The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-07
CHINESE ENVOY
SAYS MILLIONS
ARE STARVING
Makes Plea to Amer
ica in Address to
Legislature..

no Alfred Sze, Chinese minister to
the United States, arrived in
Springfield this morning to start
the nationwide drive of the famine
relief fund to save the starving mil
lions in China.
II think we'd better kick of in
Springfield" he had wired the gen
eral committee. After a reception
by Governor Small in the executive
offices in the state house, the Chi
nese minister was escorted to the
house of representatives, where a
Joint session was held of the house
and senate.
Addressing the joint session, DR..
SEE said:
"Immensity of the disaster that
has befallen China cannot be over
estimated. The famine area includes
the northeastern corner of China,
taking in the provinces of Shan
tung, Chilli, Shan 81, Shen 81 and
Honan.
"Over seventeen million of Chi
nese were reduced to starvation
and tens OF thousands have died
and are dying. The famine region
was the great wheat growing part
Of China, whose storehouses were
full of grain when the great war
came.
Gave Wheat to Belgium.
The Allied nations called on
China for wheat and more wheat.
Even after the war the call con-
inued and the last vestige CT
wheat that China held in reserve
was sent to Belgium. Then came
great flood which destroyed not
only thousands of lives but all the
standing grain in the fields.
Then came the great drought
and for over two years hardly a
drop Of rain fell and the country
was reduced to a cinder. The peo-
pie, an honest, hard-working frugal
people, struggled along the best
they could. They sold their ami
mails and their farm implemenes %
buy food but finally were reduced
to eating bark from the trees and
grinding corncobs, leaves and twigs
together for a meal. Children have
died to such an extent that in some
regions there are no children left.
Chinese Government Helps.
China did its best to handle the
situation. But the change from
a dynasty four thousand years old
to a republic had Just been made
and conditions we're far from set
tied. Yet the Chinese government
has spent over nine millions of dol
lars in feeding the famine suf-
ferers and raised loan from for
eign nations Of four million by
pledging the maritime taxes as Sc
curity. The president of China
headed popular subscription with
SAC. 900. 900 and every Chinese in
the republic has contributed all
that he could. But the disaster was
too big for any country to handle
alone.
America, always the friend of
China, came magnificently to the
rescue and has already spent over
$7,000,00 and saved millions of
lives. But the crisis continues. The
June crop is disappointment and
at least five million people are still
starving and without America s
help an appalling number will die
before the August crop.
Thanks America.
"I wish to thank the Chinese
famine fund of America for the
great work it is doing and to thank
you for enabling this. last great ef-
fort in behalf of my starving coun-
trymen to have such a magnificen.
beginning
Minister SEE was given lunch
con at the Leland hotel this noon
by the Chamber of Commerce. This
afternoon he drove to Oak Ridge
cemetery where he laid a wreath
on Lincoln's tomb. He leaves fol
Washington late this afternoon. To-
night monster openair mass meet
will be held in front of the state
house by the Springfield branch ol
the China famine relief.