CHINA'S PLIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1954, 10 January 1914, Page 5

CHINA'S PLIGHT.

0 "DRAGGED IN THE DUST." YUAN SHIH-KAI PESSIMISTIC. By Telegraph—Pr«os Association—Copyright "Times"—Sydney "Sim" Special Cables. Polling, January 8. China ended tho year owing £71',000,000. The country was economically weakened by tho revolution and tho heavy permanent interest on the National Debt. Confidence in the Government is slendor. President Yuan Sliih-Kai, addressing the consultative body whom ho chose to supplant tho Republican Parliament, said: "During tho two years' existence of the Republic tho laivs havo been dragged in tho dust. Morality, self-re-straint, and righteousness havo been swept to oblivion. Men talked glibly of patriotism, but if we entrust the Government to men simply on the scoro of patriotic zeal without inquiring into their capacity, tho almost inevitable consequence will be national ruin. It is hopeless to anticipate success in any enterprise unless you havo money available for our needs. For this reason I regard the present situation with profound pessimism. Only a very brief interval divides us from bankruptcy, When our finances aro under alien supervision, and our territories apportioned into spheres of influence, tho fate of Annam and Korea will bo upon us, and it will be too late for repentance."