File No. 855.48/653
The Minister in Belgium ( Whitlock ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 2, 12.15 a.m.]
98. Your 288 [287], October 26, 4 p.m. Have just seen De Broqueville, who was at the front when your telegram came and has just returned. He says the Belgian Government is deeply touched by the solicitude for the Belgian orphans and asks that its profound gratitude be expressed to philanthropic organizations. He ventures to suggest, however, that the work might otherwise be as well accomplished without sending the orphans to America. The idea of long voyages, always formidable to the Belgian peasant mind, is specially terrifying at this time, and furthermore the Belgian Government would have no means of providing the transportation. He says that many thousands of Belgian children, either orphans or of poor parents, could be cared for in Switzerland, and, while he would not presume to make suggestions, the Government would be delighted if Americans could ascribe to undertake some such work here on the Continent. The Belgian Government has not the funds to do it with, hence conditions inside Belgium are growing worse. Tuberculosis among children especially is rapidly increasing. There would be no difficulty in obtaining permission from the Germans for the children to come out if means could be devised to care for them on their arrival. Would American philanthropy care to undertake the task in this way?