ns, the unkindness of former
friends, the sudden loss of means of livelihood, the internment
of the men, with its enforced idleness, were some of the
troubles which would have produced despair in many cases had not
the members of this "Emergency Committee" (169, St. Stephen's
House, Westminster)[37] come to the rescue. They have given
material help to thousands of families, and, above all, brought
the healing touch of human sympathy to the men in the camps and
their wives and children (mostly British-born) left to struggle
on alone outside.

It was early in the war also that a group of Germans came
together in Berlin and determined to start a similar work. The
news of what was being done by the British Committee soon
reached them and made them increase their efforts. Since then
the two bodies have been in close communication, and each has
endeavoured to see that what is done for "alien enemies" in one
country is promptly repeated in the other.

Among the recent activities of the Berlin Committee has been the
organising of travelling facilities and hospitality for wives
from other parts of Germany, who are now allowed to visit their
husbands at Ruhleben Camp; and it is now making vigorous efforts
to co-ordinate and increase the work of the various agencies in
Germany that are trying to lighten the lot of the military and
civilian prisoners of war in their camps. At the end of June, I
learn, a meeting in support of this work was held at the house
of Prince Lichnowsky, former Ambassador in London, who returned
specially from the front to preside. Many notable men and women
were present, and a collection of 8,000 marks was made.

My reasons for writing to you with this information are two. In
the first place, because these Berlin workers are incessantly
spreading, through the German Press and otherwise, news of the
doings of the British Committee, and even in this matter there
should be reprisals. And, secondly, one cannot be too thankful
to be able to put on record instances of that common humanity
which we knew must exist in some quarters even among our
enemies, overleaping national hates and prejudices, and which in
this great work of Dr. Siegmund Schultze and his colleagues is
so active and persistent. The names of several who are diligent
in the work in Germany are