The Sino-Foreign Committee, presided over by Mr. W. H. Plant, an American member of the Shanghai Municipal Council, should have full support from the community in its work of ce-ordinating the evacuation of refugees. Subscriptions should be sent in favour of that committee to the Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation direct. The great need is promptness, for the essence of the problem with which the Committee is dealing is time. The more quickly machinery can be moved to evacuate the refugees from Shanghai, the less serious will be the burden en the economic and civic fabric of a stricken ity. It is estimated that about 1,000,000 people have been added to the population of the Settlement and the French Concession combined from outlying districts as well as from those parts of Shanghai which have come under the continuous blight of military operations. © About 200,000 have been evacuated or have left of their own accord.
Of the refugees it is thought that about 100,000 are destitute. The process of evacuation will not greatly reduce that destitution for the figure is automatically swollen as the days pass by the transfer of the self-supporting to the ranks of those without visible means of subsistence. The various associations which are tackling this urgent task are deserving of the utmost support &&d the Committee with its well-chosen personnel, assured of adequate business supervision and expert guidance, should have the unhesitating beneficence of the community at its command. Various Chinese organizations are already doing well in this regard. It seems that the present appeal should commend itself particularly to large Chinese business firms who, apart from their natural feelings of solicitude for the welfare of the less fortunate of their countrymen, will gladly welcome an opportunity to make a substantial contribution to the restoration of economic stability here. It is obvious that so long as the refugees are held up in this blind alley of stagnation they are a definite handicap to Shanghai's recuperation which, in the long run, must work to their benefit as well as to that of Shanghailanders themselves.
Taken in the mass these refugees merit the most sympathetic attention which Shanghai can give, for their general conduct and docility have been remarkable. It is not difficult to imagine the straits to which many of them have been reduced by loss of all their little worldly possessions, by severe shocks sustained during the strain and stress of some cruel experiences, by sheer bewilderment regarding the meaning of the craziness around them. Yet, mutely questioning, trying their to find some place where they can be allowed to stay in comparative peace, striving by whatever means to preserve their personal integrity, these pathetic groups of Chinese citizens awaken pity in the mind of the most casual observer. The spirit of helpfulness which they display toward eactr other is truly remarkable. It should be inspiring to Shanghailanders who may well adopt Dido's words: "Non ignara mali succurrere miseries disco" or as the Cockney ballad freely but succinctly translates it "It's the poor what elbs the poor." Shanghai is not yet indigent. it can however sense the comradeship of indigence and this certainly will give an additional stimulus to the springs of charity which so naturally find scope in this country where the obligations of the family system are so much revered. There is a practical reason for swift benevolence "for, as a Chinese magnate of no little force of character and by no means lacking in finer feeling has observed, the evacuation of the refugees is a direct insurance against future trouble. Quietness and patience have their limits.
Foreign firms and individual foreigners have already shown their appreciation of this need. A munificent donation. from New York led the way. The Municipality of the City Government of Shanghai and the, Shanghai Municipal Council have already weighed in with thumping support. It is believed that the French Municipal Council is following suit. The opportunity thus to assert the solidarity of Shanghai should not be foregone, Even small donations will) mark the right spirit of this time of distress. Above all it is essential that the men who have much should do much to prove their effective ce-operation in the social life from which they draw so many benefits. That this appeal is not made without confidence in its success is evident from the enthusiasm with which the Committee has assumed its task. In particular it is fitting to commend the energy and practical guidance of Mr. Vu Ya-ching who, from opinions expressed in responsible quarters, is adjudged to have: earned the special gratitude of Shanghai for the yeoman service rendered by him in this evacuation. It must be remembered that for many of the unemployed jobs are not likely to be available here for some time to come: It is true that conditions are improving. One Chinese textile mill for example is said to be resuming on part time and others may be expected to follow suit. Some concerns, however, have been closed and will, in all probability never reopen. Shanghai will have to be content with a shrunken "industrial organization for the present at any rate. Reduction of the number of its inhabitants is therefore a prudent measure of practical economics. The chief thing for Shanghai to consider is that these refugees are in its midst. The figure of 1,000,000 is held by some good judges to be conservative and that, if the situation could be closely studied, it might be put as high as 1,500,000. Moreover the destitution figure of 100,000 does not fully) cover the plight of refugees who, although not desperate in their economic state, are actually without homes. These, it is said, amount to some 300,000 who are finding accommodation in odd corners of the municipal areas available to them, sleeping on' staircases, in empty public buildings (including cinemas) and the like. Obviously this condition cannot be allowed to persist any longer than is absolutely unavoidable. The call therefore is for funds to strengthen the arm of the ce-ordinating committee by immediately raising the total at its disposal to the $200,000 required.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.