Circular

              National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief
Chairman:    THE DUCHESS OF ATHOLL. D.B.E., D.C.L.
Vice-chairmen: THE EARL OF LISTOWEL, MISS ELEANOR RATHBONE. M.P.
Hon. Secretaries:
MR. D. R. GRENFELL, M.P.
LT. COL. J. R. J. MACNAMARA, M.P.
MR. WILFRID ROBERTS, M.P.
HON. TREASURER:
VISCOUNT CECIL OF CHELWOOD, P.C., K.C.
Organising Secretary: DR. BETTY MORGAN
ASSISTANT SECRETARY: FELICE CLARK.
30. ECCLESTON STREET.
LONDON. S.W.1
TELEPHONE: SLOANE 9866
Dear Secretary,
You have probably already read in the Press that the s.s. SINAIA, our First Spanish Refugee Ship,  is to sail on May 23rd from Port Vendres (France) to Vera Cruz (Mexico), carrying 1,800 refugees to a new life.  These are some of the many thousands from the camps and colonies in France whose lives would be in danger if repatriated to Spain.
It is one of the biggest undertakings yet engaged upon by any voluntary relief organisation, and has been made possible only by untiring efforts throughout the country in such campaigns as you are organising.
Chartered by the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief in co-operation with the British Committee for Refugees from Spain, the s.s. SINAIA was once engaged in evacuating Armenian refugees for the League of Nations.    She is a first-class emigrant ship of 8,000 tons, oil-driven and capable of 12½ knots.    Built in Glasgow,  she has 500 berths in cabins, with other compartments for 1,300 people, spacious lounges and dining rooms.    Her bathrooms especially will be appreciated by those of the refugees who have had no proper toilet facilities for months.
The refugees'  health en route will be cared for by the Spanish Medical Aid Committee,  which is also equipping Spanish doctors for their future practice in Mexico.
Before sailing,  the refugees will receive medical attention and proper clothing in a section of the Bacares Camp set aside for this purpose.    At another camp near Port Vendres families will be reunited and here wives will meet husbands whom until a few days ago they believed to be dead. Fathers will greet children they have not seen for many months.