China's problems are enormous, complex, and inseparably inter: woven with each other. They have been vastly increased by the political chaos which prevailed almost constantly from 1911 to the end of 1928. The famine of 1928-1929 haa] been an inextricable part of this 108. Its causes go straight back'
chronic conditions of disorder, the crushing exactions of war' lords, the unchecked depredations of bandits, the configcatory taxes by. provincial despots, the paralyzed railways, with the consequent. restrictions upon commerce.
The American Red Cross Cor mission embraced the opportunity to meet General Chiang Kai-shek, head of the National Government, Dr. C. T, Wang, Minister of Foreig3 Alfairs, "and many other oticers occupying resp rational and scouping the seats of power. Everywhere young, men are directing affairs, but only: time can test their ability to unite China's strong men in the common ouse of the country's welfare, to remedy ancient abuses, disband th: useless and menacing armies which now prey upon the poverty-stricken people, and inaugurate an era of peace and progress.
By far the greatest need in China te-day is the -development of consciousness on the part of the Chinese people respecting some of the fundamental causes of famine in their country, The people of China would give more thought these underlying causes if they were chuged to assume responsibility for the resulting relief needs, and large measure of relief from outside sources cannot but retard the development of this public opinion Without which no real progress can expected.
The situation then embraces twa!
coblems, one of immediate relief for the destitute people in.thoge areas in which food supply inadequate, and the other a programme of preventive _measures that will tend to overcome the chronic famine situation " confronting the country. Such problems can and should be worked out by the government and people of China themselves. The immediate relief problem, now rapidly subsiding due to recent rains, is not of such cannot be handled
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.