Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

In May some of the officials of the south stated that Russia does not need our help. Is it now desired? Since last May the difficulties of operation have increased so enor- mously, that it has now become necessary to restate our plan of work as set forth in the enclosed memorandum. Respectfully yours, (signed) Alvin J. Miller, American Mennonite Relief. PROPOSED PLAN OF WORK The American Mennonite Relief Organization is ready to begin relief work in Russia at once when the Moscow Soviet authorities give a direct statement to the Mennonite Relief representatives, 1. That there is need of our assistance, 2. That the American representatives of the American Mennonite Relief Organization shall be given full liberty to come and go and move about in Russia, 3. That these members shall be allowed to organize the necessary local committees and local assistance free from government interference, 4. That they shall be given free transportation (storage UNSEALING THE CLOSED DOOR 123 and handling) of supplies with priority over other traffics, that the necessary buildings and equipment and fuel shall be assigned free of charge by the authorities, 5. That in addition to the imported food, clothing and medicine, the people cared for by us must be given the same rations of such local supplies as are given to the rest of the population, 6. That the American Mennonite Relief Organization must have the assurance of non-interference of the govern- ment with the liberty of all the members of the American Mennonite Relief Organization. The American Mennonite Relief Organization agrees to distribute the supplies among the needy population, specially women and children without regard to race, religion or so- cial status. The representatives of the organization and assistants will engage in no political activities. He was enthusiastic over the prospects of aid on a large scale from the American organizations and regretted the delays caused by distrust and “red tape.’ The visa, he said, would be granted without question, but the pass- port had to be left there for the signature of the proper official. As I was going to the Geneva Conference and there was little time left, my passport was taken care of in far less than the usual time, and not only was the visa to Russia granted but, in addition, a full page special letter given to me personally to present at the Foreign Office in Moscow. My work in London was finished with far more ac- complished than I had previously dared to hope for. Had it not been for the pending negotiations between Brown and the Soviet Government, I should have gone direct to Riga, Latvia, to enter Russia immediately. But the period of waiting was by no means time lost. A joint committee of the International Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies had just then called a con- ference of relief organizations to meet at Geneva, Switz- erland on August 15, to co