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Show I Prest. Hyrum M. Smith Writes I Feelingly of European Situation I Ti,0 following Interesting letter, from Elder Hyrum M. Smith presl-j I lent of Uio European mission, has Sen received hy the First I'resl.len-, ' cy 0r the Church: nvcrpool, Kuglaiiil, Sept. 10, 1014. , u.ulcnt Joseph F. Smith and Coun- gelors, I ji Vcar Urctliren: j Your very Instructive and most vol- come letter of August 2."., was rccelv-, ed da before yesterday. It was read, and re-read with a good deal of nt-j teniloii Mid thotightf illness. If 1 have Il0r said. In " previous letter, I will say now. that before leaving Swltzer.( I land 1 advised that all the oldors h I Ja, . roil as far away from danger us , I ,t able, and that they remain to I gF,iier where they could 'he reached1 I ,!,! At l'nrls I Instructed Pres- H i ouells, to, at once remove all I j,., i ,i m irlpi Into Switzerland. I Tli . he promptly did as far as ho H .i'.. mem. Itclglum at this i I ,11 -d income already a rnlnq ' I t , ., n Id ami was entirely cut olT I ,rti, , i immlrnlton and wo wore fr, ,' rnmrrned about thu elderc I labor .ng there. 1 reached Liverpool' on u- 12, and was very much re- !i0, i to 1. an) that all tho brethren j li, had been laboring In Ilclglum, 6au turco, were safo In .London. These throe came a day or two later. Tin cablrsam roferred to In your , lettir reading thus: "Rcleaso elders you eatui"t use. Think German and Frew n missionaries better rcmovo Swue land Letter follows" has not dem i. reived up to date, neither has the letter. I had alieady acted, how-, P,., in iiccord with your wishes as i cxin- .i'il I' pon receipt of your ca-uif ca-uif Hi ugust L'S advising to rcleaso all German and French missionaries ami in us1' discretion In transferring all inisslonaiies from neutral coun-l.lca coun-l.lca t I nited Slates missions, 1 ImineUlatclj compiled by wiring the release of all the ciders In German and French missions, and I Instructed , the presidents of the Netherlands, Scandinavian and Swedish missions to release all elders who had prneti-I prneti-I cally (ompleted their labors. alFO till tillers who were In any way Infirm I and all women missionaries. On nc-JL nc-JL count of tho dllllculty of reaching Vj President Valentine direct, 1 request ed I'rosldents llowells nnd Richards to wire him In addition to my own inessaeo to hlui. President llowells acted l.iouiptly and as n result of ii.l the I ri'iich missionaries hero In Knghitul cm opt. one. llrother How-ells How-ells ii nt linn several letters and also tei-unu'liul him, but for boino reason uiiKn n in us be has failed to appear ap-pear a mi President Valentino got my message anil replied tis fob i. ttv InMriiiilons received, aro they ..Hi, nil.nnn.il?" I Immediately wired inMnutliins unconditional: have Alt lilcrs i. uw " With President Lo rami. UlchniilH' belli ti few elders from ! tin i a I'lermnny linvo reach , .J Hull id, mid two have arrived lier. i d Hoi understand why tho 'erm.ni Im-tluon aie not coming sn Him, rapidly. 1 havo wlre.l sov-c sov-c al t nun tiiflnd out tho reason but have n'ceived no reply. I uni suro they n.u'd iiml their way out If they havi lici'n Instructed hy llrother Valentino Val-entino to leave and providing they Ijm id- means. There Is sulllclent money in tho German mission mid I iicl miic llrother Vnlcntluo will do "II In cj.ii to provide tho elders with wli.it n. i need TIiIh morning 1 ro-"iM ro-"iM 1 m, .r letter of August 20, con-taiiiiiii; con-taiiiiiii; sour tclegtnphlc co-rcspon-liui' hi1 Senator Smoot. Tho cablo 'i si'inimi lir.vnn to tho American ' - '- :ln, mil lmil already been 11 " iii tn m attention through the 1 1 1 ii -Mids consul hero nt Liver-" Liver-" l '" 'mm liecn exceedingly kind ' nt. iiicti-,i Mr. Hryan's cablo ' i''.i mil v tir such Americana as ' '" ' ' turning or vlBltlng temper-1 temper-1 ' it Uii'einn countries, That Am 'r"n- .lio had no particular Imsl-1 Imsl-1 'i. ic or renhon for remaining '' ' "I'irn to the United Stntcs 1 'I l.i) Mr. Washington tho ' "' hue nt Uvorpool did not ' ' " .'1'iiiicU to BtiQh as we, who ,ro ' i.i s. iiho anxious to return. I I'rom on letter, howovor, tho see- ) "tar i state Is undoubtedly of tho "iilnii. i tint all our missionaries uglit to return to America. You, nf-tr nf-tr quoting Senator Smoot's telegram ""lug forth his Interview with, Sec rtttin Pryan, cnncluilo your letter as '"'lows iu view of Secretary Hry-"'s Hry-"'s opinions wo think It advisable Ul'lt mi p t,0 taken n ii prudence may ""Pg'-xt and elrcumstnuces rmiitlre, 'r thi inolectlon of onr elders nt "m name time endeavoring not to "ei'k up anl destroy missions that nao l,r.,. , .,,,1,!!,,,, Vll , tl) '"nfcider r.,cir at liberty to act inlaw inl-aw tho inspiration of tho Lord rtiil ot feel restrained, but at tho name time to act with due caution nnd de- j liberation." When you promise "On Monday to write further in regard to disposition to bo mndo of the elders transferred to the United States mU slons," which letter I am awaiting with "omp eo'ieern. Later today I received your cablo of August 0, da follows: "Letter mailed tniphaslv.InR withdrawal of missionaries from neutral neu-tral countries." That letter will also be anxiously awaited. Now a fow of my own reflections: With respect lo Germany and tho French missions 1 j have acted promptly lu tho endeavor to get our missionaries out ot those countries and I will be uxcoedlngly happy when I know tliev aro oil out of those wnr und blood afflicted lunda. With respect to I'uglaud nnd tho neutral neu-tral Luropcau countries I have acted as you suggest without haste and with deliberation according as I havo foil wp.s right and wise. It has been and is a fearful responslbllUv urn! strain. I Imvo not become excited nor have I allowed mvself to bo oven gme with wo'Ty. I have put my trust In tho Lord nnd b,ivo trfed to know Ills mind nnd follow tho guidance ot Ills spirit. I, Imvo inntructod the president of tho Scandinavian, Swedish and Netherlands misuloiiH to set their ro-spcctlvu ro-spcctlvu missions and branches In tho best possible order and to ho pro pared to place tho branches nnd conferences con-ferences In the hands of tho wisest and most faithful local brethren, so that If need bo tho oldors cm leave at a moment's notko. I have received receiv-ed word that this has been dono. Tno calling of our missionaries from these countries Is fraught with such grno consequences, both to tho Saints who will bo left almost without hiiopiierds and to tho nations themselves according accord-ing to tho revelations of God, thnt I can hardly reconcile myself to It. Only on tho ground that the time has como that tho prohpets havo foretold nnd that it Is the Lord"s will that Ills servants bo called out of tho na tlous In order that they might escape the Judgments of tho last days can I harbor tho thought. I dare not, alone assume tho responsibility of deter mining such a portentous iiuestlon. Therefore I havo moved slowly, yet I trust wisely, if the elders aro to be called homo what of tho Saints? is a question that troubles im. I have I not felt for one moment, alone, my dear brethren. I know I have bad jour prayers anil support, and youi Instructions havo been most cneoiir aging and helpful . The presidents ol the missions on tho continent feel lie I do, they will be well nigh broken hearted, If they two required to loae their Holds nnd the Saints. 1 hnve felt that thero was no Immediate or great danger to our elders In the Scandinavian nnd Swedish missions, but the possibility nnd tho likely probability, ot fnmlnc, or nt least tho scnrclty of food in neutral as well us belligerent countries und tho consequent conse-quent Increasing cost of living, which will nuiko It more, nnd moro dllllcult for those at homo to maintain mis uluuarles abroad, P escnt ii serious situation. Wo nro facing u goat crisis lu our IJuropoan missionary work and I am most prayerfully anxious anx-ious that no mistakes shall bo made. It will' ho far better for tho elders to go and como again than to remain and lose their lives lu consequuntf . I most earnestly make ouo request and that is that I bo permitted to bo tho Inst man called homo. If tho work is to bo closed for a Benson It seems lo mo that onn or two strong men-stioiig both In faith and llunnco should bo permitted or required to icinaln In inch mission. It shall ie my policy, unless you advlso to the contrary, to appoint the bout men we have fur thnt duty. Tho hour Is oiy late, bo I shall draw this letter to tl ilirn.-. We are well In' body though our splits scrlevo over the wlckodnesB of num. In cousequtmcu of which tho whole wo Id U minced to misery and mourning and the true God loving belaid of pence and brotherhood bro-therhood must he withdrawn from their midst. God bless tho righteous nnd pity tho-wicked. Qod less you all, my beloved brethren. Faithfully. HYRUM M. HM1TH. Sept. U. 101L I. H. This morning l received a letter from Seutitot Smoot crontnln-Ing crontnln-Ing telegraphic correspondence with you. In spllo or "Mr. llryan's positive posi-tive statement that wo ought to withdraw with-draw all of our missionaries from Great llrllaln and continental Kur-opo." Kur-opo." Senator Smoot continues: "1 am oultn sine that thero would ibo no Immediate danger Tor our missionaries missionar-ies if they could be transferred lo l-'pB'nnd, Sweden and Norway, as stated In iih ti-b j-rn a " Thero Is one Plinsn or tlm proposition of "no Im-I Im-I mediate danger.' and deliberation" j thnt should be borne In mind, viz . thnt no one can te'I what a day may bring forth. Iu Germany one day was clear tranquil and peai eful, the next da the whole heavens were black with thioatenlng war clouds that had rolled up in the night and almost before one could ocv c to shelter the terrible sturm had b'ok-.n b'ok-.n and seven nations, amid thu lightning light-ning Hash of rlilo-jlre and the Hum dor of heavy artillery, wore pouring upon each other a deadly hall or lead nnd Iron, thereby drenrhliiK the ground In blood. Denmark. Sweden, Norway nnd Holland aio touay osten sibly at pence und ogress from thoao countries Is oasy at present. Therefore There-fore nobody may be anxious to leave, them; tomorrow every oit may be closed making It dllllrult If not impossible im-possible for people to oorae out ud matter how strongly they might de-'lro de-'lro to do so. The following tole-giatn tole-giatn j:mt received from Pvi(leot Uichards: "Twenty elders armed .xiMnrclay and toJiiy, others 'reported en route. P.oslUent Valentine tour hi" mission with uiolie) ." 1 nreuu-'d it ewiit sigh of relief. We will bodk many of them for the dnltel tinmen 'ii the ISth and :i'ltli of this month. Also received n telegram from Kd. I' Kimball- stating thnt he, tnm.'ly andMlns 11) do wore In London. Another An-other Blmilnr sigh! Ihri eldr rill' l-i France is H. W. Morlcuspu of Snnford, Colorado. Money sept thru ('tilled Stales treasurer ipcoI.piL Your servntit nnd brother, H-YHUM M. SMITH. President nic-haids Vritcs President Lo Grando Richards of the Netherlands mission writes ns follows to President Joseph F. Smith: Ilotterdnm. Holland, Sept 7. IPI4. President Jokeph V. Smith, Shit Lake City, Utah. Pear President Smith: 1 have not wviti-n you for some tlino of . ondi-tluns ondi-tluns cvlsting hero In Holland, but since tho return of President Hvrum M. Smith lo Liverpool, I have not considered it necessary to report conditions con-ditions direct to you, hut have l.ept tho Liverpool olllce advised of conditions. This olllce has been qulto a help station liefweon Kuglaud and Gir-ninny, Gir-ninny, alt communication nctivocr. these two countries being cut olf nnd v?o, havo been receiving nil kinds of messages and letters to bo fnrwalded from one country to tho other. I presume by the time this letter reach es )ou, that most of tho enters i ml (.indents will bo out of Germany, bui In tile event Hint thero should bo in tiiilrle.) nt your office for friend m t.c iiintiv, we can reach most til inlnts in Goriminy by telegraph fro u here and can lelogrnph money, ( H there aro any lumllles tbon dnii-tons dnii-tons or relatives still lu Germ.i nnd they deslro to communicate with them, they could wlro thin otllco and wo can lorwnrd thu message on, am', Jt' i he;- deslro to send money , wo v ill bu pleased to iorwr.nl snmo should we be able to locato Hie perio.i ib slreil . Tin. cuudltiouB hero lu llo'liuul have Improved very much. Money Is circulating qulto freely since tho government Issued paper money of smaller denominations. (Wiilunn moil ey can bo sold hero now, but nt qulto a loss. Tho greateyt troublo here at tho present tlnio Is occtinioucd b tho great number thrown out of work nnd ns you know In this laud tho peo- plo ns u whole, havo .nothing laid : away, and becauso of this condition I there is already a groat deal of suf- j tiling, but the government la doing I its best, ami committees havo liecn j appointed to look after theso people I and the "tch have boen very liberal I la contributing In our larger hraii'h' , we have taken up colle tiom I iimciig thoMi who huve work. c Plaining to tho people thut It Is tint dun of those who have to share uitii ! thou who huve not, und we have bud Quite u response In this dlrwtlon, mi ; ihat wo have beeu able so far to he'p out w'ltuout Incioaslui; the piior do l nations or rather allowances, hut ' , i-i) little, although If the eondinr.i. I pimlluues ns at present, we .-ill gurely bo obligated to do a llttb' ' moro from Church funds than w.- havo under. noruinl conditions. ( Wo Imvo iioou forced to make ad vancos to mlsslouarleB duo to delnv ' oil romlttnnreH nud nlso to se-id money to Herman oldors. The eldet -' nro nil eafo lioro In Hijilaml nnd I 1 hope you will not hud It tier-ess-n v to coll us away. I should feel vm badlv If we should have to leave an I 1 even shcuhl things become moie j rtoiia, would It not be better that ' few of us remain to look after tl" Saints and keep things together, s.n two olders In each conl'ei elite ami tho mission president? Thero still seems to be no danc i of Holland becoming in any way m plicated except th otigh the dlsre gnrd nn or her neutrality by other powers, although sho has not fc't at nil instilled In weakening her force for di fense, but rather Is strengthen Ing from dny to day. With kindest love, In which Ulster Uls-ter Kit hards nnd the elders Join, I renin n. Sincerely your brother, LKGUAND RICHARDS. |