To the Editor of the "Norta-Cuiya Dairy News."
Sir,—I have read with much interest the letter appearing in your correspondence columns yesterday signed by "A Victim." Although it is headed "Crime in the Settlement," it does not require much intelligence to understand that it constitutes a veiled attack on the whole Russian community We in Shanghai of course, are familiar with the circumstances surrounding the influx of certain undesirables into China but the letter under review will tend, in my opinion, to produce a very unfavourable impression when read by those whose knowledge of the facts is superficial. It is, therefore, all the more necessary for friends of our Russian neighbours to combat this pernicious propaganda indulged in by certain elements.
That undesirable Russians are present in Shanghai in large num-hers, novene can deny, but why does "A Victim" single them out for special castigation. If looked at, the matter in perspective, he.would realize that the conditions at present obtaining in Russia are responsible for the large Russian population in our midst and the appearance of crooks and other undesirables amongst them is inevitable. Bad characters exist in every community and I make bold to say that the Settlement would be confronted with the same problem were a few thousand Englishmen from Limehouse or Americams from the Bowery. to make Shanghai their happy hunting ground.
"A Victim" makes reference to a case outlined in the Mixed Court last week when a Russian was sentenced to gaol for obtaining a case of beer by false pretences. Tt may enlighten him to know that this individual as well as others figure ing in Court cases recently, belong to the remnants of the White Guard bands that have operated in Siberia months ago under the protection of Simionov, Kalmykoff and adventurers of their kind. All respectable Russians dissociate themselves from the acts of these bandits whose deeds for several years past have been characterized by ruthlessness and the oppression of the Russian peasant population. It is not fair to judge a great nation like the Russian by the acts of a criminal few. Then again, "Victim" refers to the many other offences committed by Russians here such as conspiracy, extortion and blackmail. This may be true but "Victim" should know that a large part of the Russian resident population of Shanghai is composed of the desfendants of those who were sent from European Russia to Siberia in order to serve gaol sentences. After the expiration of their terms, they left Siberia and settled in China. These people are not representative of Russia or the Russians. I am not a Slav but it has been my lot to live in Russia for several years. The Russians are one of the most idealistic people in the world. They are sympathetic and kind-natured. This is acknowledged by all impartial foreigners who have come into contact with them.
It is high time that the campaign of calumny that has been carried on against Russia canie to an end and you Sir, as chief of the senior organ in Shanghai which professes to be "Impartial but not Neutral," should give prominence to this fletter in order to remind "Victim" that his views regarding the Rus sians are not shared by everyone. I take it that he is of Allied nationality in which case it would be well for him to remember that it was the heroic efforts of the Russian armies during the first phases of the European War that stemmed the Genman advance on Paris. He should also remember that Russia sustained 7,000,000 casualties during the conflict. A knowledge of these facts may tend to curb his anti-Russian tendencies, The prestige of Russia has fallen sufficiently low without additional criticisms being levelled against, If "Victim" has any complaint against any individual Russian, let that party bear the full brunt of his attack but that is no reason why he should condemn a whole nation.
T am, tes Shanghai, Dec. 29,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.