National Archives and Records Administration

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    The appalling distress which threatens those Belgians who still remain in their country is shown by the following statement, signed by M. Emile Devreux, burgomaster and M. Emile Buisset, deputy and alderman, of Charleroi, who have arrived in London and are consulting with the authorities regarding the measures of relief:--

    We, representatives of the Municipality of Charleroi on the Belgian National Relief Committee, and on behalf of the Province of Hainault, wish to present the position of our Belgian people.

    The Province of Hainault comprises one and a-quarter million people, and within a radius of 15 miles of Charleroi there are about 600,000.

    We have established upwards of 100 soup kitchens and relief stations in the Charleroi district within a raidus [sic] of 15 miles of that city, and we are endeavouring to issue rations on the above basis through these stations to upwards of 500,000 people out of the total of 600,000 inhabitants.

    Latterly, we have only been able to make the bread allowance for one or two days in the week, as beyond our purchases from the Germans the visible supplies of wheat and flour have been some time since exhausted, and it is only occasionally that we discover small hidden supplies, of which we can take possession. Of potatoes we can continue for another month.

WORK PARALYSED.

    The industries of our district are paralysed. Our coal mines are operating two or three days in the week. Our workshops are closed, our moneys are exhausted, and in the whole province at least 800,000 people must be fed from now by charity.

    The rest of the population still have resources with which they could purchase food if the food were available. If we allow these people half a pound of bread and one pound of potatoes per day, then for charity requirements alone we must have 6000 tons of cereals and 12,000 tons of potatoes per month, and we will require nearly as much more of these to supply those who are able and willing to pay.

    Our people have initiated no war. Our army has done its best to defend us against overwhelming forces. Our people at large are now on the point of starvation. Through the circumstances of the war our friendly neighbours, the Dutch, the French, and the English, are prohibited from giving the assistance that they otherwise would gladly provide.

    We feel we shall not appeal in vain.