Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
CHINA IS SEEKING
COMMERCIAL ERA
Trade Expert Arrives in U. S.
to Study Methods of
New World.
BY JOHN F. SINCLAIR.

in the United States. His coming has
not been heralded, nor have the news
papers given any great amount of space
TO his doings. Yet he and James Yen,
the founder of the movement to SIM
pity the Chinese alphabet. are con-
sidered to be the two most important
young leaders in China.
While James Yen, who was In
America last year. was educated in the
United States, DR.. Koo received his
education in the Far East. Yet he
speaks English like a native.
For nine years DR.. Koo was on the
administrative staff of the Chinese
railway service. He was the Chinese
representative at the international
opium conference at Geneva in 1925,
and has been in conference constantly
with the new leaders in China, help
ing to shape the future of that vast
country.
Well Known in u. S.
Two years ago DR.. Koo came to the
United States as the Official repre-
sentative of the Shanghai Chamber of
Commerce and as other leading COM
mercial and financial institutions of
China. At that time he addressed
many OF the leading business institu-
tlons OF the larger cities and built up
marvellous reputation for concise,
comprehensive speech.
Any one who talks with him can
see Immediately why he is one Of the
outstanding leaders endeavoring so
earnestly to noderniz: old China.
There are tour basic points around
which the battle between the culture
of the East and the culture Of the
West is conferred in China today" said
CT fermentation are clearly seen by all
competent students. Briefly, they are:
l-Western culture has entered China
and brought democracy into a back
ground OF autocracy. OF course, things
are bound to happen in such a stu
alton. 2-For 1000 years, Chinas
background has been ethical. Now
comes the Western culture approach
ing US with the Scieaupwiafonk fer
mentation is most severe at this point.
3-The idea of socialism has made
great inroads in China, particularly
with industrial and student groups d
China's background has been built
upon the theory that the individual
exists for the state, social idea. The
new Western approach emphasizes the
value of personality. To understand
the present China, keep these four
points in mind constantly"
DR.. Koo is small. slight Of build per-
haps in his early 4os, looking
twenty-five, with black hair and black
eyes which glow as he speaks.
I asked this Nationalist Chinese
leader what his government was aim
ing to do. WITHOUT moments hesi-
Ca5ion he replied:
From 1905 II 1911 was the PLOTTING
era. Before that was too young to o.
interested. Tim the revolution, almcs
too good to BE- true.
Dark Years"
In fact, it was too good to be true,
for the years between 1911 and 1925
we might call the dark years OF
modern China. The year 1926 was the
crisis year. Then every leader who had
the interest OF China ct heart realized
that China's only salvation was in get
ting together. This was the year the
Nationalist movement really took form.
For two years. little was accom-
pl1shed," DR.. Koo went on. Even UP
70 1928, most of the slogans of the
people began with the words down
with But now things are changed.
radically changed. Most Of the slo-
up
SO constructive program could not
be started until there was some basis
for believing that the troublous condi-
ticns were smoothing out and settling
Gown. That settling down has already
Started"
"And the new program of China is
what?" I asked.
Briefly. we can put 1t again under
four heads" DR.. Koo replied. I'm the
first place our leaders want political
unificatioa of all China. For the first
five years after the revolution, the
provinces refused to give up their au-
thority to the national government.
But in October Of last year the central
-f EAA
is important. because it was taking the
first step first When this movement
becomes little stronger. then there
will be evolved political constitution
in which Nationalist China will 1T. But
so far, this has not been done.
Problem of Government.
The national government Is faced
with two difficulties in its relationship
with the provinces-what taxes should
be given to the national government
and what to the provinces, and again
how much military power should be
turned over to the national government,
and how much should be left 10 the
state? It is along these lines that much
of the disputing is going on today. Not
to determine whether we want re
public but to determine In republic
the place of the national government
and the place of the state government.
Our second task, and this Is just as
important as the first one, II not more
so, is to prepare a plan by which the
people will become ready for self-gov.
ernment."
self government? Has China not
self-government today?" I asked.
mo, not yet. We have been an auto
are not ripe for complete self-govern-
ment yet, and II will take all Of our
time and effort to get the people OF
China ready to take over the power OF
governing themselves in, say 80 or 40
years. This task of getting the people
OF China ready naturally falls into two
divisions First the program OF educa-
through all of the troublous times
through which China has passed since
1911, the program of education has re-
manned intact. Every Chinese leader
favors more and more education for the
masses.
Again, thousands Of voluntary organi-
cations have sprung up all over China.
They are Helping In every way they can
to create new interest In social, COM
mercial and democratic movements.
The material development OF China
is our third task. Take electricity. Only
few of our larger cities have 1t. Mil
lions and millions of our people have
never seen an electric light. The task
of lighting up China will take so years,
and billions Of dollars.
Take the use of motor buses. It is
expanding as fast as good roads are
built A romantic chapter In Chinas
history. Millions Of our people have
never seen motor bus.
The immensely of the task appals
every one who has ever studied the
subject.
The fourth big job is the readjust-