ordinary Apathy as to Real Facts From ix. Cerrespondent.
One of the things which strikes! the "China hand'? on his return to} the countries of the West is the; increased interest in the attention! paid to Chinese affairs. At first sight this would appear to be al hopeful sign, but the advantages; of the movement are largely d counted by the fact that the pre: of these lands concerns itself mainly with the opinions and statements of the band of Chinese diplomats! at present so busily employed in making themselves conspicuous at} the various international—conferences now proceeding.
OviLiminity oF StATESMEN.
To anyone cognisant of the real conditions prevailing in China, it is somewhat of a shock to see! the weight which famous, well-tried and experienced statesmen of the West give to the declarations of the youthful Mr. Wellington Koo and his colleagues. It may be that! a flavour of the romance of the; East clings to these young but the fact remains that the highly coloured picture presented of the conditions existing in the '"Republic," as compared with those which held in the antiquated Manchu regime, is accepted as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The press applauds the fact' that China has now a brand new code of laws and an up-to-date machinery for admin tering the same: that® China is eager to take her "rightful place" among the great nations of the earth: and that China's rulers and administrators being what they are—men imbued with ihe spirit of justice and reform—it is a crying shame that the subjects of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.