THE PROBLEM OF RENDERING ASSISTANCE 303
attitude, did not, however, bring the endeavours to set on foot
a relief action to a complete standstill. The nationalities in-
terested in the fate of their kinsmen in Soviet Russia, and the
international organizations, continued their efforts with the
greatest determination. The Interconfessional and International
Relief Committee was founded in Vienna in October 1933 at
the instance of the Cardinal Archbishop Dr. Innitzer; and on
December 16 and 17 a European conference of all organic-
tions interested in relief work in Russia sat in the Archbishop's
Palace in Vienna. The writer was appointed honorary secretary
of this conference.
In the words of thanks which they addressed to Cardinal
Innitzer at the close of the conference the leaders of various
groups1 emphasized the fact that this was a joint movement
dictated by the purest humanity, which had nothing to do
with politics. The short and pregnant resolution of the con-
ference has real significance even to-day.2
1 Colonel Sauter, of the European Centre for Church Assistance at Geneva,
in the name of the Protestants; the Bishop of Lemberg, Dr. Budka, on
behalf of the Ukrainian-Unified organization; Professor Kurtschinsky, of
Tartu (Dorpat), the leader of the Russian minorities, in the name of the
Russian organizations; and the Chief Rabbi of Vienna, Dr. Feuchtwang,
for the Jewish relief organizations.
* The text of the resolution was as follows: "The supernational, inter-
confessional conference of representatives of all organisations participating
in the relief action on behalf of the starving in Russia sat in Vienna on
December i6th and ijth, 1933, and came unanimously to the following
inclusions on the basis of authentic reports and documents, including
a large quantity of photographs:
" 'Despite all attempts to deny the existence of the terrible famine wMch
raged in the Soviet Union down to the last harvest, there is proof positive
that in the course of this year millions of innocent people have perished of
starvation even in the most fertile regions of the Union, such as the Ukraine
and the Northern Caucasus. It is equally certain that the most horrible atten-
dant phenomena of every famine, even cannibalism, have accompanied this
famine. These sacrifices could have been avoided! While this tragedy was
being enacted in the Soviet Republic, the grain-growing areas overseas were
suffering from over-production. World conferences have taken up t&e
problem of reducing wheat production. Vast quantities of excess supplies
of food have been destroyed, a thing which is in conflict with the most ele-
mentary principles of reason and humanity. These surpluses sapid vfcsy
quickly have been shipped to the ports of the famine areas^^dessaaRsglw,