Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-04

Distress in China. believed to be
without parallel in the history OF f1ooGs,
is held by many Americans to offer an
exceptional opportunity to the world,
and especially to the United States, for
prompt and effective service which will
be beneficial in the future. 1t is
pointed out by the press that the Amer
lean food surplus may we'll be depended
on to lead in the relief. while the credit
of the Chinese nation furnishes the
background for such action.
The San Antonio Express summarizes
the conditions with the statement:
Central China evidently is suffering
the greatest disaster in all its long his
tributaries have flooded most of four
large provinces and driven 10000. 900
from their homes" In regard to relief
measures, the Express, observing that
many lands are overstocked with food
stuffS. which the Marking government
would buy if granted the necessary
credit" feels that the disaster should
move all nations to aid China, which is
largely unable to help itself"
This situation is major catastro-
phe. even If 1t does not prove to be the
worst Of all disasters caused by ma
ture," according to the New London
Day. which feels it is beyond the pow
ers of Imagination to figure out the
scope of the swirling waters" and de-
clares "A sad aspect of it all is that
the nations cannot be as generous IN
relief as they would like. but. Nv the
same token, 1t may be that the very
overproduction which has brought about
the dep esSion may be of greater service
than first anticipated"
Recognizing that the Chinese have
taught the rest of mankind so much
of the arts of life and beauty and cul-
ture," the Columbia IS. c. State as
the unreasonable greed and lust of
their neighbors ard friends, and aided
to find and lift themselves out of the
slough of despond then they must
be rescued from mutual slaughterS and
pillage and starvation, and then they
must be healed of peStilence and ter
ror." The Walla Walla Daily Bulletin
advises that. lin its hour of need, China
naturally looks to the United States,
always a friend for assistance" and
that 1T is well worth our while to justi-
fy the confidence which China has in
Our friendship" The Bulletin states as
to the present situation: This Nation
cannot send succor for the vast area
which just now is flooded. 1t would
take hundreds of boats, working at top
speed and equipped with large
amount of supplies to help. There will
be need, after the foods in the Yangtze
Valley subside, for much relief work"
"A catastrophe of such dimensions,
in the opinion of the Cincinnati Times
Star, might well paralyze all human
initiative. But the Nationalist govern
ment is working heroically to organize
relief expeditions. The Red Cross is
already in the field, spurred on by a
message from President Hoover, and
the United States fleet in Oriental
waters is doing whatever may be done
to mitigate the suffering. Meantime, the
Chinese government is negotiating for
the purchase Of American Farm Board
wheat against the probability of famine
next Winter The whole spectacle of
human wretchedness enlists the SYM
partly of the Western world. which
fortunately has never experienced any
disaster Of such frightful proportions. "
Taking account of the worlds sur
plus of wheat, the Portland oregon
Journal remarks that the wheat in this
country should be shipped as flour,
pointing to the advantage of work for
Americans, utilization Of partially idle
mill equipment in the Pacific Northwest
and easier transportation over the poor
highways and byways of China" while
flour is in form more easily con-
sumable than wheat" The Allentown
Morning Call suggests that IAN impor-
tant change in the dietary of an entire
people might easily develop from the
present situation in China" through the
purchase of American wheat. and that
paper points to the fast that ''the staple
food for generations mas been rice, but
as the result ofrecent warfare the pro-
duction has been cut"