College, Peking; formerly Founder and Editor of "The Feking Leader," Peking; Quain Prizeman in International Law, University of London, 1914-1916; Honorary Member of the Grotius Society, London; Author of "The Legal Obligatio: ing out of Treaty Relations between China and Other States," " China's New Constitution and International Problem: Author of "London Through El Some days ago there was published the following Reuter's tele-
London, Feb. 6—The "Times," in leader, drows attention to' the i portance of recognizing the commerce Value of providing educationa} facilities to foreign students. Tt points out. that the United States is doing its utmost attract students: The latest figures are that there wre in China, seventeen bundyed graduates of American universities, against four hundred holding British degrees. It emphasizes that the Chinese student who has been educated in England is the greatest commercial asset we possess in China.
This is a significant expression of opinion, coming as it does from "The Thunderer." And we, for one, are most glad to see it- During our student days in London we had frequent occasions to engage in friendly argument with this redoubtable champion of, conservative British opinion, but we have always found it frank and sincere. To be sure, the "Times" has not always been in sympathy with China's aspirations, but very often it has not hesitated to uplift its powerful voice in support of some of this Republie's rightful claims. And we well remember how it also helped to bring about the speedy cessation of the Indian opium traffic in this country. Surely in this adv of greater facilities for Chinese to study in the United Kingdon it is uttering @ right word in the place and in the right time, especially as thanks to the encouragement of the French authorities, five or six thousand Chinese students will be educated in France during the next two years.
Before we proceed to offer a few suggestions as to how to promote a creator educational as well as commercial alliance between Great. Rritain and Chitia. we will take 2 retrospect of Chinese students in the United Kingdom. asta Cestury Proxeens.
It is difficult to say exactly when such Chinese first set foot on English soil. For example, it is surprising to note that as earl as the eighties of the 18th century two Chinese students appeared in Paris: they studied under Turgot, the celebrated French economist and statesman, who befriended them and wrote his well-known "Essai sur la Formation et la Distribution des Richesses" especially for them. However, it seems that about the time of the famous Chefoo Convention between China and Great Britain over the Margary incident—namely, +1876. the beginning of Emperor Kuang 3." Editor of "China in 1918;" and inese Eyes" (in the press), etc., Hsu's reign—48 students began to arrive in Europe from the Foochow Arsenal to study navigation and shipbuilding. Some went w France, two to Germany, but the majority landed in England. Since then, of course, this stream of migration has flowed steadily and, as the above Reuter's message tells us, four hundred have returned holding British degrees.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.