Ｉｎ Ｆｏｎｄ Ｍｅｍｏｒｙ ｏｆ Ｒｅｗｉ Ａｌｌｅｙ

Rewi Alley passed away on December 27， 1987 at the age of ninety. News of his demise came as a great shock to me， then on a diplomatic assignment in Washington， D.C. where I was serving as press counsellor of the Chinese Embassy. Even to this day I still deeply regret for not being able to attend his funeral service to bid final farewell to this great New Zealander who was not only an unflinching peace fighter but also a true internationalist who dedicated almost his entire life and who cherished boundless sympathy and love for China and the Chinese people.

My association with Rewi dates back to almost five decades after I joined the China Peace Committee as a young English interpreter upon my graduation from the National Sun Yat Sen University in 1955. Three years later， Rewi moved in from the Beijing Hotel and we stayed in the same Peace Committee compound (site of the former Italian Embassy) for 14 years. During this period， I had the fortune and the pleasure of being his escort for a number of years， traveled with him to many parts of China and participated with him in a number of international meetings and conferences dealing with the vital question of peace and national independence. As a young returned overseas Chinese from Malaysia who had never set foot on Chinese soil before， I was provided invaluable help by Rewi in getting to know my homeland better. He encouraged me to work hard to become a good diplomat.

During the difficult days of the \"cultural revolution\"， Rewi would invite me to his residence for coffee where he would describe to me his experiences and ordeals in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force fighting the German enemies in Europe during the First World War and the reasons why he decided to come to China and his efforts in assisting the Chinese people to resist the Japanese invasion. Rewi had a special compassion for Chinese children， particularly those living in the rural and remote areas.

Rewi devoted much of his time and energy in helping the Chinese people to overcome the immense difficulties and hardships in their struggles to achieve liberation. He alluded New China to the Greek mythology \"Prometheus Unbound\" and indicated that this ancient civilization will contribute to the well-being and progress of mankind as many of its philosophers and inventors did in the past. On a trip to China's Northeast with the Rev. Victor James of the Australian Peace Council， he said to me on the train， \"China may be confronted with blockade and embargo imposed by the powers， but believe me， she will create marvels in the world and her people will get what they want.\"

Rewi was indeed a legendary figure who experienced two world wars. His vast experience in China and his perception of the great social practice that the country was going through made him a unique person in presenting China to the world. In many of his poems and other literary works， he would objectively depict the economic and social progress of China. Many friends from all corners of the earth would call on Rewi when they were in Beijing. Rewi would always entertain them and brief them on the country's progress and issues. Like Anna Louise Strong and many others， Rewi will be remembered as an outstanding writer and a great friend of the Chinese people. In reminiscence of this legendary figure from New Zealand， I am happy to note that the achievements China has made in the past fifty years and more， the last 20 years in particular， have borne full testimony to his insight， vision and conviction.

The author is former Chinese consul-general (ambassadorial rank) in San Francisco， U. S. A.