Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22

y dispatch from London announces that
the International bankers who have been
negotiating the Chinese currency loan OF
SJooo0.on notified China on the lsth in
slant OF their acceptance Of the currency
reform plan which was discussed recently
at London and Berlin. The plan provides
that the banks interested shall issue the
loan within six months unless prevented
by stress of circumstances. a revolution
airy condition which may have produced
a state OF insecurity
An article entitled THE Chinese Ones
ton" in lie Correspondent by Mgr De
Guebriant, apostolic vicar
Guebrlant'S during the last twenty
Ar4;, five years i'm the So
tchouen, is unusually in-
teresting at this moment, when the Chi
nese question is one of perplexity if not Of
peril. The question is one of special tn
terest for the government of the United
States. whose commercial and Industrial
interests in China are greater than all
others.
Mgr. Guebriant believes that Europe is
under the impression that the reforms,
in China which have been urged
these last ten years have been accom-
pllshed. For fact it is A delusion. No
reforms have been successfully accom-
plished. Moreover, the author says: The
mandarin system not having been
changed in China, nothing has been
changed nor can be changed" The re-
gent, of whom the occidental expected
so much, is inspired by the same meth
DDS practiced by his predecessors. China
wishes for reform, but she does not know
how TO reform. China knows this and
feels Inundated. This is the cause of the
dislike of foreigners. ''China for the
Chinese" means really, Drive out the
foreigner,
The author suggests as the best means
of taking China out of this deceptive cir
Gle the establishment of reforms by
International group of states The first
reform to be inaugurated is the appoint
ment and payment by government of its
functionaries. The government appoints,
but 1t does not pay its functionares. It
allows them an insignificant sum. il is
true. but derisive sum. and with the
understanding that they may practice the
system OF graft and squeeze according To
the fancy or the necessity of the func-
tionary. And the author cites the case
where the Chinese government actually
sold the yiceroyalty Of Canton for $500
900. This did not prevent the imperial
government at Picking from inundatng
the province with excellent DEGREES and
recommendations Of reform. But reform
under such conditions was a mockery.
The whole trouble with the Chinese gov
eminent is due to the vicious system
practiced by the Chinese administrator.
and the author asks If there is remedy.
And he answers:
* x
1T will be sufficient no longer to put
up at auction the sale of public Offices
but that appointments shall
Official be made by government %
D, the meritorious. who shall
SS' receive an adequate fixed
salary. When the people are no longer
taxed for the debauches of the mandarin
the much hoped for reform will be at
tanned" The actual budget well con-
trolled is quite sufficient to pay the cost
of government. This budget at present
amounts to 2S4,O0o,oe0 taels or 9oe,0on,Olo
francs for the empire; the provincial bud
gets may be estimated at one milliard
eight hundred million francs; the COM
munal budget at nine hundred millions
This triple budget forms a grand total OF
three mlliardS six hundred million francs.
sum which shows the vast riches of
China and the vast possibilities of Great
ing funds for the liquidation of the public
debt and the establishment of permanent
reforms.
Mgr de Guebriant invites attention 10
the fact that China does not possess
more than 5000 soldiers organized and
instructed according to the European
model. The friends of China will feel no
little disappointment that so little has
been accomplished in the seventeen years
that have elapsed since her defeat by
Japan. We were told that China was in
earnest in the desire to create a serious
and efficient army. But we may recall
here what Gen. de Negrier said i'm his al
mirable study of THE Chinese Forces of
1910. which was decidedly pessimisti
in its conclusion. He said: THE Chimes.
empire is not the giant who avakes. but
the smoker of opium. who is shaking OF
his torpor; if he il ever cured Of the habit
he will never be strong
=
Referring to the Young men trained in
Japanese schools or the schools OF Eu-
rope and America Gen
Western de Negrier expressed the
opinion that China would
Auuuchcc. be confronted by the re,n-
tendencies Of these student.
pointing to the fact that 10 that class Wa
due the preceding troubles at Hankow
Ii was hoped that Gen Yin Chang, who
returned TO China from Germany to as
sumo the duties of war minister. had been
able to carry out his announced intention
Of introducing general consumption in
China. There is a familiar adage-very
old: il must indeed have come to US from
China-"the road to hell is paved with
good intentions" Did Gen. Yin Chang
realize these good intentions? We do no.
has been no report. at least.
Gen. de Negrer, writing OF the adoption
by the government of Picking OF the prn-
pie of popular representation as Illus
trated in the provisional parliament, said
that IF the ideas OF popular representa-
ton should succeed the Manchu dynasty
would be overturned and the power pass
to the Chinese" And we may add that
in view of the apparent overthrow of the
Manchu. il is to be hoped that the Chi
ffFt..a fnF-FAFa
the source of all evil to China.