With the Voluntary War Contribution Fund within £1,000 of the amount of £50,000 required for an immediate gift to His Majesty's Government from loyal Britons of China, the Success of H. E. the Ambassador's radio appeal on June 29 last is assured. The money has come in from all classes of the British community, and, while some names are still missing from the lists, it is hoped that' their owners will no longer delay in doing their bit. Surely if all ranks of the 2nd Battalion The East Surrey Regiment in Shanghai, can signify their disappointment that they are not actually at grips with the enemy, by coming forward with so splendid a gift as $48,595.68, those who may never be called upon to fight for their country should likewise do their share. When it is realized that approximately' $3,000,000 have been raised by a comparatively small community in just a little over a month, Britons in China may well be satisfied with their effort. A very large proportion of British subjects in China are still paid in Chinese currency, which explains why the dollar lists which have been published, were always longer than the sterling Ones. In the circumstances the effort of the British community in China compares very favourably with those which have been made in Hongkong and Singapore, while if it had been favoured with the exchange those other places enjoy the result in sterling would have been far more imposing. Nevertheless the effort must not stop at providing this initial gift. The whole idea of the fund is that subscribers should give monthly what they possibly can in the shape of what amounts to voluntary taxation. By this means the British community in China can demonstrate that the discipline of loyalty, of love of country and faith in victory is all that is necessary to move them to give whatever support they can to their Government, and that compulsion is not and will not become necessary. It is a matter for pride that Britons have responded so splendidly to the appeal, and for greater pride when they show that this initial effort will not be allowed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.