]> <emph>Proclamation. Belguim Day, March 17, 1916:</emph> Electronic Edition. North Carolina. Governor (1913-1917 : Craig) Funding from the State Library of North Carolina supported the electronic publication of this title. Text transcribed by Apex Data Services, Inc. Images scanned by Harris Henderson Text encoded by Apex Data Services, Inc., Harris Henderson, and Jill Kuhn Sexton First edition, 2002 ca. 10K Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2002.

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 Proclamation Belguim Day, March 17, 1916 North Carolina. Governor (1913-1917 : Craig) 1 p. [Raleigh, NC] [s.n] [1916] Call number Cb970.9 N87g (North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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 Library of Congress Subject Headings English World War, 1914-1918 -- North Carolina. World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- North Carolina. World War, 1914-1918 -- Civilian relief -- North Carolina. World War, 1914-1918 -- Refugees -- Belgium. World War, 1914-1918 -- Civilian relief -- Belgium. Economic assistance, American -- Belgium. Commission for Relief in Belgium. 2002-05-08, Celine Noel and Wanda Gunther revised TEIHeader and created catalog record for the electronic edition. 2002-03-08, Jill Kuhn Sexton finished TEI-conformant encoding and final proofing. 2002-02-13, Harris Henderson finished TEI/SGML encoding 2002-01-25, Apex Data Services, Inc. finished transcribing the text.

[Image of the Proclamation]

 Proclamation BELGIUM DAY, MARCH 17, 1916

“Whereas, deep distress and misery exists in Belgium and northern France. Three millions of women and children are in dire need of food and clothing, and

“We have already given generously to these destitute people, but there yet exists an alarming shortage of necessary clothing, and

“The Commission for Relief in Belgium has been and now is engaged in furnishing clothing and food to the destitute inhabitants in Belgium and northern France by and with the approval of the civil and military authorities of Germany.

“The great humanitarian work of that commission is strictly neutral and at the request of President Woodrow Wilson many of our foremost citizens of the United States have accepted membership on the commission.

“Now, Therefore, I, Locke Craig, governor of North Carolina, respectfully urge that people of this state co-operate with the Commission for Relief in Belgium in its efforts to clothe these unfortunates; and to this end I do hereby designate and set apart Friday, the seventeenth day of March, 1916, as Belgium day, in order that the attention of all our citizens may be the more specifically directed to this relief work and give them an opportunity to buy a yard of cloth on this or any other day, or give the equivalent thereof in money to be expended in the purchase of clothing for the destitute in Belgium and northern France while winter is upon them and the suffering is acute.

“Let everyone do something to relieve the innocent from the cruel suffering of this war.

“Done at our city of Raleigh this the 12th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, and in the one hundred and fortieth year of our American independence.

“LOCKE CRAIG, “Governor. “By the Governor, “John P. Kerr, “Private Secretary.”

All persons wishing to contribute wearing apparel or cloth, or funds to be used in the purchase of cloth, for the destitute WOMEN AND CHILDREN of Belgium and northern France are asked to communicate with Dr. S. Westray Battle, Chairman, or E. Alexis Taylor, Field Secretary, North Carolina Commission for Relief in Belgium, 23 Haywood Street, Asheville, N.C.