Five years ago I spent several weeks visiting several cities of China. I hope to visit many other Chinese cities during my stay in China. I have heard and read a great deal about her resources and her people, and about her political conditions and her needs. Natur-
In order to extend my acquaintance, I plan to come here again soon and hope to come many times. I hope in time to be come so well known in China that no friend of China will ever believe any statement that attributes to me any sinister, wrongful or deceitful motive, any purpose to deal unfairly toward China. I say this because I have been told nian times by friends of China in America that there are people who, for reasons they will not openly state, hope to see the Consortium plan fail, and who will strive to that end by subtle means. I do not like to believe this and I hope _it will prove to be untrue. In order, to avoid incorrect reports, I have prepared this signed statement, which is all I have to say to the newspaper representatives at this time about my mission. For "the same reason, I shall follow! the same practice in the future, from time to time' as newspaper representatives question me. No unsigned statement attributed to nie should be accredited. The Consortium plan is too important to the Chinese people to be discredited by incorrect statements attributed to any one of its spokesmen, of which I am only one.
I am hoping that I may adapt myself in time to Chinese business ways and conditions, so different from those to which I have been accustomed, that the Chinese with whom I may be called upon to deal will be patient and charitable toward my shortconiings, and especially that in the end, whatever the result of the loan negotiations may be, I shall be generally respected in China.
Freperick W. Srevens.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.