To the Editor, of the, "Norra-Curna Datty News.'"
Sir,—The telegrams which have appeared in your columns _laiely telling of the decision of the British Government to relinquish the remainder of the Boxer Indemnity must have brought satisfaction to the minds of all British subjects, and not least to: many still living out here who went through the terrors of 1900. From what can be gathered from the news already received the desire is that the money shall be used in some way for the mutual benefit of Chinese and British, and doubtless many schemes will be suggested, some practicable, some otherwise. The difficulty will be to settle upon any scheme which will meet with general approval The proposal has been made that the whole sum should be set apart for the education of Chinese in China or Britain an little can be said against this as a general proposition. " But unfortunately the "Returned Student' has not so far come up to expectation except in a few instances, but in spite of western learning and the advantage of study in foreign lands many of them have since returning to China shown themselves to be as avaricious and selfish as any old-style official.
I trust that in any scheme or schemes which may be adopted, that of nodical education along British lines will have a foremost place.
British subjects were the first to. bring western' medical knowledge to China, but in later years our sister nation, America, has almost swamped British medical efforts. Probably few know_ that the great Medical School in Peking with its immense and costly equipment, built and run now by American money on American lines, has taken the place of a. British institution, entirely overwhelming the original British foundation. We do not complain in the least, indeed every true Briton is glad to re cognize and rejoice in the friendly rivalry' of our American cousins in all benevolent work for the good of the Chinese. But those British who think cannot but regret it from a national point of view.
A scheme has been suggested for the establishment of a Medical School for Chinese in Shanghai, but at the present moment is, I understand, hanging fire for lack of funds. The suggestion was for a Union scheme, but could not some of the Boxer money be used for this object even though it might have to be a British school? After all Peking is only in one corner of this great country, whereas Shanghai is far and away the most important commercial centre and the front door for most_of the inland Provinces. A good Medical School established here on British lines would do untold good and have probably a wider influence than one in the capital Hongkong might be. mentioned as.a more likely place,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.