AN ENTHUSIAST IN CHINA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 792, 24 September 1954, Page 5

AN ENTHUSIAST IN CHINA

Sir-TI realise only too well the difficulty of including everything in the limited space allowed a book review, but there are one or two points that may be mentioned to amplify David Hall’s review of Journey to New China. Mrs. Garland was at some pains to set down the few things that did impress her unfavourably during her stay in China, g., the security police who listened in on the interview with the Baptist minister, and the former landlord who appeared to have been coached as to what he was to say. Also, she read "out" literature on the train to counteract the Government handouts. On the point of Tibet: many Chinese, who may, of course, be wrong, have long regarded Tibet as an integral part of China. Mrs. Garland’s account of Hong Kong tallies very well with accounts-I have not been there to see for myself-of the general conditions prevailing before the influx of the two million refugees. Tm very glad Mrs. Garland went to China and wrote her book. I think David

Hall is, too, I hope now some or all of the other delegates will write their accounts of the trip.

RON J.

SCARLETT

(Christchurch).

Sir-If your correspondent H. W. Youren has the patience to re-read my review of Mrs, Garland’s book, he will see that two at least of the crimes of which he convicts me exist only in his imagination. One, the only reference to Rewi Alley, is factual: "and also made a conducted tour with Rewi Alley and interpreters at her elbow." Two, I showed no disrespect for the desire of the Chinese people for peace; what distressed me was the cynical exploitation of this natural human feeling. As Mr. Youren accompanied Mrs. Garland to China, I was interested in his statement that the "impartial visitor" could find something to criticise in the New China. It seems a pity that a mere desire to thwart Mr. Dulles should seal the lips of so fair-minded a man. re DAVID HALL (Dunedin).