THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9145, 14 May 1908, Page 7

THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.

BOYCOTT TO CONTINUE. “The boycott of Japan by China,’’ Mr James A. Ohuely,. grandmaster of the Chinese Masonic Lodge of Australia (numbering 10,000), to a representative of .the _ Sydney Morning Herald, “is to continue. It was started seriously, it is being - conducted effectively, and it will go on until the object has been achieved. Do you know that China is progressing? As you put it in your English words, ‘she is awakening,’ ana I venture' to prophesy that in three or four years China will have the open door. Her ports will be thrown open, and markets without limit be made available to Australia. She will take your wool, your wheat, your leather. Why, I am going to China now to place Australian wool on the market, and every year I send about 3000 bales to England and other countries. It is time that China used some of it, too.” “Yes,” continued Mr Ohuey, with fresh emphasis, “a tremendous market ior Australia is being opened. You are now building up very great industries, and you will want an outlet for your manufactures. China will give it to you. We are in earnest in this matter of boycotting Japan, and the feeling throughout ■ China as well as Australia is very strong. We shall give, no trade to Japan. The Chinese are beginning to find out that the Japanese are not their friends. They would rather deal with Englishmen than Chinese, and what trade they do with us is not done out of any friendship. They are ‘always on the make,’ as you say in English. China has cost America millions of pounds already in regard to trade, and she will inflict greater loss upon Japan; and that is the best way to fight. I saw something in your paper to the effect that China is to have a big army and navy. That will be in hundreds of years. I know the Chinese. I travel among them, and I know their feelings, and I am quite sure that they never will be aggressive ; but strike at their nationality and they will refuse with you. That is better than war, and a nation like that will never dream of any designs on Australia. The individual Chinese only stop here long enough to make money, and then they go back to the land of their birth. ” . , Mr Chuey, it may be mentioned, has come to Australia to take part in the" institution of a new Chinese lodge, and to open a Chinese Masonic Hall in Black wall street, Sydney. Referring to this topic, he said : “There are 3000 « Chinese Freejnasons in New South Wales, and 10,000 throughout and "their principles are virtually identical With those of European freemasonry. This body of Freemasons was established in China 295 years ago and now they number many millions. Their primary object is benevolent and charitable, but they take a certain interest in all public matters. The whole of these Chinese Freemasons are in favour of a progressive policy, with which is identified the open door. Yeu see, therefore,” Mr Ohuey added finally, “that China is waking up, and there are forces at work that will make her awaking of great to Australia particularly, and all the commercial nations of the world.”