To the Editor of the "Nortu-Caiva Dary News."
Sim,—Tho enclosed has just been issued by the Viceroy and Governor of Hupeh. Io appears in large and imposing characters, and is posted up all over the place. I am told that it has already done much good.
In Chang Chih-tang we have a friend, as well as an intelligent statesman, and this means a great deal to us in the present crisis, It is a most fortunate thing for us in these parts that. we have such men as Liu and Chang in charge of this valley these days. They are determined that there shall. be no rioting within the limits of their jurisdiction, if they can help it.
I have every confidence in our Viceroy's goodwill, and T attach the greatest value it, But whilst I feel sure of his goodwill, I do not feel the same confidence in his subordinates. He himself professes the utmost confidence in his ability to maintain order, and he may be right. But it is not for us to take this for granted. The crisis is a great deal too serious, and the interests involved are far too momentous, to justify us in taking anything for granted. We do not know what a day may bring forth, and we ought to be prepared at any moment to defend ourselves and protect our interests. No port on this river ought to he leftunguarded, even for a day. At every port there should he one gunboat at. least, whilst here at Hankow there should not be less than two. The presence of these gunboats, all slong the river, would strengthen the hands of the two Viceroys, Liu and Chang, and make any serious disturbance im: possible.
T should like to call attention to the importance of putting Kuling in a stave of safety during the present crits, The missionaries ut Hankow have just received instructions from their respective Consuls, the effect that the Indies and children of the various missions should return to the port or some other treaty port where they would be equally safe, until the state of affairs improves in the North. This is unquestionably a wise step to take, in view of certain grave possibilities at the inland stations. But to bring women and children to Hankow at this time of the year is a very serious matter, The whole of this valley, in the months of July and August, isa hot furnace, and the last place to which women and children should come. Now Kaling is the very place for all such refugees, and not only for them, but for all the women and children of this valley also. Everything is perfectly quiet there at present. The people have never been more friendly; there is not a sign of a coming storm anywhere. What we need is to perpetuate the existing state of things and to give the needful sense nf safety to all who may sojourn there during the next throe months. To secure this, a guard of 40 or 50 marines would be ample. Kuling is in the British sphere of influence. Surely to ask the British government to give usa small guard of 40 or 50 men, for protection of this incomparable sanatorium, is not asking too much, Tam, etc., Hankow, 23rd June.
[The enclosure sent by Dr. John is the 1G-character proclamation which has recently appeared in our columns in English and Chinese.—Ep.]
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.