From World War I Document Archive Revision as of 21:59, 1
September 2006 by Hirgen "This man is not to be stopped anywhere
under any circumstances." So reads the passport given Herbert
Hoover by the Germans in 1914. "Perpetual" is stamped on the
passport given Hoover by theBelgian government after World War
I. The first was given to aid his work, the second in
recognition of it. That work, so necessary in time of war,
helped launch Hoover to the Presidency in time of peace. His
work was Belgian relief. The German thrust into Belgium that had
brought the West into war had left Belgium occupied, and hungry.
An importer of food, Belgium was affected by the blockade
imposed by Britain on Germany. The spectacle of starving Belgium
moved the neutral nations, but the Allies wanted guarantees that
food sent to Belgium would not feed German armies. Who better to
oversee the relief effort than a neutral, long a resident of one
belligerent, and who had the confidence of major industrial and
financial tycoons of an oppos