Tokyo Emissary

Russell L. Durgin '15, American representative of the International Y.M.C.A. in Tokyo, Japan, was reported by the Associated Press in March as being in charge of "arrangements for aid to United States and British prisoners of war in Japan." Mrs. Durgin, who was thought to have left Japan on December 2, went unreported for weeks until a Swiss Legation cable, "Durgins together free well," reassured their friends.

The Y.M.C.A. first sent Mr. Durgin to Japan in 1919. Except for home leaves and a period from 1921 to 1924 when he did Y.M.C.A. work in Dairen, Manchurio, he has been stationed there ever since and speaks die language fluently.

A letter from him printed in the January 1940 ALUMNI MAGAZINE reported: "... .Industry is booming as never before. Heavy industries are busy night and day Impetus is being given steel manufacturing processes with the recent installation of American Steel rolling mills There is no longer unemployment ,and feverish activity everywhere characterizes Japanese life and thought "