2 JULY 1921, Page 21

NATIONAL CHILDREN ADOPTION ASSOCIATION. [To THE EDITOR OP 'THE "SPECTATOR."]

Sre,—At a joint conference of the above committees of the National Children Adoption Association, of 19 Sloane Street, NATIONAL CHILDREN ADOPTION ASSOCIATION. [To THE EDITOR OP 'THE "SPECTATOR."] Sre,—At a joint conference of the above committees of the National Children Adoption Association, of 19 Sloane Street,

S.W., a resolution has been passed that we, the chairmen of the said committees, should request your assistance in making public the following statement. The above association has for some years carried on its work of promoting the adoption of children and providing homes for children the circumstances of whose birth appeal to the association for assistance. The asso- ciation's hostels are at Tower Cressy, Campclen Hill, W., Addison House, Holland Park, W., and Southampton. By a recent publication in the Press on the subject of fifteen children having been sent to America with a view to adoption by a society known as the National Adoption Stciety much hostile criticism and correspondence have been evoked, and have reached our association through the fact that the corre- spondents have mistaken the one institution for the other. This confusion has frequently meant unnecessary complicatiou and correspondence.

The National Children Adoption Association has nothing to do with the National Adoption Society, nor does the association encourage sending children out of this country before the adopting parents have actually seen the children in England and have themselves been interviewed by our Case Committee. Our association has been criticized because of its supposed action in this matter, especially in view of the fact that the children are stated by the Press to have been sent out to- America with first-class accommodation, giving the impression that the association has unlimited funds. That is not the case. The friends of our association know only too well that, on the contrary, we find it extremely difficult to undertake all the adoption work we could if our income were not So limited.

Possibly it will help to establish the identity of the National Children Adoption Association by stating that our patrons are H.R.H. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and S.A.I.

Princesse Victor Napoleon,, and its founder, and now one of its hon. directors, is Miss Clara Andrew.—We are, Sir, Sze., MART A. ABERCORY,

Chairman of Appeal-Committee.

HELEN FRANKLYN,

Chairman of Cam Committee.' BEAUMONT H. COMERFORD, M.D., D.1'.11., M.R.C.S., Chairman of Nursing Committ4e.

REGINALD NICHOLSON, M.P.,

. . Chairman of Executive Committee.

GLADYS SWAYTHLINO,

President of the Southampton Hostel for Mothers and H.ihics. 19 Sloane Street, S.TV. 1.