Flood Relief
In the aftermath of ihe great North Sea storm
it is becoming possible to get a picture of what
will be required to repair the damage. For the
time being there is no further call for blankets
and clothing. The magnitude of the disaster
seems to have made so deep an impression on
the sympathies of the world that these supplies-
have poured in on the stricken countries in a
second flood. The Dutch in particular, whose
I appreciation of help has been fervently ex
pressed, find that "food, clothing, blankets, bed
ding are no longer needed."
What is needed badly, however, is money.
President Eisenhower has decided to extend
American aid and has named Secretary of State
Dulles head of a Cabinet committee to report
on what will be required.- The Lord Mayor of
London has opened a distress fund, which will
have the support of the British government as
well as of friends of Britain everywhere. Belgian
relief contributions may be sent to the Belgian
Consul General at 630 Fifth Ave., New York
20. The Dutch, who estimate they will need
between one billion and two billion dollars to
reconstruct public utilities, dikes, homes, schools
and transportation, have set up an organization
called Holland Flood Relief, Inc., at Box 300,
New York 5, to receiye and forward financial aid.
And the American Red Cross is always ready to
forward contributions to distressed areas abroad.
The response of so many of the nations of the
world to this emergency is the one bright spot
in a fearful canvas. France, Italy, West Ger
many, Switzerland and the Scandinavian coun
tries are among the number that have sent,
engineers, planes, medical supplies, money, cloth
ing and blankets and have offered homes to the
homeless. Britain and Belgium, with relief
I problems of their own, have done what they
could to help the Dutch. Canada sent troops,
boats and pontoons from West Germany. The
United States has done its best also, and it may
be that this effort to alleviate distress, shared by
1 participants from all over the world, will have
the fortunate indirect result of strengthening
the bonds of friendship among nations.
