AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS.
Americans who have contributed to the relief funds of the American Red Cross or directly to Italian funds can be satisfied that such part of their donations as went to the Italian central authorities will be spent with scrupulous probity in furtherance of a carefully considered and well matured plan of permanent rehabilitation, and that such part as was given by American agents has gone quickly and efficiently to the places where it was most needed, without any interference with the management by Italians of their own internal affairs. The problem is still in its early stages. The populations of the destroyed cities are not yet housed; the refugees are still living idly in the great towns. But that is an Italian, not an American question. We can be satisfied, it appears to me, with the system by which our money has been distributed hitherto, and be content to apply it to the future contingencies. That system has been for the American Red Cross to find out, through the American Ambassador at Rome, the exact needs of the Italians, as expressed by the government, and then to assign its needs for the enumerated purposes, giving a part to the central Italian authorities and a part to the Ambassador. What the Ambassador has received he has divided between central institutions and the relief of local needs. He has kept in touch directly with all the afflicted regions, through the consular corps, through special agents and through the reports of workers, and he has at the same time been in daily communication with the heads of all the official distributing committees. In this way he has been able to gauge accurately the needs of the situation. Certain American gifts, like the shipment of the three thousand houses, and the foundation of an agricultural school for one hundred children as a part of the Queen Elena Patronato, have produced a profound impression throughout the length and breadth of Italy because they have corresponded exactly to the necessities of the moment.
Americans, then, need have no misgivings about the administration of their donations. Italy cannot repair in a day the effects of so vast, so overwhelming a calamity as the Messina earthquake; the wound is too deep to heal quickly. Those only who have seen the misery which bows down the inhabitants of Sicily and Calabria can realize the tragic helplessness of all human succor. We must have patience till a way is found. Our nation can rest satisfied meanwhile that their generous offerings have directly and sensibly alleviated sufferings and kept hope alive, and they can rejoice in the opportunity which has been given to them to repay in part America’s and the world’s immeasurable debt to the land and people of Italy.
Milan, Italy, February 20, 1909.