fill!•; MACEDONIAN RELIEF FUND. [To THE EDITOR 07 THE "
SPECTATOR 03 SIR,—Among the sufferers by the war in Eastern Europe there are none whose position is so helpless as that of the Christian towns- folk and peasantry of Macedonia and Thrace, on whose behalf the Allies have primarily taken the field. The first result of the war has been the flight of these unfortunate people from Turkish territory into that of the nearest Balkan State, where they are arriving in daily increasing thousands to face the winter practically destitute. It is almost impossible to get details from the interior
itself niomant, but the earliest refugees reported unspeak-
able tales ofoutrage,and slaawliter, which.have. been confirmed by thadespatches.of many _newspaper correspondents as the troops
advance. . .
• In reply to our first inquiries Monsieur Gueshoff, _the Prime Minister of Bulgaria; telegraphed a week ago: "IUConSequence of the buntings- and massacres, we-haie -in- Bulgaria 'already • some '.5,000 refugees, and are expecting a great many.thousands more. We shall be.extremely grateful for help and assistance in the
present hard times." . ,
In Bulgaria, alone it is estimated that the number will soon not shoit of 70,000: Thele refugees have fled to countries which, themselies 'exhausted 'by the preParation for 'war, and by the absence of their breadwinners in the ranks, are altogether incapable of supporting them ; and the urgency of securing them against starvation, cold, and disease cannot be exaggerated. . In 1903 it was the privilege of the Macedonian Relief Fund to collect nearly £30,000,by the carefully organized distribution of which, with the support of the Foreign Office and the help of the- British Consuls in Macedonia, the lives of some 50,000 persons, mostly women and children and old men, were saved during the winter. • Provision was afterwards made by which the neediest villages were enabled to sow their crops for the ensuing harvest, and in this way what appeared to be their imminent extermination
was averted. , We now appeal for the means to repeat that work. Whatever may be the result of the war, it would be a tragedy if, for the want of prompt and generous foreign help, the refugees' prospect of returning to their homes when peace is restored were defeated. It is upon these defenceless people, who have no commissariat and no Red Cross to administer to their needs, that the Macedonian Relief Fund is concentrating all its efforts. It is our purpose, immediately the necessary funds are in our hands, to establish convenient centres for the distribution of food and clothing, without distinction of race or creed, under the direction of experienced British agents, who are now ready to start.
- It is suggested that whenever public meetings are held to discuss the Near Eastern situation an appeal should be made for the Macedonian Relief Fund and a collection taken. In this the Balkan Committee has promised to co-operate. Churches of all denominations are also urged to make collections, and it is hoped that, wherever possible, town funds will be started.
Subscriptions and cheques may be sent to Messrs. Barclay and Co„ Limited, 1 Pall Mall East, S.W., or to the Acting Secretary, Mr. W. T. Cunningham, 39 Victoria Street, S.W., by whom gifts of clothing will also be gratefully accepted.
Offers of service should be addressed by letter to the Chairman of Executive, Mr. Bertram Christian, 10 Lancaster Place, Savoy, W.C.—We are, Sir, &c., A. F. LONDON, President.
HAvERsHAR, Chairman.
Tom" CLIFFORD.
BERTRAM Citaisrmq, Chairman of Executive.
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