New-York tribune., 1914-08-09
Yuan Shih-Kai Seldom
Calls on Them to Do
Serious Work.
HE LOSES SERVICES
OF THREE AMERICANS
DR.. GoodnoW Leaves This Month
and Professor Adams Soon
-Rockhill Already Gone.

Peking. July 12.-Although Dr.
Frank j. Goodnow, the American whose
authority on constitutional law was
sought by President Yuan Soih-kai IN
framing the new Chinese constitution,
will leave Peking in August to become
president Of Johns Hopkins University,
he has agreed 20 favor the Chinese
President with further advice when
ever he may ask for il. He intends TO
return to China during the sumner.
vacation Of 1915, but in the mean time
he has urged Yuan to engage a sub
stitute for him in this $4,000 post.
DR.. Goodnow's departure, together
with that of W. w. Rockhill. who has
already left for the United States, and
H. c. Adams, who is TO leave as soon
as he has finished some special WORK
in railway accounting, will rob Presl-
dent Yuan of the immediate counsel o.
three Americans. It appears that all
three have been anxious 10 return 20
the United States. DR.. Goodnow has
obtained his release after little over
a years stay in Peking, while his con
tract was for a period of three years.
Mr.. Rockhill was urged to remain IN
Peking. but he accepted his recent ap-
pointment to Yuan's service only uoon
condition that he would not have to
take up his residence here. In the
United States, at a salary OF $4,000,
he is expected TO act in Yuan's behaif
by counteracting the publicity cam
paign which Sun Yat-sen and his party
of rebels is conducting abroad, and
he will also be called upon to exercise
his diplomatic experience when re-
quired in behalf of the President and
the people of China.
Professor Adams Anxious 10 Return.
Professor Adams, who came out here
for one year only 20 instruct the
Board of Communications in the uni
fication of railway accounts, will have
completed his work in August. IL -
not believed that the Chinese boart
is yet capable of profting greatly by
his instruction, and IL is feared that
they will be unable TO continue the
work successfully without him. But
Professor Adams wishes to return TO
the work from which he withdrew tenn
porarily in the United States.
The departure of these three Ameri-
cans brings up the question as 70 what
real service foreign advisers have been
to Yuan Shih-kai. He has had them from
all countries-Great Britain, France,
Germany, Russia, Denmark, Sweden and
Japan-on almost every subject con-
nected with his government-on law,
foreign affairs, military matters, edu-
cation, finance-and whenever a man
might be useful but had no particular
| line 70 recommend him. he has been
made an adviser in general. Most of
/ these advisers are seldom called on to
/ do any serious work II a difficulty
arises between the Chinese government
and the nation to which one belongs
| his services are likely to be employed
as go-between. But as TO advice,
though the Chinese often ask it, they
seldom follow 10. Indeed, 10 is difficult
for them to do so; ideas and conditions
are still too different in China from
those which prevail abroad. And if the
government accepted all the advice
which it receives from it's numerous
advisers. much of it conflicting, the en-
pire might be in worse chaos than il is.
Keep Advisers for Effect.
1t is understood in Peking that the
Chinese, while anxious 20 have men of
foreign reputation nominally in their
service, desire it chiefly for what is
known as "show pidgin" (show busi-
ness)--in other words, effect. Further,
| the foreign adviser seldom receives the
confidence of the government. He may
! be called on to give his advice OH
critical international matter; but, like
an inexperienced woman with her law
yer, the Chinese will confde in him
only their side of the controversy. They
cannot bring themselves to "lose face"
by telling him where they have erred
and there their adyersaries have the
advantage of right or might.
The case of Sir Richard Dane, an
| Englishman, is exceptional. He is ac-
complishing important reforms in the
Salt Gabelle-which, next to the Gus
toms, is the most important tax in the
country. But he has behind him "the
quintuple group" of bankers and their
] legations-the French, British, Ger
man, Russian and Japanese. On the
Salt Gabelle the recent so-called reor-
ganization loan of sl25,000,O0o and
others loans are guaranteed; and un-
less the Gabelle is really reorganized
| there would be serious international
4 difficulties growing out of the failure
to repay capital and interest. The in
crease in the receipts OF the Salt Ca
belle has lately been enormous.