COMMUNISM IN . CHINA

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26814, 20 August 1952, Page 11

COMMUNISM IN . CHINA

WOMAN MISSIONARY’S EXPERIENCES

LOSS OF FREEDOMS

The Communist Government in China had brought not release but bondage, said Miss Annie I. James, a New Zealand Presbyterian missionarynurse in South China for 39 years, addressing a large congregation in St. Paul’s Church last evening. Miss James, who left China late last year, said that her one thought was to return as near as possible to the disfrict from which she had come. She adqed that she would travel by air to Hong Kone next month. “It is only when one comes face to face with Communism that one can know what Communism really is,” said Miss James. News of the impact of the new regime in the north reached Miss James some time before the Communists reached the Tsung Fa district where she was matron of the Hospital of Universal Love in the market town of Kaai Hau. Miss James sent a few of her possessions out of China before the Communists arrived. bu l.^ as t. en un ahle to send any more. when the Communists arrived they promised freedom of speech, domicile, religion and so forth, but it was soon realised that Communism wa s antiGod. As sodn as she came under their power she could feel the subtle influence of the Communists, Miss James said.

of Speech Lost * Freedom of speech was the first to an T was a terrifying thing, said Miss James. Everywhere were informers and secret agents who noted everv unguarded word. Anyone who wanted to accuse another could put a report in a box resembling a post-box which was prominently placed in the iu!! tre i of t 5 e *. 1 ! ow ? 1 * w “ en the authorities cleared the box they took all the persons accused to the police station for interrogation, which usually led to !£?^ s £2F ent or execution ; Miss James described some accusations which ™^® K „ cor "P letel y, groundless. As the number of executions grew so did public alarm, she said. ' i„S re ??- om T Of acl “n was next to be lost. Miss James continued. Restriclmposed .and* it.became impossible to move with any ease. Taxes were as much as three times as great as previously, said Miss and h=/ a , rmers had ?° pay i” grain. to ~c arry t 0 the centre themselves, often a distance of several miles. Only the best quality grain was acceptable, and if a farmer could not grow it himself he had to sell his own grain and buy it on pain of imprisonment. This ’ often caused Y ery ..Sreat hardship. Miss James described the Communists’ . harsh treatment of a mother who could not her J' ax ® s « an d the consequent death of her infant child. Grain was worth more to the Communists than babies, said Miss James. Business came to a standstill after the Communists arrived, but no worker could be dismissed, said Miss James. Many businessmen had been driven to suicide., . Police Raids Midnight police raids were a feature of the new regime, Miss James continued. The first time such a raid was made on her hospital, Miss James hesitated before opening the door. When she did so she was accused of delaying to let spies and reactionaries out by the back door. Everybody tin the hospital was checked during the investigation, she said. The Communists were jealous of the missionaries’ hospital because hardly ahyone would use the other hospital in the locality, which was conducted by the authorities. Miss James described the attempts made to convict her. The two-and-a-half months old baby of a Communist general was brought to her in a very critical con'dition, and she was not allowed to refuse admission. When the infant died two days later a Communist doctor laid a charge of murder against the hospital. An armed guard took her away for interrogation. and she was accused of poisoning the child. After a period of terrifying imprisonment, during which she refused to admit her guilt, arrangements were made for her trial by a “people’s court.” This had to be abandoned because the people of the village failed to attend, but she was forced to write out a confession which was dictated to her. Although the confession said the merciful authorities had been responsible for the angry people staying away from ♦he trial, the opposite was the truth as only the people had been sympathetic, Miss James said. American Doctor's Death A young American doctor had been arrested and charged with the possession of firearms, said Miss James. After the Communists had themselves put arms under his bed, they led him back to confront him with the alleged crime. He was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour, and soon died as a result of the maltreatment and beatings he suffered. The Communists then announced that he had committed suicide. Before she could leave China, said Miss James, she had to find a guarantor to sign a promise to pay any bad debts left by the missionary ana also to face any further charges laid against her and pay the consequent penalties. Miss James said she had beep obliged to leave in China all five of the adopted children she had reared from infancy. She had learnt since her departure that the hospital had been taken over by the authorities. There was no freedom or worship under the Communist regime, said Miss James. The main service was allowed at the hospital chapel, but there were informers present to hear what the preacher said. Bible classes had been banned altogether. The Communists had ordered that the cross in the chapel should be replaced by pictures of Mao Tse-Tung and Stalin. A number of missioners had now been imprisoned on false charges. A booklet written by Miss James describing her experiences while imErisoned by the Communists has now een published. Its title is “I was In Prison.” Miss James was introduced to the congregation last evening by the Rev. D. K. Boyd, of Lyttelton, Moderator of the Christchurch Presbytery, who also led the prayers.