Diary pages from this date

Shanghai people vaccinated this afternoon, but whether or not they will be going soon is in question because now a case of diphtheria is in camp - Mrs. Williams, who was in our room on Friday visiting Mrs. K.   Good work for Dr Y-E to diagnose right away.  Consternation and panic as soon as the Jap authorities knew.  Mrs Drown's concert cancelled, or postponed, and presumably all gatherings will be banned - Nativity plays etc. - another strange Christmas. Such a pity when everyone has been trying to make it as gay as possible under the circumstances.  Hospital out of bounds to visitors.

Bridge tonight, I played with Kelly and let him down badly, through ignorance principally.  Tony came up and joined in.

Father Hessler asked Mum to be President of the Ladies' Catholic Action Group, which she will.  She had a blood count, - OK; still having thiamine dosing, her leg much better.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is allowed to visit Shamshuipo POW Camp and Bowen Road Military Hospital. Delegate C. A. Kengelbacher - down from Tokyo - is careful not to criticise the Japanese too severely in his report to Geneva - with good reason, as all Red Cross reports were read by the authorities and outright condemnation would have led to the cessation of contact.

He also meets Dr. Selwyn-Clarke who impressed on him the need for the speedy repatriation of women, children, the sick, the infirm and the aged. He also asks him to try to get permission for the resumption of the scheme whereby Stanleyites who need X-rays or other special services are allowed to be taken to the French Hospital.

Sources:

Kengelbacher 'Rapport' dated 9, March 1943, and Camille Gorgé to Politisches Interesses, Berne, Telegram 178, 26.2.43 both in E2001-02#1000/114#807*  (Swiss Federal Archives, Berne)

Case of suspected diphtheria in I.Q. Block 13 (Mrs. Williams): Concert cancelled.

Chinese PM.

((G.))