Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

behalf of the Cen- tral Commission of the Famine Relief of the Panukrainian Central Executive Council Committee, and countersigned by Ch. Racovsky on behalf of the Ukrainian Soviet Gov- ernment, and by Alvin J. Miller on behalf of the Ameri- can Mennonite Relief. A second contract identical in terms with ours was negotiated and signed at the same time on behalf of the Holland Mennonites. At Moscow the officials had re- fused to sign a separate contract with them. As the Dutch were especially interested in the Ukraine, it was more important for them to have a separate contract there. Yermostchenka made a special request that samples of posters or other material used in America for publicity UNSEALING THE CLOSED DOOR 163 purposes in connection with the campaigns for relief funds be sent to his Government, as they were already preparing an exhibit on the famine and the methods employed in combatting it. A little later our contract was on display at this exhibit as the first relief contract of its type made by the Ukrainian Government. The American Relief Administration also finally made a contract with the Ukrainian Government on January 10, 1922. It was the controversy leading up to this contract and its aftermath that caused the heart-breaking delay of several months in the opening of our own relief kitchens in the Ukraine, causing terrible suffering among the fam- ine-stricken people of several states (Gubernias) in the South. Rev. Janz was very anxious that we together have a conference with Yermostchenka in order to use this oppor- tunity to forward his plans for the Mennonite farmer organization. There he could meet one of the highest government officials, which was usually extremely difficult to arrange, and perhaps gain his support for the project. It was not difficult to make an engagement. When we explained that the American Mennonites would probably be interested not only in feeding the starving but would seek to give assistance also in a constructive way by pro- viding agricultural machinery or credits for such equip- ment, Yermostchenka seemed very favorably impressed. He was inclined to admit, too, that an organization of Mennonite farmers, such as was suggested by Janz, would probably be useful as an apparatus to handle to best advantage machinery that might be brought into the coun- try by the Mennonite organizations. In this connection we made reference for the first time to the desirability of providing tractors for those regions where the lack of horses made the cultivation of the fields almost impossible. We could make no promises, but the proposals aroused 164 FEEDING THE HUNGRY interest and helped to bring the precarious condition of the Mennonites to the attention of the higher officials. We returned to our lodging place well satisfied with the results of our work in Kharkow. Janz was to return to his home. It seemed fitting to send a message of cheer from