Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

ork and Defence to the P. C. of F. A. to our telegrams 2801 and 1895.” It is absolutely necessary that you answer at once as any further waiting is impossible. No. 3018 (signed) A. Beleborodow. Finally, as no reply came, the same office wired that the American representative will be sent to Moscow within so many days (about 4) if no reply is received from Moscow. Then the answer came forbidding to send me to Moscow. A few days later we returned to Novorossisk and embarked for Constantinople. The plan of work then proposed is as follows :— The American Mennonite Relief Organization begs leave to request permission from the Russian government to operate in Russia on the following general plans: 1. The American Mennonite Relief Organization offers its friendly assistance to the women and children of Russia and invites in the same spirit the help of the Russian gov- ernment in carrying forward a program of general relief work. To this end the offices, activities and records of the organization will always be open to free inspection by duly appointed government representatives whose constant at- tendance at the office will be welcomed. In addition, monthly reports will be made of the activities of the organization. 2. The organization will direct and control shipment of supplies to suitable ports thence to be distributed or re- shipped to the various centers by the relief workers. 3. The relief supplies are to be distributed among the children’s homes, civilian hospitals and the needy civilian population, especially women and children, regardless of race and religion. During the past two years the American Mennonite Relief Organization has several times investigated the need for relief work in South Russia. In the fall of 1919, while working with the Society of Friends in France, I was sent with two others to Odessa and Cherson. No work was 122 FEEDING THE HUNGRY begun. In 1920 I went to the Crimea with the American Red Cross under the arrangement to transfer to the Men- nonite Relief as soon as possible. In August I returned to Constantinople and Paris in ill health. In October another committee, Orie Miller and Clayton Kratz, visited Crimea and Militopol with the purpose of giving civilian relief. No work had been begun. Orie Miller returned to Constanti- nople. Clayton Kratz was at. Halbstadt when the Soviet armies defeated General Wrangel. Kratz was arrested, re- leased three days, then again arrested and taken away. Since then there has been no information concerning him. He had no connection with the counter-revolutionaries. He was simply investigating the possibilities of giving civilian relief on humanitarian grounds. Finally, in 1921, Arthur Slagel and I went to Rostow as previously described, to offer assistance to the needy, regardless of race, religion or social and political status. The American Mennonite Relief Organization is yet ready to offer its assistance to Russia.