§ 18. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any further information regarding the relief work for the victims of the Yangtse flood; and what is the present attitude of His Majesty's Government in this matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)As regards the first part of the question, I am publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT such information as has reached me. In reply to the second part of the question, the position has not altered since my reply to the hon. Member on the 17th of February.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs it correct to say that some Governments have given assistance to foreigners in those areas and that our own Government has not?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe memorandum which I am publishing will contain all that information.
§ Following is the information:
§ In September, 1931, the Assembly of the League of Nations adopted two Resolutions in regard to the floods in China. In the same month these Resolutions were implemented by the Council, who instructed the Secretariat to communicate copies to all the Governments.
§ In response to this appeal it is understood that the following contributions were notified to the League. (Many were made which do not appear here as they were made directly to China):—
§ Contributions in money were made by the Belgian Red Cross, the United States Red Cross, the Red Crescent Society of Turkey and the Swedish Red Cross.
§ Contributions of medicines et cetera were made by the University of Toronto, the State Serum Institute of Denmark, the Pasteur Institute of Saigon and the Governments of Egypt, Indo-China, India, the Netherlands, the Netherlands East Indies, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Yugoslavia.
11§ Contributions of medical personnel were made by the Governments of Egypt, the United States, Indo-China, Netherlands East Indies and Spain.
§ In addition to these, contributions of various kinds were made by private organisations and individuals in several countries, including a monetary contribution from the Society of Friends in England.
§ When the laboratory resources of China were organised in view of the need for vaccines and sera all needed supplies were produced without difficulty, so that the health authorities found it unnecessary to accept many offers of this kind. Among contributions actually sent was one of anti-plague vaccine from the Government of India.
§ The medical director of the health section of the league arrived at Nanking in September, and placed himself at the disposal of the Chinese Government and its Flood Relief Commission. He remained in China till late in December. Professor Cinca and Doctors B. Borcic, C. L. Park, A. Stampar and T. F. Huang, all of the League Health Organisation, made surveys, gave advice and organised anti-epidemic campaigns.
§ All these activities are co-ordinated by Sir J. Hope Simpson, who, at the request of His Majesty's Government placed his services at the disposal of the Chinese Government and was appointed to be head of the National Flood Relief Commission.