New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-20
CHINA LOATH TO ACCEPT
REAL FINANCIAL CONTROL
Republic Realizes, However,
That There Must Be Some
Foreign Supervision.
FOR ABOLITION OF GRAFT
Willing to Appoint Advisers, but
Contends That Latter Must
Be Considered as Native
Government Officials.

Picking. April "A step in advance has
been taken by the government with the or
ganlzation of the new Cabinet. The new
Cabinet is one of considerable ability Sew
eral of the ministers are men Of experience,
although some are still untried and their
abilities are unknown. 1t is by no means
as good Cabinet as might be organized,
for there are many men Of ability who
would make better ministers than those
selected but many Of these refused to &C
cept office and others could not be ap-
pointed by Tang Shao-Y for political rea-
sons. However. II is a Cabinet, and
whether IL succeeds or fails II fills a long
felt want. With the topside portion of his
government organized, Tang Shao-yi, the
Premier, will now be able to turn his at
tention TO other things. He had been en-
crossed in the Cabinet question for sew
eTa weeks to the exclusion of most other
things
great problem of the day is the degree
of foreign control Of finances, which will be
necessary when the great loan of f6O,O0O000
IS finally made. That there must be some
foreign cOntrol-a very considerable amount
of foreign control. In fact-is beyond ques-
ton To what extent this must go con-
stitutes a delicate question, fraught with
danger, for on no other subject are the
Chinese so sensitive as that Of foreign con
troll Of their finances, and they will fight
bitterly against any too great invasion
upon their rights with regard TO revenues
Question of Advisers.
chinese officials recognize that there
must be some sort of foreign supervision,
and they have declared their Willingness
voluntarily 10 appoint foreign advisers to
various executive departments, such as the
Board of Finance, the Board Of Communi-
cations and similar bodies. But they want
il 10 be distinctly understood that these
advisers are Chinese officials and under the
control of the Chinese government. This is
all very well, but there is grave danger
that such advisers would have little power
and might be unable to bring about honest
and efficient administration.
II will be necessary for China to enter
into some solemn engagement with the
powers as to the exact powers Of these ex-
pert advisers who are to be employed and
herein there will come difficulties, with the
powers endeavoring to force kicking and
squirming China to accept advisers upon
terms approved by the powers, while China
will scream for what her officials consider
her independence
And the powers will have their way. II
through no other means than a threat to
withhold the big loan, which China needs
so badly. The Chinese have a great fear
that the powers will impose an advisory
body upon the government which will run
things to the exclusion of Chinese. or at
least with the Chinese official only figure
head, and obliged to accept orders from the
adviser They declare they cannot stand
for what they call the Egyptlzation Of
china
China's Only Hope
The powers will doubtless stand together
in demand or an instruction to China to
employ foreign advisers with the approval
OF the powers The payment OF debts made
I'm the past. the payment of the indemnity.
the payment of the big loan or loans which
will come, I'm fact, the fulilment of all
China's obligations. can be accomplished
only through the honest and efficient col
lection and expenditures of revenues
China has shown herself incapable of ad-
rninistering her own financial affairs, and
IL she expects to survive through foreign
financial assistance, such as n 10000 900
loan. and she cannot survive without 1t, she
will have TO accept a considerable degree Of
foreign control Of finances. It is not alto
gether matter Of honesty or dishonesty,
although that has much to do with &C. but
1t is also one Of efficiency and experience.
The Chinese know little of scientific man
sgement and they have always failed to
get the most out Of their country. Rotten
Encouragement and graft squeeze" II Is
called here--have made China bankrupt and
powerless.
Progress can come only with the aboli-
ton OF the corrupt practices which have
become definite part of China's admins
trative system. The abolition of the cor
rupt practices can be accomplished, II
seems, only through honest and efficient
administration, and this the Chinese are
unable to give without foreign assistance
Chinese officials themselves will admit as
much.
Offices Bought and Sold.
The republican leaders declare that
they wish to abolish all forms of squeeze"
and bribery. Hitherto II has been the
open custom to buy and sell offices and
for officials to pocket certain percentages
of official revenues. Honest administra-
ton OF revenues would make China a rich
country. For instance. IL is a we'll known
fact that proper administration OF the
salt monopoly would increase the reve-
nues from this source alone by 800 per
cent This would be pretty nearly enough
20 cover all Of the expenses OF the central
government Perhaps China will be able
10 eliminate squeezing and bribery, but
1t will take long. long time, for the two
evils have existed and been fully accept
ed as part of the governmental system
for thousands of years
The general situation shows some i'm
provement. principally on account Of the
announcement of the Cabinet. This con-
stitutes the first and only real step in ad-
vance which has been made China. how
ever is far from out Of the woods and
faces a most critical period.
The situation is peculiar in that it is
not unlike that which the United States
faced before the Civil War. There is
bound TO be a tremendous fight over what
we call state rights The provinces are
demanding a considerable amount of self
government. and when the central govern
ment endeavors TO impose It's willard
it's taxes-upon the provinces there will
doubtless be trouble. This appears TO be
one of China's greatest troubles. Another
similarity 10 American conditions half a
century ago Is tho division Of the country |
between the north and the south. This
division exists despite the end Of the rev.
olution and the establishment Of one gov
eminent under Yuan Shih-kai. And. final |
ly, General ii pronounced Lee is a fore |
most southern leader.
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