The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1916. THE OUTLOOK IN CHINA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 95, 28 March 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1916. THE OUTLOOK IN CHINA.

A few days ago Professor Hewitson of Dunedin returned to New Zealand after a few months tour of China and Japan, and has given some interesting information to, the Otago Daily Times regarding the still little-known land of the Celestial. With regard to China’s future it is said that • those who had been longest in the country were the most reserved in their judgments. A man who was recognised as a real authority on Chinese subjects, Dr. A. H. Smith, was asked by a Now York interviewer to give in a few' words “the bottom facts about China.” Dr. Smith expressed the opinion cleverly and exactly by replying “There is no bottom and there are no facts.” It seems that the Chinese as yet are characterised by a great want of.national consciousness, a want of unity of sentiment and of purpose. Touching on political matters, Professor Hewitson said that the Reform Party looked upon Yuan Shi Kai as traitorous to the Republican cause, and consequently is opposed to him; but a great many feel that its resources are not sufficiently great to enable it to give any trouble. A British official of high standing, who know.. Yuan Shi Kai intimately, spoke of him as a very strong man, thoroughly imbued with the modern spirit. Among the Chinese generally the professor found a very strong dislike ol the. Japanese and a great lear ol them. They have come over into China in very large numbers, and are pushing their business enterprises with great shrewdness and vigour. While the professor was in Shanghai mere was an election of seven councillors to form the governing body of the foreign community. The candidate at th. top of the poll was a Japanese, and at. the bottom of the poll was a German. The Gomi.-ans are carrying on a very active propaganda, in China, In Shanghai they publish in English a paper called “The- War,” giving their own account of what is going on, and this is sent through the Dost to I neopin in various part? ol the empire. It had been discussed whether it would be wise on the part of the British to make any reply, but leading

Chinese merchants in one of .the poets advised that nothing .should he done, for they said that sufficient answer to the German claims of supremacy was to be found in the fact of the German ships lying interned in the harbour. The Germans have shown in China, as elsewhere, their marvellous thoroughness. Professor Hewitson says he saw copies of a document issued in connection with a movement started, some two or three years ago to raise' largo sums of money with the object; of getting German taught in thej schools. The Germans wore chafing under the knowledge that English was the ruling foreign language in China, and they held that trade followed the language. They offered a consider-j able sum of money to the Basle Mission if it would undertake to have German taught in its schools, but the

offer was declined. All of which goes, to show how hard Germany works in every quarter of the globe to gain influence and ascendancy.