Letter From China

The following consists of excerpts from a letter sent by Chao-Chu Chi '52, formerly of Eliot House, to some of his friends at Harvard. After living in this country for ten years Chao returned to his home in China last summer. The CRIMSON publishes this letter in the belief that it is of general interest to Harvard students.

When the ship docked at Hong-Kong, British police came abroad and guarded us while were ushered ashore. Our suitcases and baggage were immediately taken care of by an express company (private company of the People's Republic of China). All the expenses for moving the luggage to Canton were paid by the Chinese Government.

The train stopped at the border line and we were marched two by two across the Chinese border. I looked up and saw for the first time our national flag waving in the distance. I suddenly burst into tears, as soon as I crossed the border I felt like flinging myself down on the railroad track and just lying there. I was in a pitiful state all that day. I felt I must laugh, mustn't let people see me-almost a grown man crying like a child. But the more the Liberation army men sang and performed for us, the more the tears came. Loud-speakers began playing the "International" and then a Chinese song: "East is Becoming Red, the Sun is Rising in the East." Liberation army men and cadres rushed up and helped us with our hand baggage. Then we were invited into the train station, drank tea, and chatted.

Welcomed with Red Banners

When the train for Canton came we boarded the First Class. At Canton a welcoming delegation met us with various Red banners saying "Welcome Home" etc. (As soon as we entered China, we didn't have to carry anything because various cadres carried it all for us.) Several times especially prepared with welcoming banners then took us to Ai Chun Hotel, one of the two best hotels in Canton. There was a feast prepared for us, but because I was already late, there were no speeches or activities that night. We visited a large celebration several days after of the first anniversary of Canton's liberation, in which we had grandstand seats. Then we visited a college the training cadres, or for political training in general for those who wanted it. Again the students performed for us. As we were leaving a group of students came dancing out and bid us farewell, we joined them in dancing. (Yanko dance--forbidden by the Kuomintang--a peasant dance symbolizing harvesting.) We were also invited to various public demonstrations; one was about the necessity for serious health rules such as not spitting all over the place, where to go if ill, the need for X-rays, why one should go to maternity hospital instead of staying at home, etc.

When we arrived in Peking (many students went elsewhere) we were again met by a welcoming delegation and were brought to a place especially for returning students. Food and lodging were free. It was like an employment and placement agency. The purpose of the place was to find jobs for us. We filled out a blank about our schooling, training, and a short biography. Various job offers came almost daily; we could take or leave them. Also, of course, we went out and looked for jobs, helped by the educational department if help is requested or required. There were no requests or even suggestions that we take a political training course. It is entirely up to us, some even advised against it. One wanted to go, but the education department advised against it because his health wasn't good and the college life might be too hard for him. I was different however, I didn't want jobs or political training. I wanted to re-enter college. I dashed about getting examined for college and I applied to Peking University. My surprise--I was immediately admitted. But by now I was already convinced that Tsinghua would be better for me. I didn't know what to do. Upon returning home (my father was very happy that I came home) I discovered that I was admitted, to the second year as a "borrowed student."

Fat Children and Dirty Faces

Your questions about "starvation," living conditions, and sanitation are quite easily answered. In Canton I saw two beggars. Up to now, after 3 1/2 months in Peking, I haven't seen one beggar. I made it a point to ask each tricycle driver (taking the place of rickshaws) his opinion of the present government. Without exception, everyone of them happily answered that it is now much better. Their main reasons are that there are no more fears of starving the next day; and that they can feel that the money they earn is really trustworthy. Before, the money they earned in the morning might be worthless in the afternoon. Also they didn't know when a Kuomintang officer would suddenly come along and drag them into the army, leaving their families to starve. (There is no military conscription at present.) I have gone to various villages, and although the little children often have dirty faces, they seem fat enough.

There are health posters all over the place, as numerous as your advertisements. The best thing about these posters I think, is that they inform the people of the things they can all do. For instance, how they can arrange a stove chimney so that the family won't get CO poisoning, why one should go to the toilet and not on the ground, why one should not spit on the floor, etc. Many of the health posters in the U. S. say to see your dentist twice a year, see your doctor, but for people without money this is of no use. Our posters tell what the people can do themselves. For things like TB, we tell the people what the symptoms are and where to go for treatment. The ratio of doctors is admittedly poor. So is our individual output. This is not due to the present government, but to thousands of years of feudalism and one hundred years of Imperialism. Our railway milege now exceeds that of pre-war China.

Less Beggars than in New York

"Widespread starvation" is now non-existent. Beggars used to be literally lying all over the streets, I remember from my childhood. Now there are even less in Peking than in New York. Canton has a few, but Canton is not as well administered and was liberated later than Peking. During last year's competition to see which city is best administered, Peking received, I think, five red stars. Tientsin also received five stars, but Canton received none. Hankow, a little worse than Canton, received the black star. About the worker's attitude, on the train leaving Canton we tried to tip some of the trainmen because they were exceptionally courteous and helpful to us--but when we offered a tip we were not only refused, but told to sit down and given a half hour lecture about how we workers are masters, none of this patronizing by tipping anymore.

A few months ago there was a request by our government that youthful students and workers of good educational background volunteer for various officer training schools (army, navy, air force). In the request it was emphasized that it must be completely voluntary. In subsequent articles and speech it was repeatedly emphasized that no pressure of any sort must be exerted on anyone to volunteer. With all this, in Tsinghua University (2500 students) over 1000 students decided to volunteer . . .

No Fear of A-Bomb

Your letter expressed the fear that a world conflict might "destroy the entire body of the world." We in China do not share this fear. All the people I have spoken to about the atom bomb, from illiterate peasants to college professors, have no fear of the bomb. I have thus far seen no hysteria to compare with that of the U. S. just before I left. It is true that we have no intentions or wishes to to fight a world war. It would set our industrial output (now exceeding pre-Japanese war China) many years back. It would result in the death of many of our people . . .

I have found people to argue with. But the arguments are the ones that would occur with people less left than myself, or with people who know little but like to use slogans only. Things are quite exciting here. As far as school work goes, it is very similar to the old grind at Harvard. Some texts: Sherwood and Taylor, Fieser and Fieser, Darrely, "Physical Chemistry" etc. Similar professors too, i.e., inspiring ones and dull one, but all Chinese of course. Same worry over exams and also exams of same difficulty (most of the Chem. exams are in English, one--Industrial Chem.--is in Chinese but the instructor translated a copy into English for me). The lab equipment of course still is worse than Harvard equipment. But generally we do all the experiments Harvard does, except often on a smaller or less accurate scale. Nevertheless I have six afternoons of lab (1-5 P.M.) per week and will have it again next semester.

Thanks a lot for sending the international stamp, but with made men ranting about in the U. S. Congress and elsewhere there is no telling when the mail will be stopped--so I will use air mail. The high value you see on the stamp is an indication of inflation, but post inflation. For about three months after the liberation, inflation continued. Since then for 1 1/2 years there has been no inflation, but the large numbers have not yet been eliminated from the money bills . . . Chao