But in view of the fact that the future peace China are in Sino-foreign enterprise, it may be well to see what the Chines millions say about extraterritorial "We did not invite you to come] to our country (they say). You foreigners crossed the seas and forced yourselves and your trade upon us, and to the trade we sanctioned you added opium, which brought wa you won the battle, and dictated a treaty which gave' you Hongkong and opened several of our ports. Whenever there have been mistaices made by our people, you have demanded reparations and heavy indemnities... Your missionaries came to us unasked, and though they teach good lessons and heal our sick, trouble everywhere follows Fe extraterritorialized, but instead of a grateful return for this invaluable concession, appear to act as if there were no laws in China.... You have compelled us to allow you to enter our port to port trade on the coast, Jand demand the opening of our inland waterways as well for your steamers.... Where else are aliens fen extraterritoriality—where else aliens treated with such magnanimity which is received with such ingratitude?"
Sir Robert Hart, the distinguished Briton who opened China's fine Customs service, indicated as far back as 1900 that this sort of chatter, though far-fetched—and fallacious, was being spread over the whole of China and was destined to become the Chinese public opinion jin course of time. He was right. This is to-day what the average Chinese thinks. Every foreigner knows how eminently ridiculous it s, but it is the opinion that has to be replaced with something more constructive.
The way to replace it is not by granting the relinquishment of the extraterritorial status which haa been so costly to secure. It would appear that the United States be-Tieves the time has come. China, it would seem, like the spoiled child of the world as she is, must be pacified, and to pacify her she must be given, she screams. the. by giving hor everything she cries for, but by firm and kindly discipline, China is crying in a wilderness for she knows not what. Even those who in the heat of passion demand the withdrawal of thi special status for foreigners do not realize that its abolition would be the worst move China could make for her own people's best welfare. Take away extraterritoriality and we should very speedily witness a worse tragedy than we are witness ing to-day, for it is only the fear of what foreign Powers might do which acts as a deterrent to a wild nationwide demonstration of active ant foreignism. Having foreigners entirely at their merey, the Chinese! would probably show no mercy and would act in a manner as to involve the country in war with foreiga nations. As I see it, until China proves that she is ft to be included in the family of nations, extraterritoriality Is the safety valve.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.