THE CHINESE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 231, 18 June 1918, Page 6

THE CHINESE

Sir,—Allow me to congratulate the Consul for China 011 his dignified protest re the lecture at the Y.M.C.A. I feel constrained to ask ■whether wo have anything to toacli the Chinese as to right living; and as to religion, let each nation worship in its own way, for one is as likely to be right as another. In any case, this i 6 not the time for 11s to throw stones at our friends, and China has proved her friendship in a very real way in this war, and would have probably done more but for a certain amount of disorganisation due to much the same cause as the disorganisation in Russia today— tho change from autocracy and bureaucracy to democracy, gradual but sure. The average man in the street is not very clear on tho position in China to-day re the war. Firstly, the Government is composed of a group of men thoroughly hostile to Germany. This in spite of feverish activity and lavish spending of money by German propagandists. The " 'Times' History of tho War" says: "It speaks highly for tho intelligence and culture of the ruling classes in China that the net result of tho German , propaganda was so small," and later:

"All their humane arrtt religious instincts were particularly outraged by tho horrible callousness of the Germans in their treatment of their dead." The declaration of war by Premier Ttian-Chi-.Tni on August 11, 1917, involved the sequestration of German property in Chiiia and the internment or deportation of German subjects, also the complete uprooting of Gorman financial and commercial interests throughout the country, and tho loss of payments for interest, on loans and indemnity, amounting to JJGOfiO per day. Our friend the lecturer might, find equal scope for his missionary work, Vav, in London, Paris, or Berlin, or even in our own town of Wellington. China is destined to lalto her placo as an earnest member- of tho family of democracies, a® will rightly resent interference t>V

well-meaning, religious instructors, hft ■ law-abiding and industrious citizens, n© have none to equnl tlio Chinese, and they are generous to a dejjreo, giving freely; to any deserving charity if appealed io. It is not good form to trend on your neighbour's corns, so please, Mr. 'Missionary, be more careful in future.--! am, etc., HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME » DOES.