During the month of February, when we had been pretty de sperate for funts Father Joy had told Mr. Levale, the Argentine Consul in Hongkong, about us. le had sent us a 100 with his best wishes and romised to do all ne could for us, including getting us some money. I had written him to thank him, but had not trought of him again, doubting if he wuld be able to do anything for us. A telegram which Mr. Keller received some days later from the Uwies Legation ex lained that the K 1,000 were from Mr. Lavale, who had passed the hat er¬und in Tokyo for us. It is hard to beliew such kindness, from a men whom we had never even met. Still, there was the thousand yen, and I was able to leave longkong with money in my
pocket. It was a great kindness on the part of Mr. Lavale. And the same telegram said that the British Goverment were unable to relax the restrictions on the use of British funds in enemy occupied territory, for the benefit of Mrs. Martin. So, apparently what Mr. Reeves said wea true. That also seems herd to believe. I am reserving judgment until I have some explanation. He would have
starved if it hadn't been for” charity on the part of the Japanese, Mr. Nemazec and Mr. Lavale.
He
Eг. Cda, who loved a sparring match, often twitted ne on the fact tant the British Government did nothing for us, asked me what was the matter with Mr. Reeves, who was in position to help us. As I could give him no explanation, I changed the subject usually. He referred to it sɛmin and again. I think he liked teasing ce, he found I was pretty quick with a comeback, enjoyed an exchange of wite. I needed to be at the top of my form when talking with him, he is as quick as lightning in following up a thought. did so much to help us, and me, when I was left alone. Sometimes it was just the barest hint or suggestion, you had to give the closest attention to every word he said, For instance, he had moved to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank building to take charge of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs. Any one goin, into the building was obliged to pass through the big main front door, the rear entrance on Queen'e Toad was closed after a short time. To go in one had to go mă register one's name, the person one wished to see, natierality, and other particulars with a very unpleasant Japanese clerk and receive a numbered slip of cloth which was to be pinnet on to om's coat. Sitting opposite this clerk was a file of fiw? soldiers, of the baboon type, even more truculent than the clerk,' and' on the way through the door, just to one side of it, were several basins of filthy water, in which one was obliged to wash hands. Fortunately no cloths for drying wore mipylded. The whole matter of getting into the builing was umple asent for a European and there we constant danger of incidents. have seen Chinese called back by the soldiers en greatly humiliated by the way they were shuted at and seerohad.
One morning Mr. (đa said to me, spropas of nothing in particular, "Did you come in the book way?" he barely mentioned it, and did not reply when I said "hi I thought it was closed.” The hint was enough though, I found the back door open, with only a Japanese lad and his young friend in charge, all very simple and easy. Mr. Ode gave ordure for me to be brought in to see him without waiting my turm with other
visitors,
100
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.