20 AUGUST 1965, Page 7

The Tempest

The appalling destruction caused by almost a week of savage storms all over Chile must seriously endanger President Frei's programme of reforms. The washing away of houses so that 25,000 people are now said to be homeless, the widespread loss of seed crops, the damage through silting to immigration schemes, these are things which the country can hardly stand. The earth- quake last March was serious enough, but that affected only three provinces. This week's storms affect twenty-two. At the time of writing, no British relief fund appears to have been set up, but it must be soon. It is a cause worth helping.