Peking, Mar. 17.
The International Famine Relief Committee have issued the following statement:—
"Failing at the eleventh hour to fulfil his promised support, Tuchun Tien Chun-yn of Shantung is responsible for the delay in beginning engineering work to close the two mile Yellow River break in and around the Lichin district of Shan-ung.
"The break caused the flood in Shantung early last autumn, depriving multitudes of farms and homes and drowning thousands of-inhabitants of that region.
"The cost of closing the break was variously estimated by the Chinese contractors associated with the Chinese authorities at four to five million dollars. That the work was not commenced any earlier was mainly due to the lack of necessary un "Lately, however, through the intermediary of the International Famine Relief Committee, a foreign engineer was sent to the scene and was asked to submit a bid. The engineer was willing to sign a contract to complete the job within a specified time, subject to a penalty for every day the work remained uncompleted after the contracted period, at a cost of $950,000.
A Broken Promrse, "The matter met with the approval of the Tuchun of Shantung, General Tien Chung-yn, who promised support and agreed to furnish guarantees for payment to the contractors when the contract was signed.
"The contract was about to be signed when the Tuchun failed to furnish the promised guarantee and the prospect for closing the break is as dark as ever.
"In reporting the withdrawal of the promised support, an International Famine Relief worker wired in the following terms:
Tien Tuchun fails produce guarantees, Half million homes Shantung doomed. American firm engineers called in produce absolute guarantee to close big Yellow River break by July first, at cost of nine hundred fifty thousand dollars. Chinese estimates four to five millions. Asia Development Company, president Whitham, chief engineer Todd came at Governor's request. They waited three days after date sct for signing contract. Governor fails produce guarantors or security and sacrifices only chance of saving people from summer floods. Four hsiens still under mud and water. No hope for crops or re-establish homes. Region will be continuously reflooded until break repaired. Thousands must evacuate. No place to go.'"—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.