A mosting of the Executive Committes was held at 22, Kiangse Road, yesterday afternoon, Mr, F. Anderson presiding.
Detailed reports concerning the distress in the Liaoyang and Mukden districts, to alleviate which a special. and urgent appeal is being made, were before the imeoting, together with the following minute-of the Newchwang Committee, dated 27th of "Phe Committee had before them st their last meeting reports both from the Chinese agents of the Society and Dr. Westwater regarding the destitute condition of the Lisoyang district, and in view of these reports the Committee deemed it necessary to lay before the Central Committee the fact that if they were to be in a position to deal adequately with that situation as. then reported the sum of Tls.-100,000 would be required. Before. taking any the Committee instituted an inv. tion on a wider scale and a more thorough nature, and the report of this investiga tion is now before. the Committee. It shows—
(1).—That while there is great suffering and privation still in the Liaoyang district, with regard to the food supply the help already given by the Society will suffice to tide the people over till the harvest, and that in consequence there is no further large expenditure required in that district.
(2),—That on the Mukden side of the Shaho there are 30,000 destitute people, who have not received relief of any kind, (3).—That through the whole of the Shaho district there are at least 30,000 returned refugees who are still homeless.
In addition to these facts it is to be remembered that there are more than 3,000 refugees still in the Society's refuges in Mukden, Kaiyuan, the neighbourhood of Hsinmintun, and Kuangming, and the likelihood of more distress further north as long as the war continues, In view of these facts the Committee ar still of opinion that a very large sum will be required for future needs. "Meantime, in case that the Tls. 100,09 already requested has not been paid into the bank, the Committee request that the sum of Tls. 25,000 be placed to their credit in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Shanghai to meet present requirements,"
Tt was decided to comply with this request and to telegraph to the Rev. James Webster at Newchwang to that effect.
Letters were read in reply to the special oppos's sent by the Chairman for assist. ance in raising the Tls. 100,000 required. The President of the local German and American Associations each stated that the appeal had been forwarded to Home Associations. The Tien: sin British Municipal Council expressed their full sympathy with the movement, but urged that with most of the residents away at Peitaiho or other resorts it was advisable, to post-holding a meeting for the time being. rom Hongkong also came a reply that it was not deemed expedient to make an appeal at the present, when so mary local Ihinese charities were in need of furni but H. E. the Governor forwarded: 8 personal donation Letters have also been sent to Singapore and. London, but no replies have as yet been received.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.