Letters to the Editor
[In view of the length of many of the letters which we receive, we would remind correspondents that we often .cannot give space for long letters and that short ones are generally read with more attention. The length which we consider 11108i suitable is about that of one of our paragraphs on " News of the Week."—Ed. SPECTATOR.]
THE CHINESE FLOODS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—There is further tragedy to add to the burden of poor Fanner Liu in the Yangtze Valley, whom Mrs. Buck intro- duced to your readers in her excellent article " Barren Spring."
Sir JOhn Hope Simpson, Director-General of the Chinese Government Flood Relief Commission, writes to say that the Commission's resources have been affected very seriously by- the tragic occurrences in the Far East. Unless the income likely to be available from the surtax on customs and the Flood Relief bonds can be supplemented by about £400,000 before May, the breaches in the dykes cannot be repaired and the normal summer rise of the Yangtze, Hwai and other rivers will 1n•ing worse devastation and disaster than the appalling floods of last summer. Your readers will recall that last August's flood brought a death roll (according to The Times) of over two million, and the American Minister in China estimated that over 30 million were rendered homeless, 10 million of whom were utterly destitute.
This repair of the dykes is an essential part of the work contemplated by the Flood Relief Commission, for which Sir Eric Drummond, Secretary-General of the. League of .Nations, has said that he will most gratefully receive dona- tions. But prompt action is needed. If the Governments of the world would take up the challenge the danger could be averted with ease and certainty. As the Governments seem unable to act the challenge must be passed on to the courage and faith of the man in the street—I am, Sir, &e.,
IL T. SILCOCK,
Chairman of the Friends Flood Relief Committee. Friends House, Euston Road, N.W. 1.
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