Foreign News: Happy Hoover

Smiling pinkly, the only living ex-President of the U. S. reached Brussels last week on his first visit to Europe in nearly 20 years. Every Belgian paper, from Communist to Rexist, dropped its bickering to honor Herbert Clark Hoover, Belgium’s Wartime Relief Administrator, with fulsome editorials. Every member of the Chamber of Representatives rose in his seat at word that Herbert Hoover had crossed the frontier. Dinners and receptions were held by the Foreign Office, the University of Louvain, the College of Burgomasters and Aldermen. The Belgian Government issued a new stamp, bearing the portrait of the late great King Albert, but dedicated to Herbert Hoover.

In return Herbert Hoover laid wreaths on the tombs of King Albert and Queen Astrid, visited the Royal Palace, forgathered with veterans of the old Commission for Relief in Belgium, said: “I am happy, really happy, to be in Belgium again.”

Young Belgians who never knew the War have especially good cause to be grateful for Herbert Hoover. The difference between the generosity of thousands of donors and what cautious Administrator Hoover considered the real need of Wartime Belgians left the Belgian Relief Fund with a whopping surplus of $25,000,000 when the books were closed in 1919. This was split three ways: $9,000,000 to rebuild Belgium universities, $6,000,000 for a foundation for scientific research, $10,000,000 for exchange scholarships between Belgium and the U. S.