CO129-563-19 Sino-Japanese War- fund for relief of distress in China 5-10-1937 - 17-11-1937 — Page 50

THE FUND FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN CHINA

MINUTES of the first meeting of the General Committee constituted

at a meeting held on October 7th at 3 p.m. at 3,Lombard Street, E.C.3. of the Signatories of the Appeal published in the Press on October 2, 1937, the Committee meeting following upon that of the Signatories.

The following were present:

Sir Charles Addis, K.C.M.G. Mr. D.G.M. Bernard

Dame Rachel rowdy

Mr. Lionel Curtis

Lady Hosie

Mr.Adrian C.Moreing, M.P.

Lt. Gen. Sir George Macdonogh, G.B.E.,K.C.B.,K.C.M.G. Sir Edward R. Peacock,G.C.V.O.

There were also present, though not as Signatories, the following:-

Dr.H. Balme, F.R.C.S.(ex officio Conference of British

Missionary Societies)

Commissioner A.H. Barnett, C.B.E.(representing the

Salvation Army)

The Rev.A.G.Castleton (representing the Rev.M.E.Aubrey) Mr. R.J.Davidson (representing Mr. ".Littleboy)

!2)

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Mr. FC. Davies, OMB.E. (ex officio British Red Cross Society) The Rev.S.H.Dixon (ex officio Conference of British

Missionary Societies)

Lt.-Gen.Sir H.B.Fawcus (ex officio British Red Cross Society) Mr. E.M. Gull (ex officio China Association)

The Rev. H.B.Rattenbury (ex officio Conference of British

Missionary Societies)

Mr.G.Slater-Booth (ex officio British Red Cross Society) Mrs. G. Young (representing Friends of the Chinese People)

BUSINESS TRANSACTED:

I.

2.

On the proposal of Sir George Macdonogh Sir Harold Fawcus, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, was asked to take the Chair.

The Committee considered the following general principles in relation to the administration of the Fund:

(1) The statement contained in the appeal, as published ·

on October 2. i.e. "The money and material sent to China will be administered by an organisation to be constituted in that country under the Presidency of H.M.Ambassador, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen and the Vice-Presidency of the Governor of Hongkong, Sir Geoffry Northcote".

(2) Extract from a letter from Mr. Lionel Curtis to the

Secretary of the China Association dated September 30,1937.

"I think it is a cardinal mistake to send money to

China except for the relief of our own fellow countrymen in dis tress. So far as the Chinese civilians are concerned who have been mutilated by Japanese bombs and shells what is needed is a rushing out to China of surgeons and medical equipment through the agency of the Red Cross.

At present

neither surgeons nor medical equipment can be got for money in China".

(3) The relative position which the relief of British sufferers,

as distinct from Chinese sufferers, is to hold in the scheme of relief.

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