FAMINE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1920, Page 4

FAMINE IN CHINA

A CONSUL’S COMMENT. WELLINGTON, Nov. 15. Mr Lin Shill Yuan, the Chinese Consul at Wellington, writes to the Press Association as follows: 1 am very much aggrieved to see a telegram from Pekin, dated November 9, giving .statistics relating to the appalling famine, which is causing so .great a loss of life in the Chili Pro vince in China, but I was much hurt at the concluding paragraph which says that the white element is doing all that is possible to alleviate the distress but is practically powerless against the supine attitude of the Government. The compiler of the telegram is obviously in absolute ignorance,- for I have received many cable messages from the -Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking for assistance from all Chinese abroad, and also intimating that the Government is making a levy on all Government officials throughout the country to the extent of a fifth of their salaries, for a period of three months, apart from those who have already subscribed liberally in order to help the sufferers That a few superstitious persons con-. sider that the famine is a visitation from Heaven, to clear an. overcrowded land, is not remarkable in view of the ideas held by certain sects among Western people, who, I am told, believe the doors of heaven are open only to those who adhere to a particular belief, but I can assure you sympathy, with fellow creatures in distress is not nr. uncommon virtue among Chinese.! I would be obliged if you would give' publicity to tl»is correction, ns the tone of your telegram is calculated to cause tension between China and the west.