Evening star., 1928-04-25
RED CROSS BALKS
AT CHINESE RELIEF
Harbord Heads New $10,-
100000 Drive to Aid Famine
Stricken in War Region.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE,

Unknown TO the country at large. n
deep cleavage has come about between
the American Red Cross and a powerful
union Of American church and mission
AIRY organizations over famine reiief IN
China. The Red Gross believes the
American people should not be asked
70 send money 10 China while that
country remains the prey of bandit
militariStS themselves largely RESPONSE
hle for the Chinese impoverlShment.
In that view John Barton Payne'
chairman of The Red Cross, ana Col Il.
y. Bicknell, director OF foreign opera
lions, are uv tierStood 10 be acting IN iuli
accord with the views OF the unlted
states Government and on the bass ol
Washincton'S Official information ABOUT
the true state Of affairs in Ctllha,
Meantime, the China Famine Rchel
has t,Ist been orcanized in New York
Tor thc ayowed purpose Of raising
$40 600 900 fund. An intensive el2ht-
week drive IS planned throughout the
limited States. The project is Spon~
Sored bv officials of the board OF ior-
eisn missions Of the Methodist EpsSco-
pal Church. The board of foreign ms
sioas of the Presbyterian Church, the
hoav6 of commissioners Tor foreign MS
s!ons (CongregationaD the CHRISTIAN
Herald. the Federal Council OF ChuicheS'
the National Council OF the Houng
Mems Christian Association ana 'he
China Society,
Harhord as Chairman.
The executive committee has enlisted
the distinguished support OF MAJ. Gen.
James G. HarboTd president OF me
Radio Corporation Of America, as cnaiF-
mar. The executive secretary is Rev.
William r. Johnson. :.
Tne drive campaign director" is
John Earle Baker. a civil engineer, Who
was the executive director OF the great
China famine relief expedition con-
Quoted by the American Red Cross IN
1920-2l. Other officials are S. 5. Young
Chinese consul general in New York;
walter H Mallory. for several years
executive secretary of the International
Famine Relief at Peking; Edward II.
Hume. former president of Yale IN
China and E c. Carter. secretary OF
the Institute of Pacific Relations.
Despite the Identification of these
eminent authorities with the $4,000 600
famine enterprise. the Red Cross feels
Ii cannot conSclenticusly call upon the
American people to aid China at this
time. The stricken district happens TO
be concentrated for the most part in
the vast province of Shantung. now
once again the battle-ground of the
rival southern and northern bandit
militsrist hordes fighting for supremacy
IN China
Aware of Conditions.
The Red Cross is aware OF the dis
freSsing conditions prevailing in Shan
tung and adjacent regions. which have
been ravished looted and bled white
by the soldiery hired or forced ~ do
the bidding Of the Chinese war lords. ]
But the Red Cross is also reliably in
formed that conditions are largely. If
not mainly. the result Of the barbarism |
terrorism and extortion 70 which the
people of the war-racked territory are
subjected by the ruthless military lead |
eFs luStsrg for power and pe1.
As long as war remains the chief |
industry Of the Chinese the Red Cross
Goes not see itS way TO exercising the
charity tTIisieeship 1t holds for the
American people on behalf OF China
famine relief It Is considered at
Washington matter Of the gravest
doubt whether American dollars sent
into Shantung at this chaotic hour
would on could ever be put To work for
the benefit of the suffering people II is
desired 10 relieve.
Despite the Red Cross attitude. the |
China famine relief organization az /
New York is about TO clear for action |
Us stated purpose is ''to give immediate |
relief 20 1900, 900 Chinese who are ac- |
tElziiy starving in s1antung and neigh. |
boring country" While minigtering u |
acute physical necessities, the commit /.
tee intends 70 provide work for stary- |
3ng farmers ard others by undertaking |
various public works such as trunk-iine |
motor roads, river conservancy and !
rural reconstruction projects
The New York committee declares |
THAT "30. 600. .00O TO $4,000 900 people |
throughout China are now living on
less than minimum subsistence require
raentS. with q death rate Of 1000 600 70
5000, 600 year" Ninety per cent Of
the population is said 70 be existing on
claaf and cottongeed, s'ith millions 0f
them averaging one meal day.
ocogyrssht 1898