"Humiliation of a Conquered People”

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 23, 28 January 1937, Page 9

"Humiliation of a Conquered People”

SPIRITED REPLY BY CHINESE CONSUL. (To the Editor.) Sir, —My attention has been directed to an article appearing in your newspaper bearing date the 20th January, 1937, under the heading “Humiliation of a Conquered People," and written by a person under the namo of Agnes ;3medley. As the article is so false in effect and so derogatory of my fellow countrymen, I take this opportunity to request you to insert this refutation of an article which was designed rather to be caluminatory of the Chinese race than foi any other apparent purpose.

From time to time articles of this type have appeared in the newspapers abroad but they have all proved to have omanated from “inspired persons," such as propagandists of communism.

With much of the article I do not find it necessary to make any comment untrue though it be. What, however, calls for comment is, first, the heading indicating that the Chinese are a conquered race, and, secondly, tho remark that the Chinese are so servile and degraded that they offer no resistance to any form of insult that any Japanese offers, and, finally, that the Chinese people are now decadent and no longer a force to be considered in the comity of nations.

The truth is entirely opposed to any of these propositions, as anyone with the slightest knowledge of modern China is well aware. In education, finance, health, defence and commerce, China is leaping forward under the wise and skilful administration of the leaders of tho Nationalist Government.

Now under the direction of His Excellency Dr. H. H. Kung, Vice-President of the Executive Yuan and Minister of Finance, China has completely modernised its finances and yearly presents a balanced budget. The national finance control is consolidated and the excessive taxation is reduced. In a short reply, such as this, it is not possible to particularise, but the merest reference to any authoritative book will show the progressive methods of finance now prevailing. To express the result I can do no better than quote from a recent statement of His Excellency the Minister:

“The National Government has during the last eight years worked at a definite and fairly comprehensive programme of financial and economic reconstruction. Facts testify that notable progress has been achieved in various aspects of public finance; parties larly towards centralisation of national financial control, improvement of budgetary control, reorganisation of na tional taxation system, readjustment of local finances, improvement of national credit and establishment of a sound unified currency and banking system. There exists a definite policy and the determination to carry it out, aud past achievements augur well for future development."

So far as progress in education is concerned, there has also been much progress. It is realised that no department of her national life is more intimately connected with the fortunes of tho Republic than education. During the years of the Republic the country has increased its education grant from 2&i million dollars to 215 million dollars annually. There are now public schools teaching both elementary and secondary standards of education, and Universities for higher education. In the Empire days the Chinese girls did not participate in a proper education, but that is now entirely changed and co-education is universal. Scientific research in China now receives the respect due to it from western universities.

Radiating from its capital city of Nanking is a National health service which includes public hospitals, field health, health stations, schools for nursing and midwifery schools; in Nanking there is a hygienic laboratory, a national epidemic prevention bureau and a national quaratine service. These organisations are now rapidly penetrating throughout the vast territories of the country. I realise well enough that it is not possible fully to deal with all the important matters indicative of the progress that China is making in all phases of national life. Suffice it to say that her transport both by land and sea is becoming adequate for her vast needs, her communications within the country are being established by telegraph, and tho ordinary modern system of postal service. Her airships have now estab- : lished routes within the Republic from the centre to the very corners of the country. Her aeroplanes are of the most modern type, and piloted by fully trained young men. The railway is penetrating from tho cities to the back country.

In education, in health, in commerce and in sport, China is making rapid progress, and very soon the time will have arrived when her national trado and her national security will be assured by a highly efficient defence force. To-day China recognises that in this world every nation must have tho capacity to defend itself, if necessary, by force of arms. On land and in the air and to a lesser extent the sea, China is rapidly creating an efficient defence.

Without having attempted to cover all the grounds which show how China has progressed in tho last two and ahalf decades, I have perhaps said enough to satisfy any reasonable person that the reflections made by Miss Smedley are unworthy and have no foundation in truth.—l am, etc.,

FENG WANG. Consul for the Republic of China.