Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Arthur Sun, Boston, January 28, 1927

Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Arthur Sun, Boston, January 28, 1927

Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Arthur Sun, Boston, January 28, 1927

My dear Arthur:

On my return from a trip to the West I find your letter of January 24 with the enclosed letter from your friend. I learned also that in my absence my secretary, Miss Jones, sent you from the Treasurer’s Office a check for $25.00. Of course this obligation will be promptly met by me, though I must admit that I do not like at all the idea involved in this transaction.

In the first place, your friend asks for $10.00 and you ask me for $25.00. I don’t quite understand the difference. Won’t you please explain?

In the second place, I am perfectly sure that your father would not approve of your handing over his money to your friends in this way without at least the full endorsement of some responsible person like the Chinese Minister in Washington. In a case of this kind your friend should have applied to the Minister, for, if his funds from China had been cut off, the Minister is the man who will understand the situation and know how to act. Very possibly some individuals have found it difficult of late to send money from China to this country, but I myself have received within the last two or three weeks remittances not only from your father but from Admiral Tu and Mr. Tsai, which indicates that the channels of communication have not been fully interrupted yet. Frankly, I think your friend has preyed upon your sympathy and taken advantage of his society connection to an extent which I deem wholly unfair. Neither you nor your friend is going to "starve" just because of the upset conditions in China at this moment.

Ever sincerely yours,

Alfred E. Stearns

Phillips Academy

January 28, 1927

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