CO129-571-10 Sino-Japanese War- Medical Relief Commission of the National Red Cross Society of China 12-9-1938 - 7-10-1938 — Page 8

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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.

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