Nanking Page #3

trying to see what Christians

can do in this present situation.

Are we to stand by hopelessly,

or is there something we can do?

And if so, what?

Telegram we sent

to the Japanese Ambassador.

"An international committee

composed of nationals of Denmark,

"Germany, Great Britain,

and the United States

"desires to suggest

to the Chinese and Japanese authorities

"the establishment of a Safety Zone

for civilian refugees at or near Nanking.

"The committee would respectfully request

a prompt reply

"from the Japanese authorities

to this proposal."

We will bear tremendous responsibility

if we first order the remaining populace

of Nanking into the neutral zone

and then later are turned down

by the Japanese.

To our surprise, the big-hearted German

who we'd elected chairman

turned out to be

the National-Socialist leader here.

I continue to hope that Hitler will help us.

He has deep sympathy,

not only for the distress of his own people,

but for the anguish of the Chinese as well.

So now, it turns out that the burden of work

is to be carried out

by a group of American missionaries

and a group of German Nazi businessmen.

At 2:
30,

as I walked down Shanghai Road,

again and again, I met groups of women

and children in search of the Safety Zone.

I told them that it was not yet certain,

but when it was, they would be notified.

The Safety Zone is not yet assured.

Telegram

to the United States Embassy.

"Japanese authorities

have duly noted request for a Safety Zone

"but regret cannot grant it."

According to radio reports, London regards

this reply as a flat-out refusal.

We're of a different opinion here.

Their answer is cleverly couched

in diplomatic terms,

leaving a back door open.

Mayor Ma virtually turned over to us

administrative responsibilities for the Zone,

along with a police force of 450 men,

2,000 tons of rice, 10,000 bags of flour,

and some salt.

Since Mayor Ma

left Nanking yesterday,

and since the committee is forced to deal

with all the administrative problems

and workings inside our Safety Zone,

I've, in face of this, become something

very like an acting mayor.

Enough to give you a fit, Rabe.

The Japanese are now nearing

the halfway mark from Shanghai

and we have already heard

the rumble of big guns.

Thousands of refugees are fleeing

into our so-called Safety Zone

from all directions.

The sight of the poorest of the poor

wandering aimlessly in the streets

is enough to make you weep.

As it grows dark, some families,

unable to find shelter anywhere,

stretch out to sleep

in nooks and alcoves of buildings,

or simply on the street, despite the cold.

We are working feverishly

to develop the Zone.

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