To the Editor of the "Norra-Cuina Darty News."
Sir,—The saying, that a diplomat is one who is sent abroad to lie for his country, is forcibly brought to mind by the remarks of the Chinese Charge d'Affaires in London on the subject of the Hukuang Bonds, the interest recently due on which had not been received in London only 2 hours before the time to pay. Mr. Chu Chao-hsin remarked on "the absolute reliability of this investment on which default is unimaginable," as it is secured on the Canton-Hankow railway line itself, on the Hupeh and Hunan likin and salt revenue and on the Hupeh imported rice duty. But Hunan has not remitted one cent of its revenue to Peking for some years and has no intention; of ever voluntarily doing so again. Fur ther, owing to the continued failure to supply essential materials the railway lire is rapidly disintegrate ing. At present the average maximum speed compatible with Western ideas of safety on at least half the line is no more than six miles an hour, and unless extensive renewals and repairs are taken in hand at am early date either traffic must be suspended or a serious accident is inevitable. Thus it is obvious that a large portion of the so-called security for these bonds is purely imaginary.
The above remarks on the condition of the line are not in harmony with Mr. Div's assertion that the section from Hankow to Chuchow is in working order; but a good deal depends on what is meant by working order. No foreign engineer would apply that description to the line in its present condition, although it is true that trains are running between Hankow and. Changsha.
Mr. Chu asserts that the 200 miles of line still to be constructed will shortly be taken in hand. As to that: we must wait and see. In 1921 a British engineer was brought to China to continue the construc: tion of earthworks south of Chuchow which had already been taken in hand before the war. After five months he was dismissed owing to lack of funds and for the last 18 months nothing has been done. It is hardly likely that more
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.