Description
Object description
American civilian conscientious objector in United States of America, 1942-1945; served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in China, 1945-1948
Content description
REEL1 Background in McMinnville, United States of America, 1916-1941: Quaker family background; education and career. Aspects of period as conscienious objector in United States of America, 1942-1945: involvement with American Friends' Service Committee; prior recollection of activities with anti-war munitions campaign during 1930s; comparison of American Draft Board and British Tribunal systems; role of American Public Service camps as alternative service for conscientious objectors; story of Friends' Ambulance Unit involvement in China, 1945; reason for American conscientious objectors not being allowed to serve overseas; description of preparations for Friends' Ambulance Unit China Convoy; public attitude towards conscientious objectors on West Coast of United States of America.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as conscienious objector with Friends' Ambulance Unit in China, 11/1945-11/1948: journey to China with Bronson Clark and arrival in Shanghai, 11/1946: field work in Yellow River area; relations between Friends' Ambulance Unit and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA); story of being joined by wife and daughter in Shanghai; description of political situation in China and temporary truce between Kuomintang and Communist Party of China, 1945; role of General George Marshall in attempting to form coalition government and create lasting peace.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of American Ambassador to China Dr John Leighton Stuart; problem of political differences between Kuomintang and Communist Party of China; reasons for Kuomintang losing popular support; role of Friends' Ambulance Unit during Chinese Civil War; story of mission to obtain passes from Communist Tung Pi-wu; opinion of medical services in Yellow River area; story of obtaining passes from Kuomintang; comparison of Communist Eighth Route Army and Kuomintang forces; story of being requested by Tung Pi-wu to investigate alleged Kuomintang atrocities against peasants in Communist held areas; role in attempting to persuade Communists to observe neutrality in area.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude of Tung Pi-wu to American presidential elections, 1948; role in attempting to persuade Tung Pi-wu to negotiate with Kuomintang; question of being trusted based on Quaker and pacifist stance; attitude to lying during negotiations; comparison of efficiency and discipline in Communist forces and Kuomintang; story of Friends' Ambulance Unit coming under Communist control, 1948; reason for Friends' Ambulance Unit being renamed Friends' Ambulance Unit Post-War Service, 1948; attitude to Communist victory in China; returned to United States of America, 11/1948. Aspects of period as civilian in United States of America, 1948-1990: giving briefing on political situation in China in Washington DC; story of being unable to personally deliver letter from Dr John Leighton Stuart to General George Marshall; reaction to Communist takeover in China; opinion of United States foreign policy towards China; reflections on experiences in China; involvement with peace movement in United States of America, 1990.