In 1938, at a time of national crisis, Soong Ching Ling founded the League for the Defense of China (the predecessor of the China Welfare Association) in Hong Kong, vigorously appealing for and enlisting international assistance for china's War of Resistance, while at the same time taking on the heavy responsibility of international propaganda.
According to Soong Ching Ling, "the League for the Defense of China is not only responsible for winning international sympathy for China's struggle and for the assistance of fighters on the front lines and behind enemy lines, but also feels that it should assume the responsibility of disseminating the true situation of our country to the whole world." Therefore, under the personal leadership of Soong Ching-ling, the League edited and published the "Newsletter on Defending China Alliance" in English, briefed overseas friends and overseas Chinese on the situation and needs of China's War of Resistance Against Japan, and briefed the League on its work and overseas activities in aiding China, which had a wide impact on the international community.
English edition of the Alliance Newsletter
The early edition of the FSR Newsletter was a mimeographed English newsletter that was edited and printed in 6 issues: The first issue was the Report on the Medical Work of the Chinese Army and the Work of the Chinese Red Cross Society, written by Mrs. Clarke, honorary secretary of the PLA. The second issue is "Visiting the Northwest Special Zone and the Jiangnan Frontline" written by Chinese artist Chen Yifan. The third issue is a report of Hong Kong surgeon Harry Taibo doing war zone medical treatment in Nanchang and other places. The 4th issue is "The Situation of Yan'an Base Hospital" written by physician Jiang Zhaoju. Issue 5 is a report by United Press correspondent Isrell Epstein about the days and after the fall of Guangzhou. Issue 6 is a reuters reporter's account of the defense of Wuhan and the Japanese occupation of Wuhan.
The 20th issue of the Bulgarian Newsletter, 15 September 1940
Song Qingling regarded the "Baomeng Newsletter" as his own combat position, and personally wrote 8 articles and reviews. The "Baomeng Newsletter" has published articles written by Soong Ching-ling, such as "Looking Forward to the War" and "China, the World and You", as well as many letters to foreign friends, explaining to the world with great foresight the relationship between China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the world's anti-fascist struggle and the defense of world peace.
On April 1, 1939, the Baomeng Newsletter was changed to a bi-weekly magazine published in lead printing, called the new edition no. 1, with a circulation of 1,000 copies. From the 7th issue of the new edition, it increased to 2500 copies.
In order to expand its influence among overseas Chinese, in early 1941, from the 26th issue of the Baomeng Newsletter, Chinese edition was also published at the same time. At the end of 1941, when the Japanese army occupied Hong Kong, the "Baomeng Newsletter" was forced to stop publishing, and a total of 36 issues of the new edition were published.
Chinese edition of the Alliance Newsletter
Regarding the contents of the report of the "Baomeng Newsletter", Soong Ching Ling once recalled: "We used various methods, through Chinese and English, to explain where the struggle against the enemy was really taking place; we published vivid reports depicting the heroic battles of the Chinese people on the battlefield and in the self-reliant production movement..."
Under the leadership of Soong Ching Ling, Baomeng Newsletter formed its own characteristics and fine traditions, that is, "the tradition of true reporting". The "Baomeng Newsletter" united a group of foreign friends, who worked hard to report on the suffering of Chinese civilians in the War of Resistance Against Japan, and the situation of Chinese soldiers and civilians, especially the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, persisting in the War of Resistance behind enemy lines. For example, "A Christian Condemns the Bombing of Chongqing" written by S. Loden Kaiser, a Canadian-German pastor who has been a missionary in China for 18 years, american student leader Edru K. "Visiting the Northwest in Battle" by T. Roy, american teacher John F. Roy F. Foster wrote "Together with the Eighth Route Army in Northwest China", American writer and journalist Smedley wrote "The Medical Institutions, Achievements and Needs of the New Fourth Army", Canadian doctor Bethune wrote "Four Months of Work in the Hebei Guerrilla Zone", and "Among the Guerrillas in the Yangtze River Basin" written by US Naval officer Evans Carlson.
Reporting by the Union Newsletter
"Baomeng Newsletter" has written a valuable chapter for China to open up the cause of foreign communication, and Song Qingling has devoted a lot of effort to it. The "Baomeng Newsletter" also devotes a lot of space to introducing the international peace hospital funded by the Baomeng, the Red Cross Society of China, the China Industrial Cooperation Association and other projects, and reports on the activities of foreign aid groups and overseas Chinese to aid China, as well as the activities of the Baomeng itself. In addition, contributions received by THE UNION, materials and their use were reported.
After the Anhui Incident occurred, the "Baomeng Newsletter" successively published commentator articles such as "The Continued Existence of the United Front" and "Prospects for China's Political Development," published "An Open Letter from a Correspondent of the Chinese mainland" reflecting the truth of the Anhui Incident, and published a letter and telegram from the leaders of AMERICAN aid-china organizations and well-known personalities calling for China's unity to Chiang Kai-shek under the title of "Protest Telegram from the United States -- Demanding China's Internal Unity," thus showing the Conservative League's stand of upholding unity and resistance against Japan.
Left: Isrell Epstein, editor of the English edition of the Palio Newsletter
Right: James Betland, Editor of the English edition of the Pallet Newsletter
Soong Ching Ling is constantly committed to serving the unity of the Chinese nation. The publication and distribution of the "Baomeng Newsletter" broke the news blockade of the Kuomintang government against the Japanese base areas, helped foreign aid groups, overseas Chinese, and overseas friends to understand the real situation of China's War of Resistance Against Japan, and promoted the development of foreign aid activities against China.
Left: Zou Taofen, editor of the Chinese edition of Baomeng Newsletter
Right: Jin Zhonghua, editor of the Chinese edition of Baomeng Newsletter
Under the inspiration of Soong Ching-ling, many well-known journalists from home and abroad served as editors of the "Baomeng Newsletter" and jointly devoted themselves to the great cause of disseminating the voice of China's anti-Japanese resistance. Participated in the editing of the English edition of the PT Newsletter: John Lining, Israel Epstein, James Betland and others. The Chinese edition was edited by Zou Taofen, Jin Zhonghua and so on.