1909

I had a very interesting visit with Leon Morse a few days ago which was the first time I think I have seen him since our first reunion. He surprised me by saying he was married to Mrs. Charles Holbrook of Stoughton, Mass., on June 10. I told Mrs. Morse it was up to her to see that Leon attends some Dartmouth affairs which he has neglected since graduation. Leon had been in pretty poor health for several years with heart trouble, but since he has been married he is feeling fine again. He works for the Highway Department in New Hampshire where he has been for many years and is looking forward to the time when he can retire with a pension, and really enjoy life.

A considerable amount of publicity has been given to the work of specialists in Tropical Medicine in fighting malaria in the Pacific. Henry Meleney, as usual, is at the top of the list with those who were called upon by the Army Medical Center, adjoining the Walter Reed Hospital, to teach the doctors and others who were involved in fighting malaria and other tropical illnesses. These specialists pooled all their knowledge of tropical diseases and have shown the world some most unusual developments. In less than a year, beginning in 1943, the number of men in the service with malaria dropped in certain areas in the tropics from a rate of 200 in the Army to 20 cases per thousand.

In the August issue of The Vermonter Magazine there is an article entitled "End of a Marauding Bear" by our classmate—Leon Morse—who was affectionately called "Parson" in our years at college.

We learn from the College that Arthur Stanley with his wife and daughter were visiting at the Hanover Inn for their Thanksgiving dinner. I find more and more graduates are going back like this for a few days, and they tell me it is something to really enjoy.

Bob Holmes has sent out an announcement that beginning with the first of the year he is located at 70 State Street, Boston, Mass., under the firm name of Holmes and Ayers.

I have again received a nice long letter from Elbert Moffatt. It is impossible to list everything he told me but the following is a brief summary which you will, undoubtedly, find very interesting:

Mrs. Moffatt at'present is in Tacoma with our daughter Nancy, who is engaged in social service work. She has just been offered a scholarship in Columbia for special study, and probably Mrs. Moffatt will go East with her to New York. Our oldest daughter Betty, who has her daughter Patricia, has been waiting for some months for passage from England. Her Scottish husband has decided not to return to work in India, but to go on to America and become a citizen. I do not know when I shall be able to get back to U.S.A. Over a year ago, at my request, a man was appointed to take over my work in this office and to be treasurer of our Methodist Church. I expected to spend some time working on our property records before going home. I had agreed to go on furlough this year and return to India for five years for special work, but since I was unable to get away this year, I decided to stay on a little longer and complete the special work, and then not return to India. The man who has to take over my work asked permission to do some study before coming out which has delayed my getting started on this special work. In the meantime, a new assistant treasurer has been sent out, but as he is not familiar with India, he has not been able to help me much. I am, therefore, rather doubtful that I will get home about (?) 1947. lam not sure what I will do then, but will probably have some work in connection with our Mission Board in New York. I hope that all goes well with you. Speaking of grandchildren I have two; Patricia Locke, born in Scotland, now nearly two, and Michael Moffat, born in Connecticut—same age.

The India situation interests all of us and I imagine everybody is as confused about it as I am. Moffatt went to considerable length to try to explain the situation and I am quoting just a paragraph to give you a little picture. He explains that India has never been a Nation but has come close to it three times. Lord Wavell recently put up to the Indians the last proposal from England which was felt might be successful. This meeting of the leaders was known as a Simla Conference. The failure of this Conference was due to the persistence of Mr. Jinnah, who has but one goal—Pakistan, and his refusal to name his candidates for the new Executive Council.

But more responsible than Mr. Jinnah's refusal to name the League members of the new Executive Council, which was to have an equal number of caste Hindus and Moslems, with representatives of scheduled class Hindus, and Sikhs, is the unsatisfactory lineup of political parties in India today. First we have the Congress party, which historically and by creed is not communal. It was started to advance the political interests of all communities in India, and in latter years has one great aim—the independence of India. Its president is a Moslem, it has members from all religious groups, but is predominantly Hindu. The Moslem League, a recent organization, has as its goal the independence of India. Independence to Mr. Jinnah means freedom of Moslems from Hindu control, hence his suggestion tion that India be partitioned into Pakistan for Moslems, and Hindustan for Hindus. No other religious community is strong enough to suggest further partition into other religious states, but the Sikhs will bitterly oppose a Pakistan division of the Punjab. All of the minorities are distrustful of Congress rule and of Pakistan, and demand safeguards for their communities. The Congress made a grand gesture by including in its list a Christian a Parsee, a Sikh, two scheduled classes Hindus' one orthodox Hindu, two non-Moslem League Moslems and several League members, including Mr Jinnah.

In view of the above, how can anybody expect England to straighten out the mess?

Secretary, Wrn. Filene's Sons Co. 426 Washington St., Boston, Mass. Treasurer, 16 Wall St., New York, N. Y.