BRITISH SUBJECTS IN LENINGRAD [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
am writing to make an appeal—S.O.S. in character— for the" Destitute British subjects "still left in Russia. Born Iii that country, and yet having kept and prized their British nationality; they are now unfamiliar with_ our conditions of life, and old, infirm, unable to earn anything, feel quite unable to accept repatriation from our Foreign Office as others, Younger and more capable, have done. I am lately back from Leningrad, and my heart ached as I visited them to see so many elderly ladies who were brought up in refined homes With everything that wealthy parents could give them, now hying in one room—sometimes a very small one—in a beautiful house which once was their own, and for that being made to Pay a rent out of the scanty dole which so far the Consul has
been able to find for them, though he is now nearly at the end of his resources. They are not allowed to work, and could not earn anything if they were. There are about 140, though about 40 are perhaps the most feeble and infirm. £1 5s. will keep one person for a week, and, if we cannot send them help from this country, they must starve to death, as so many have done since the Revolution. I want to be quite clear : they have literally nothing of their own. Will your readers help P I shall be most thankful to send on any contributions to the Consul-General, Mr. Preston, at Leningrad.—I am, Sir, &c., HERBERT BURY, Assistant Bishop of London (Lately Bishop for North and Central Europe).
8 Greycoat Gardens, London, S.W. 1.
[The Foreign Office has appealed to the Treasury on behalf of these unhappy fellow-subjects of ours, and there is no more public money applicable to them. The Imperial Was Relief Fund, which gave some help, is now closed. All who were capable of earning a living have been repatriated. For those for whom Bishop Bury appeals repatriation would only mean a slow death in the workhouse of their port of landing in Great Britain. There are really no means except charity that will keep them alive.—En. Spectator.]
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