Feb, 22, The appointment to be its chief advisor which the Nationat Government has decided to con-for upon Sir Frederick Whyte naturally a subject of gen eral comment" yesterday. plainly a high tribute Frederick himself, not so much abilities which have been 1 proved in other fields, as to the close and sympathetic' study which he has devoted to things Chinese and his confidence in the ultimate success of the new order even amid the many discouragements with which it still so manifestly hampered: It honour of the greatest distinction that the Nationali have yet conferred, Sir Frederick Whyte's advisership being to the Government itself, while others yet created are to particular mistries. And it is undoubtedly meant also as a compliment and token of good will to the British people, On all counts it is a notable piece of news.
From Sir Frederick Whyte's statement which we published yesterday, it is seen that his mind is not yet made up as to accepting the offer. He cognizes its importance an appreciates the honour; -he Jdwells with evident pleasure'on "the cordial, friendly and inde~ pendent nature" of the relations he has happily been able to form with highly placed Chinese of all circles; but he has not yet leon able to decide to give these relations a "definite and olficiat character." The importance of the word "independent" is to be noted. Sir Frederick Whyte may well feel that such: suggestion' Jas he may occasionally have been fable to offer as a detached observer might not have the same weight and value when given as a matter of official duty. And more. Too many advisors to China have been reduced mere figure-heads or even to the position of no better than paid propagandists, to throw dust in the eyes of the world. We do not for a moment suggest that any such intention is in the mind of Nanking. Far from it. The idea of the appointment originate ed with a group of men who, knowing Sir Frederick well, are thoroughly aware that he is the last man to accept gilded idleness, apart from the fact that they themselves would not think of such an indignity. 'The real of doubt in Sir Frederic': id must be how his services as a prove Can any foreign advisor, who is that and nothing more. be of real value to China as she is at present. Without controlling power to enforce what he advises, what solid service can he perform? We are not subtly suggesting that Sir Frederick Whyte or any other man should he given such power, With th hest will on Nanking' me circumstances which have hitherto blocked progress still wail, too many grades between the m order and the point of its execution, and too little understanding between positions.
Again let it be emphasized that we are not wishing to magnify differences or pro-We merely mean what must be obvious 10 al, that China has not yet found achieve organized advancement and through which decisions taken at the centre may be operative on the This is a problem which Chinese can alone solve for themselves. It be that disinterested adv from outside would help them at to solve it more quickly. If 39
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.