cla—By L.A. Lyall, With a Foreword by HAL, Ruher, PO, DiGL, Bent. London, 21/~
Mr. Lyall's long service in China makes him a fitting person to write this book' which is one of "The 'Modern World" series to which some of the most competent observers and authorities on contemporary states have contributed. Over forty years in China with the Customs and holding several important positions, especially in connection' with—tariff revision, Mr. Lyall possesses the roper background and experience to explain China to the West but he is particularly" successful.
True. the author is one of the leading sinologues. and his historical survey and his analysis of Chinese religion, teaching and system of} government are excellent and reveal the penetration and keen scrutiny he brings to bear on these subjects, as well as the extent of his classical studies and linguistic attainments, but when he deals with political " and economic questions and attempts. 10 in recent events and developments with his own ideas the balance is lacking and his observations and con clusions are subject to criticism. treats his subject very sympathetic cally, so sympathetically in fact, that hho loses sight of the balance he is trying to strike and personal experi-fence of isolated instances is not always a sure guide to a definite conclusion regarding a problem so vast to contemplate. "'The reader suspects that instead of concentrating on a survey he is attempting to assume the role of a preacher to the so-called diehard foreign elements in China with whose views he is in complete largely to blame for conditions in not only affecting the foreign themselves but also the Chinese, and he points out that as he fe writing for English en and considerable space has been devoted to ants in which England is ed, England, of course, domi Machiavellian role There are many foreiga merchants trading "in China, especially in Shanghai, and who have suffered trade losses on this account, who will be interested in his view of Chinese commercial morality, He wei Buropean merchants in China have lately taken" to entering. into written contracts with Chinese dealers. This custom grew up because, owing to the sudden "changes "that recent years in the Fel ff gold and siver, it has repeatedly Rappened that Chinese buyers refus~ practice is a mistake, has' given' his word is on his honour, He fs" disgraced if, he breaks it. A written contract is quite a dite man tries to tle the day" in business "between and Chinese, the Englishman is not Iikety to" be "the "winner.
As former Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Lyall must be cognizant of the vast increase of foreign trade in China in recent years and if he be-Hieves that any form of patriarchal business relationships will carry this volume he must be an incurable optimist. When trade was a personal matter on a small scale in the Cohong days his view was applicable but it is impossible now. The increase in Chinese joint stock com-nies conducted on western lines is as eloquent an filustration of this og his belief in the inviolability of spoken bond. Unless be is trying Yo excuse deficiencies in character which even the modern Chinese business system is trying to remedy by the very means he deprecates, Mr Lyall is living too far in the past.
"The unwise policy of the foreign powers in their relations to China Feceives considerable criticism from the author. Captain Elliot's efforts at Canton to obtain a settlement of trade difficulties and the intolerable treatment of British merchants which Jed to the so-called Opium War is dismissed by the author as an indica~ tion of England's desire to uphold the ilieit traffic and contaminate the country, although no less impartial an observer than John Quiney Adams pointed out that the opium "was a mere incident and no more the cause fof the war than the throwing over~ board of the tea in Boston, harbour wor the cause of the North Amerieaa Yevolution. " " "Tt was the kowtow."
The siege of the Peking Lemations land the responsibility all fat within the author's dictum that the Powers hag only themselves to blame. He and the whole Diplomatic Body had iseenmactacred, if would Move, been outrage, without parallel perhaps in Nistorg. for the persons of Torelgn envoys have been held sired fom time" immemorial "even among sSavaces. But it the chime. attempted was unpafelicted, the provocation that Droduced it" was "scarcely less 30. China had! done. nothing" to offend the Moreign "powers, But she' was ever andsetmed) fences, Sod orelen greed was avalcened. Though te'woutd have been too much to say mined to. dismember er, the eps.
to da member her, the steps, They. took gave every reason sppose that his was their intention neb were extremely" kely to, bring Shout"that result.' Their' statesmen Seemed "quite unconscious "that. to fear a. great country. to pieces lo 2 rime' not easly forgotten, This in spite of the fact that great figures ike Jung Lu and. the two Yangtze viceroys, Liu Kun-yl and Chang Chihetung, and Yuan Shickal steadfastly, in their peculiar: marine realizing the folly of the Boxer. a tempt, refused to ce-operate. Greater minds than an aged Empress Dowager, lulled by the fanatic declarations and. enthusiasms of " Boxer chiefs, were able to maintain order over a large area in the Yangtze anc South of the Yangtze, with the result hat south of the Yangtze there were are cases of persecution, as the thor admis Shanghai, where Mr. Lyall was! Commissioner of Customs for several Sears, occupies a large. part of his Books' ate. Lyalt is not impressed by the system of administration although he admits it has produced. good re-suite, 'The Counet! composed of busy merchants, who have barely enough Time to attend. their own businesses, ire' not a competent. administrative Body or the International Settlement. Ar ihe work increases much of the! Work is left to the permanent staff find a bureaucracy whose outlook {s'confined to. Shanghai cannot be expected to take a wide view of in-(ational afairg" Intact, he Mater, Smany- of the mistakes made the Munieipat Council have been fne to the promptings of its. paid fads Shanghai's view' too harrow and too. shortsighted.. He iso revives the elf Public Gardens myth hat'"Publie. Gardens with another arly in 1802 1 went to the Shang
ye" were "going. In, ya, notice Echt man oh, plaid out Wore not "admitted." We. looked. at riging onthe gate: "chinese and 2088 thet and burst out laughing.
And zo would the permanent staff of the Council. were It not for the fiet that the allegation has been made Sov frequently. that it is becoming Tutstng, "Whatever may be the de-Helenciey of the Council their vera city. has never. been chi ud Sa'more tan, one occasion has a Sonint been Tssued that the alleged Sflending notice was ever exhibited fu the Public Gardens.
Mr, Lyall. comments severely the impossibility of ce-operation be-spai ive Settlement authrites and US-Eathese authorities and the lace scenchanded justice. 'The allege! eetaty of the Sikh police and the tilegedubtreatment of prisoners the munteipel gaol are ceteize3, Phe" Consol are to Snvolved In portant international and. aiplomatc Roestone to pay too. much atenton (itese' matere, "Crime. abounds ta"as long as the Seitement autho Files conte to" appete the exer {oe by the Chinese Government the sluhts over its subject living 19 the Setenint cooperation between the two. police forces to. prevent ime" will not be forthcoming. declares Ifthe reviewer remembers flohtly, Mr. Lysife term of fee a8 Commissioner" in Shanghat. coincided Gein a series of Chinese civil wars hich resulted in thousands of Brm= but eaderlesr Chinese troops be: ing lett abandoned on the Settlement Boundary. 'The result was the Set-ement" being seenrded as the Mondectel ey to loot" and' rob berecunsoldlets flourished so much 10 that thre. were several robberies Pays The low erie. record of fubrequent years evidence of Dolly of decreasing crise res Pective. of tie" terrible conditions inequality" which. Be. Lyall per-
"he author Is candid about Shang-hal and te inhabitants, az well press He is on the whole, distrust {ut of the English great for, earlier in the book, referring tothe Nanking incident when outrages were come mitted on foreign women, by Some ocular form of reasoning he is able dismiss the raping in these words he Engl prem in Shane, estat, Gaus wasnt % Seven ube Sate by: ming SOSO artes Tomes ta Ben apes, ie Sone mort notorious incident in the whole 'The siege of the, Legations is the Ristory of Sntemational" affairs in Shine' Wf one" siege had succeeded,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.