8
and economically applied.
However, most valuable of all
would be the presence of one or more British Ambulance
Units, which besides, as Dr. Lim suggests, doing useful
training work, would provide visible proof that we are
fulfilling, in a small way, but in an important and non-
controversial sphere, our pledges of assistance to China.
I should be most grateful for anything you could do towards
bringing Dr. Lim's suggestions to the notice of any
individuals or organisations in Great Britain who might
be likely to help. We still hear a good deal out here of
the sympathy for China expressed by the general public at
home and assistance on the lines suggested seems to offer
a good means of giving practical effect to those feelings.
A further way in which we might help has since
been brought to my notice. The Red Cross Medical Relief
Commission are apparently greatly hampered by a shortage
of tents for dressing stations and for accommodating
wounded. The Military Attaché is convinced that the need
is urgent and recommends that we should make an effort to
supply, for a start, 50 "tents European pattern 750 pounds"
for dressing stations and 500 "tents 180 pounds single fly"
for accommodating wounded. These are apparently standard
patterns as used by the British Army and although manufactured
in India are readily obtainable in England. The Major-
General, Shanghai, confirms that these patterns would be
suitable.
I wonder if you would mind investigating the
possibility
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possibility of this means of assistance. I hesitate to
approach the Lord Mayor's Fund Committee here for a grant
for this purpose, since their available funds are already
earmarked for civilian relief and there would be considerable
opposition and delay. The tents are needed urgently now
and if any funds are available in Great Britain I would
recommend their being devoted to this purpose. I imagine
that even old tents out of Army stock might prove useful
but clearly time would be saved if the tents could be
shipped direct from India where they are made. They should
in any case be consigned to Dr. Robert Lim, Director,
Medical Relief Commission, National Red Cross of China,
at Hong Kong.
Would you mind seeing what can be done?
Yours ever,
(Sgd) A.C.K.
age 9
age
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COPY.
NATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETY OF CHINA.
Medical Relief Commission.
Changsha, August 3, 1938.
age 10
10
Dear Sir Archibald,
I beg to present a brief confidential report of the medical
services of the Chinese Army, and of the auxiliary medical
service rendered by the National Red Cross Society of China.
You have very kindly offered to lay our case before British
organizations who are anxious to help the Chinese people, and I
therefore take this opportunity to place before you some of the
more urgent needs of this country in this respect. The needs
are everywhere so great that it is difficult to know how to
render help efficiently. Insufficiency of funds, and thus the
lack of medical equipment and supplies can be largely remedied
through the aid of foreign sympathizers. But the care and
treatment of the wounded is a task which foreign friends can do
little to help directly, because of language difficulties, lack
of adequate organization in which foreign helpers can work
and the enormous numbers of such helpers which would be required.
Besides, this task is one which the Chinese people are anxious
to perform themselves
as a duty to their comrades in arms
They need help in order to learn how to
and to their country.
carry out this task efficiently.
Improvement of medical
organization and training of personnel for medical service are
being undertaken by the new Medical Service Training School. Financial aid and the assistance of foreign instructors, especially
an organized group as represented by a Field Hospital or Ambulance
Unit, are therefore solicited in order that the effectiveness of
the school can be augmented to the utmost.
H.E. Sir Archibald Clark-Kerr,
Government House,
Hongkong.
I
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