The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-25
Economic and Political Benefits of
This Step to the United States
and Great Britain-Decree of Re-
gent Is an Imperative One.
BY EX-ATTACHE.


teachings OF Esperanto.
That is the meaning OF the Imperial
ediet recently issued at Pekin By the
young and progressive regent ordering
the adoption or English as the one for
eign language OF all others TO be studied
in every scientific and technical high
school
In fact, the decree is equivalent 10 a
COMMAND that every educated Chinese
should famiIiarize himself with our Ian
guage. But II does not mean, as many
on both sides Of the Atlantic appear 10
believe, that English is 10 take the place
OF Chinas various native vernaculars.
Like the huge and equally densely
populated English empire. China. with
her many different nationalities, is a
land OF not only lnnumerable dialects, but
also of many languages that have no
points Of similitude with one another.
but the written or printed characters; and
the native OF Manehuria finds It quite as
difficult 10 understand Cinnamon along
the southern frontier OF the empire as do
the mandarin from Pekin or the mer-
chant prince from Canton. 10 hold any
intercourse with the natives OF Thbet,
and OF the other extreme western pro-
vinees without the assistance OF an in
terpreter.
Indeed. l have known Chinese from the
western ports communicate with their
fellow-eountrymen OF the extreme south
ern ports and with Cinnamon at Sing
apore by means Of pigeon English
Now, while pigeon English is ali well
in It's way, and IN some respects both
picturesque and entertaining, It Is, az the
best. & patois Of limited vocabulary, de-
void or literature and OF no earthly use
q 10 the Chinese. save when dealing with
foreigners who have resided In China.
or else with fellow-COuntTymen or their
own from other far distant Chinese ports
open to foreign trade.
II does not provide them with any
means OF access 10 the minds OF West
ern lore and science, 10 be found in
American and English books. That is
why the regent in Difference TO the rec
concentrations OF his most enlightened
advisers. has ordered the learning or
English as part and parcel OF the ordi-
nary curriculum OF compulsory studies
in all the colleges, high schools, and uni
versities OF the empire.
II has been demonstrated TO him that
English is the language which. more than
any other. has obtained a foothoid on
what may be described as the outer fringe
OF China. II is the language most used
in China's foreign trade: 10 such an ex-
tent, indeed, that when any young leu
tons are sent out Of the Orient 10 take
up positions in the innumerable German
houses OF business and commercial
agencies which the Kaiser's lieges have
founded in China during the last forty
years, they are required. Immediately on
their arrival. TO master, not the Chinese
language. but English.
It's for use in all transactions with the
Chinese merchant guilds and for ordi-
nary business intercourse throughout
the Chinese open ports, while, OF course,
a smattering of pigeon English is needed
by them for their dealings with servants
and with natives OF the coOlie class.
A Worldwide Language.
It was likewise brought home to the
regent that English is the language not
only OF Great Britain, but also of the
United States, of Canada, of Australia,
of New Zealand. and Of all that part OF
Africa open to trade 1t is the official
language of the Indian empire. the lam
guage most familiar 10 seamen and to
merchants. and finally. IL IS the language
in which the imperial Chinese govern
ment, ever since il first established regu-
lar diplomatic relations with the outer
world has always carried on its Off
clal dealings with foreign powers
The Chinese are patient and deliberate
in adopting so radical an innovation as
that contained in the regents ukase on
the subject of English. and it may be
safely taken for granted that before the
members Of the imperial board of educa-
ton and the other chief advisers of the |
crown had made the recommendations
10 the regent in favor OF the English |
language, they had examined and COM
pared the intrinsic merits Of most other /
European tongues. notably German, |
French, and especially Spanish, which in |
olden times occupied the place in in
ternational intercourse that is held TO-
day by English.
There are two points which merit es-
pecial attention in this new departure of |
the Chinese empire. One is the neces-
sity of securing the adhesion of the Ce-
lestial government TO the international |
law on the subject of copyright /
The result of the regents edict win be /
an enormous, indeed. an overwhelming, |
demand in China for all sorts OF Ameri- /
can and English books
II the new American envoy at Peltin, /
who has already managed to acquire so /
much popularity and esteem among the |
Chinese and foreigners alike, since his |
arrival there. unites with fthe British |
envoy. Sir John Jordan. in inducing the
Chinese government TO join the Interna-
tional Copyright Union. our publishers.
and in natural consequence our writer's,
will derive much and sorely-needed bene-
fit. Otherwise, China is likely to ne
flooded with native and unauthorized re-
prints Of all our best books, and literary
piracy will assume proportions OF abb
solutely fantastic size
The other and more important poInt
OF the two is that the adoption OF the
English language by the Chinese as a
compulsory study, gives both 10 the
Americans and the British an enormous
advantage over their other foreign COM
petitors for the acquisition of Chinese
trade. and for pre-eminence in Chinese
markets. Nor is this ALL For It will
serve 10 establish closer political rela.
tons OF the part OF China with the
United States and with England than
with any other foreign power.
Just in the same way that international
animosities arise from international mis-
understandings. so in the same way do