LICENSED VICE IN SINGAPORE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Mr. E. M. Tozer qualifies as a " gross exaggeration 54 the statement " that venereal disease is rampant in the 'Colony among natives and Europeans." The report of the Singapore Venereal Diseases Committee, 1923 (composed of Doctors, with a Civil Servant as Chairman), which was signed by all the doctors, including Dr. Rattray, contains the following unqualified sentences
" The prevalence of venereal diseases is very great, Loth amongst the native populations and amongst the European males." (page 4.)
" . . . Thus, among all classes in Singapore venereal disease is rampant and is steadily on the increase." (Italics in report). (page 5.)
No dissent as to the prevalence of venereal disease was ex- pressed by any member of this Medical Committee, which is responsible for the statement which Mr. Tozer calls " gross exaggeration."
It is true that the known brothels in Singapore are not " licensed " in the technical sense. They are, however, recognized and registered by the Local Government, and are allowed to exist openly as public brothels. I think Mr. Tozer is a little out of date with his information when he says that " there are a much larger number of Japanese women than Chinese." He presumably means in the " recognized houses, but the Japanese Government withdrew practically all the known Japanese prostitutes from Singapore in 1920.
One may accept all Mr. Tozer's statement abOut Dr. Rat- tray's eminence as a physician, and his concern for the welfare of the community without accepting Dr. Rattray's proposals for reform. The point is that Dr. Rattray and his colleagues in Singapore are advocating what is in fact merely the old regulation system, a method which has failed to reduce venereal disease over any period of years wherever it has been tried. Can Mr. Tozer produce any authoritative British Medical opinion of within the last twelve to fifteen years which favours efforts to reduce venereal diseaie by the registration of brothels and prostitutes and the periodic medical examination of the women concerned ?
Moreover, to keep 500 brothels continuously supplied with women free from disease means organized procuration of Chinese and Malay girls. How else can it be done ? Does anyone wish the British Government to become responsible for the organized procuration of women for brothel slavery, and what would be the effect on British prestige in the East if this were done ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
DOROTHY BALFOUR OF BURLEIGIL
31 Bedford Gardens, W. 8. June 16th.
-
[We much regret that this letter in which Lady Balfour of Burleigh answers her critic, should have been held over for some weeks owing to a misunderstanding. We do not, as we said in our issue of June 20th, desire to publish more correspondence on this subject until Mr. Amery has considered the Report on the whole subject which is now before him. But on June 20th we did publish a letter which came to us with exceptional authority, and but for the misunderstanding we should have published Lady Balfour of Burleigh's letter at the same time. As her statements were challenged she certainly has a right to reply. We must now leave the matter until the Report has been published.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
