The Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1937. CHINA’S AGONY.

Evening Star, Issue 22804, 12 November 1937, Page 8

The Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1937. CHINA’S AGONY.

Death by violence, ■widespread destruction of homes and property, and the prospects of famine and disease on a major scale are China’s portion at the moment. There is not the slightest exaggeration in this statement. It is made plain by the cables that come to hand day by day and by the unimpeachable testimony of eye-witnesses who have reached New Zealand from the Far East. China needs help, and needs it urgently. The position was set out very clearly yesterday at a meeting held in the Council Chambers in response to a request from the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, which is acting under the direction of the International League of Red Cross Societies, with headquarters in Paris. This body was constituted by the League of Nations for peace-time activities. The Internationa] Red Cross Committee of Geneva was set up by the Geneva Convention over seventy years ago for war-time activities. After the period of intense activity experienced by the Red Cross societies during the war it was quite impossible for them, once the Armistice was signed, to relapse into the inactivity of pre-war times, which implied storing all their surplus material and preparing for another war. An article inserted in the Covenant of the League prepared the way for a new line of action. It bound the members of that organisation to encourage and promote the establishment and co-operation of duly authorised voluntary national organisations having as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering

throughout the world. The result was the foundation of that vast federation of all the Red Cross societies, known as the League of Red Cross Societies, with Paris as the centre, which acts as a propaganda and co-ordinating agent and assists all its members to accomplish their national and international activities.

This is the body which is leading the movement just now to succour the stricken Chinese. It is hardly necessary to emphasise that the Order of St. John and the Red Cross take no sides in the struggle that is going on in the Far East. Their function is to give help where it is most needed. The Red Cross is strong in Japan, and assistance is not required there from outside countries. In the social evolution of the Japanese Red Cross work has not been neglected. It has been developed on a big scale, and has been stimulated by the conditions of the country, which is subject to frequent national catastrophes—earthquakes, conflagrations, hurricanes, inundations. China, on tho contrary, has not advanced in the same way. The Chinese are slow to adopt Western institutions; consequently the means at their disposal to meet tho present emergency are small indeed. The full horrors of war are visited on the unfortunate people, and the Red Cross officials in the country say that thousands of soldiers are wounded and dying daily without proper surgical and medical treatment and care. In response to a request from the headquarters of the International lied Cross movement it has been decided to launch an appeal for money in New Zealand. The sum aimed at is £IO,OOO, and it will be used for tho purpose of sending from this country, in combination with Australia, twenty-five surgeons, a staff of nurses, and ambulances and other equipment. Otago and Southland are asked to contribute £2,000. Such a sum should be readily forthcoming, for it is hard to imagine a more convincing appeal. The money, controlled by a highly-efficient organisation, will be directed to the relief of the sufferings of wounded soldiers and civilians, including women and children, and to meet the threat of a dreadful outbreak of plague. This call to feelings of humanity and pity should receive a ready answer. It is not to be doubted that Otago and Southland will do their part.