet uncertain what absolute minimum monthly importation of food supplies would maintain the population alive, this matter must be investigated and reported upon at once.
(Signed) H. C. HOOVER .
DOCUMENT NO. 14 Telegram,
HOOVER TO WHITLOCK, describing the proposed organization and asking Whitlock's views
LONDON, 20 October 1914 AMERICAN LEGATION, BRUSSELS
As result of conference here between myself representing Americans in Brussels, Messrs. Baron Lambert and Francqui representing Comité together with Mr. Page we suggest that a purely American relief committee for Belgium be set up
comprising Mr. Whitlock and Mr. Page and leading Americans in Brussels and London which committee would undertake systematic work of facilitating import of supplies under American Government Protection and especially to undertake proper and systematic expenditure of funds for Belgian relief now being raised in
America. Such committee being properly recognized by the various governments concerned would put matters on permanent systematic neutral basis. Would be glad if Mr. Whitlock would communicate his views to Mr. Page.
HERBERT HOOVER .
DOCUMENT NO. 15 Memorandum
Minutes of a meeting held at No. 1 London Wall Buildings, London, when the C.R.B. was organized
LONDON, 22 October 1914 PRESENT:
Messrs. H. C. Hoover Millard Hunsiker John B. White Clarence Graff Edgar Rickard Hugh S. Gibson Millard Shaler Captain J. F. Lucey
Mr. Hoover stated that the American Ambassador has asked him to set up an organization to carry into execution the engagements undertaken by the American Ambassadors in London and Brussels with regard to the importation of foodstuffs and relief generally for Belgium.
It was resolved:
1. That this body should constitute itself: "The American Commission for Relief in Belgium."
2. That the American Ambassadors in England, Belgium, and Holland should be Honorary Chairmen.
3. That Herbert Hoover should be Chairman.
4. That Daniel Heineman should be Vice-Chairman.
5. That Clarence Graff should be Treasurer.
6. That Millard Shaler and W. Hulse should be Honorary Secretaries.
7. That Mr. John B. White should take charge of the purchase and transportation of foodstuffs in England, Mr. Edgar Rickard should take charge of publicity, and Captain Lucey take charge of the Rotterdam office.
8. It was resolved that the members of the Committee should comprise the
American Consuls in Rotterdam, Ghent, Brussels, Liège, Ostend, and London, and that offices should be opened in each of these Consulates for the Commission.
9. The Chairman reported that arrangements had been made for complete co-
operation with the Comité Central de Secours et d'Alimentation Belge; that Messrs.
Heineman and Hulse were already members of this Committee, and that it was the purpose of the American Commission to purchase and forward food supplies under their guardianship to the various branches of the Belgian Committee, and that the Belgian Committee has already placed at its disposal £120,000, and that foodstuffs had been purchased and charters entered into for its transport to Rotterdam.
10. A telegram was drafted to Mr. Thomas J. Ryan of New York and ordered to be dispatched.
11. The Chairman was requested to formulate a letter to the American Ambassador as to the organization of the Commission.
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DOCUMENT NO. 16 Statement,(11)
HOOVER TO THE AMERICAN PRESS, describing the organization of the C.R.B., its co-operation with the Belgian committee, and the immediate need of emergency relief
LONDON, 22 October 1914
At a meeting at the American Embassy today of all who are concerned in Belgian relief, including Emile Francqui and Baron Lambert of the Belgian
committee,(12) the organization of the American commission was completed. In addition to Ambassador Page and the American Ambassadors at Brussels and The Hague the Spanish Ambassadors at Brussels and London joined the commission as honorary chairmen.
The commission consists of Herbert C. Hoover, who was head of the American refugees' committee in London, chairman; Daniel Heineman of Brussels, vice- chairman; Mr. Graff of the American relief committee, treasurer; Millard K. Shaler, who came to London as representative of Minister Brand Whitlock, and Mr. Hulse
of Brussels, secretaries. J. B. White is to have charge of the purchase and
exportation of foodstuffs. Captain Lucey will have charge of the Rotterdam office.
Other members of the committee are Messrs. Hunsiker [of London] and Gibson of the American Legation at Brussels, Mr. Rickard, and the American Consuls at London, Antwerp, Brussels, Ostend, Liège, and Ghent. The commission will have an office in each of these cities, as it is intended to assist in provisioning all
Belgium. It will co-operate fully with the Belgian committee.
Food to the value of $250,000 already has been bought in the name of Ambassador Page and Minister Whitlock, and arrangements have been made to begin its
distribution to the local Belgian branches on October 26. The commission has received considerable sums in addition to the various Belgian funds.
Operations in the market today revealed that owing to Great Britain's demands the food stocks here may not be depleted. Because of the restrictions on the exportation of food it is extremely difficult to find even emergency provisions here, and
supplies from America are even more imperatively needed than was originally expected. The difficulties become more embarrassing in view of the insistent requests received by the commission today for the expeditious despatch of the supplies already obtained.
The supplies available at the relief stations in Brussels Monday were believed to be sufficient to last until Saturday, and these were available only because a certain quantity of wheat was received from Antwerp. That source is now exhausted. The commission learns that the food supply at Charleroi is exhausted and that the people are subsisting entirely on potato soup.
A representative of the relief committee at Liège arrived here today to make representations of the urgency there in consequence of the non-arrival of supplies.
It is obvious that with the scarcity of foodstuffs in Holland it is impossible to get supplies on that side for more than emergency service. A stream of supplies must be started from America if the Belgians are to be saved from famine.
The commission emphasizes that it is essential that supplies be sent by neutral ships, arrangements having been made with Great Britain that such shipments will not be interfered with in entering the ports designated by the commission. Germany has given ample assurance to the American Legation at Brussels that the
importation and distribution of food to the civilians in Belgium will not be interrupted.
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Fig. 1.Letter, 25 February 1916, Ambassador Page to Hoover.
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DOCUMENT NO. 17 Telegram,
WHITLOCK TO PAGE, approving the organization and suggesting the. inclusion of the Spanish Minister at Brussels in the membership
BRUSSELS, 25 October 1914 AMERICAN AMBASSADOR, LONDON
October twenty-fifth. I am quite in accord with the proposal contained in Mr.
Hoover's telegram October twentieth to organize an American relief committee to supply food to the civil population in Belgium. The name of the Spanish Minister here however should not be omitted from the organization. He has worked
earnestly and efficiently and because of our friendship it would be embarrassing to me if he were to be made to suffer in his feelings by anything that might be
interpreted as a slight. Thank you all for your cordial sympathetic and intelligent assistance.
WHITLOCK,American Minister .
DOCUMENT NO. 18 Letter,
PAGE TO WALTER RUNCIMAN, introducing Hoover as acting under his direction in relief matters
LONDON, 26 October 1914 The Rt. Hon. Walter Runciman, M.P.
Board of Trade
DEAR MR. RUNCIMAN:
In a conversation I had today with Sir E. Grey regarding relief supplies for Belgium he consented to my communicating with you direct on the subject. I accordingly venture to do so and ask permission to introduce to you Mr. H. C. Hoover of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, who is acting under my direction.
I understand that Mr. Hoover has today made application to the Board of Trade for permits for the exportation of supplies to Belgium* and I should be greatly obliged if their issue could be expedited.
Believe me, dear Mr. Runciman, Yours sincerely
(Signed) WALTER HINES PAGE
*Only the £30,000 worth that you kindly consent shall be allowed to go.
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DOCUMENT NO. 19 Telegram,
PAGE TO SECRETARY OF STATE, on formation of the Commission and advising that American committees should confer with Hoover
AMERICAN EMBASSY, LONDON 26 October 1914
THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WASHINGTON
The Commission of Belgian Relief working under diplomatic guidance of Spanish Ambassador here and myself has written assurance of the German military
commander of Belgian territory held by the Germans that food sent them by this Commission will not be confiscated. So far as I know this assurance has not been given to any one else who may send food. No food can be exported from England or Holland, but the Netherlands Government has given this Commission permission to distribute food landed at Rotterdam through our agents to people in Belgian territory. Since food cannot be bought on this side the world, American committees should not send money but should confer with Hoover, Chairman of this
Commission, care of this Embassy, regarding what kind of food to send and how to ship it. Commission has agents in every neighborhood in Belgium. It has in fact taken charge of practically all grocery stores. Money sent will be of no use. Food sent except through Commission may never reach Belgium or be confiscated.
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DOCUMENT NO. 20 Letter,
HOOVER TO THE DIPLOMATIC PATRONS OF THE C.R.B., reporting on the progress made during the first week of the C.R.B.'s existence
LONDON, 3 November 1914
To Their Excellencies:
THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR IN LONDON THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN LONDON THE AMERICAN MINISTER, BRUSSELS
THE SPANISH MINISTER, BRUSSELS THE AMERICAN MINISTER, THE HAGUE
Honorary Chairmen, The Commission for Relief in Belgium Your Excellencies:
This Commission, appointed by your good selves has on the 31st ultimo, completed its first week of organized effort and we therefore take this occasion to report to you the results so far attained and to set out the pressing necessities in this work.
We have now been, as you are aware, advised by our members in Belgium, who are co-operating with the Comité National de Secours et d'Alimentation, which has branches all over the country, that to all intents and purposes the food supply of Belgium is exhausted and that the problem now confronting us is of wider import than was originally expected, as it now amounts to the provisioning of the whole nation, rich as well as poor. They estimate that the absolute minimum of foodstuffs which will be required as from the 1st of November is 80,000 tons of cereals per month together with some amount of bacon or lard, this being calculated upon the provision of a ration per them of 10 oz. per capitum, or considerably less than one- half of a soldier's ration. This, as we informed you, is in contrast to the normal imports and products of Belgium of something over 250,000 tons of cereals per month.
We are also informed that the Comité National de Secours et d'Alimentation have, in co-operation with the various local authorities in Belgium, arranged to take possession of all private stores of foodstuffs in excess of three months'
requirements in the hands of any one individual. There are probably not many of such stores, however, but the Comité wishes to be in a position to equitably distribute whatever there may be over the entire population.
We are able to furnish your good selves with a large amount of data as to the
position of various communities in Belgium some of whose foodstuffs have already been exhausted for some days. We are however assuming that there will be secured a certain amount of supplementary food from these sources which will assist in getting over the temporary emergency until the provisioning efforts as a whole can be put on a more definite footing than at present, and the problem is so large that we are compelled in any event to risk this. We are therefore assuming that if we can deliver 40,000 tons during the month of November the situation could probably be kept going and violence can probably be prevented. We are convinced, however,
that we must be prepared to deliver 80,000 tons monthly from the 1st December and that this will have to be maintained until the next harvest. The cost of this supply will be somewhere about £800,000 to £1,000,000 per month and while a great number of people in Belgium are believed to be able to pay for the food delivered we have yet to devise some method by which a country devoid of credit documents can translate some form of obligation into the purchase of goods. In any event it is not likely that more than one-half of the total sum involved can be paid in this form, even if we can find a method.
The positive food which we now have in sight under various arrangements which we have made is as follows:
Origin Ships Tons Anticipated
Arrival in Belgium
Approximate Cost to This Commission Delivered in Belgium Bought in
London
"Koblentz"
"Iris"
"Jan Blocks"
4,200 Nov. 3-7th £50,000
Bought in London
Not yet secured
4,500 Nov. 12th 53,000 Rockefeller
Foundation gift
"Massapequa" 4,000 Nov. 20th 4,000
Bought in New York
"Terschelling" 4,000 Nov. 24th 55,000 Novia Scotia
gift
"Tremorvah" 2,100 Nov. 18th 2,000 Joint
purchase with DeForest Committee
Unknown 4,000 Nov. 25th 35,000
Totals for November
22,800 £199,000
San Francisco ship
4,000 Dec. 25th £ 10,000
Chicago ship 4,000 Dec. 15th 10,000