August 20th 1927
My dear Miss Addams,
Thank you so very much for sending me those interesting letters regarding China. I am glad to find that Prof. Rufus Jones finds that it is possible to do constructive work there.
There are many difficulties in the way of our Delegation. And money is of course the chief difficulty. The schema has not aroused much practical enthusiasm [page 2] in Europe, and clearly it will be quite impossible to carry it out in its original form.
I think we must postpone it for a time & earmark the fund already raised to be held in reserve until a [favorable] opportunity arises for work in China. I note that you are recommending the American Section to give some further assistance financially. This is very generous and I am sure all those [page 3] interested in the plan will appreciate very keenly any ↑additional↓ help coming from U.S.A.
I wonder if it would be wise to devote any or all of the "Reserve Fund" to this purpose, if all are agreed that the delegation must be delayed and its composition somewhat altered? -- I would rather propose that the work in the Balkans so urgently appealed for by Madame Drevet & Dr. Hilda [Clark], should be financed from this Fund and undertaken [page 4] this autumn. We ought not to neglect any opportunity for work in so disturbed & disturbing an area as the Balkans.
The American Section were quite right in believing that the Liège Committee left them absolutely free to appoint their own delegate to the China Mission, without any further sanction from the Executive. And we certainly intended the American Delegate to form act as an integral part of the whole Delegation.
We had however in our [page 5] minds the idea that the Delegates ought to be new to China, & we had a little doubt whether Mrs. Grover [Clark's] previous affiliations with the Chinese people might create any slight doubt in the minds of those to whom the Delegation approached as to their entire lack of prejudice. -- Everything however which we afterwards heard about Mrs. Grover [Clark], & what you now say [page 6] about her, confirmed our faith in the right [judgment] of the American Section.
You understand I think that the unfortunate misunderstandings with the British Section (now happily cleared up) created complexities on all sides.
With very warm regards,
Sincerely yours
Louie Bennett
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