the last two years. Let me ask +P, D. Z." one question. Has Nanking. been given a chance to fulfil its promises? For the last two years, the Government has been—called upon to defend its very existence Every programme of constructive endeavour has been rigorously opposed and blocked!
In. the concluding paragraph of your correspondent, corruption and bribery in Nanking is alleged in so many ambiguous phrases. common belief of the people, especially foreigners in China, is that Chinese officialdom has been corrupt for ages. There is some just fication. This attitude, of course, is not likely to diminish except in the light of experience. To me the most significant fact about the present Nanking regime is the personal honesty of the officials. known Peking of the old régim Graft and dishonesty were the obtstanding characteristics of the a ministration. To-day, after years of constant touch with official dom in Nanking, I came away with the feeling that whatever might be thought of the men in charge, there could not -be any question of their personal unselfish. ness. The leaders work the longest hours of any known government administration in other parts of the world and live the simplest of lives with almost no diversion to speak, of, Ministers are allowed a monthly salary of $800. The perquisites of office are negligible. Many had. been revolutionary heroes for te of years, used to hardships such as. no laymen could stand. made by the Nationalist Government, whose resources had to be lence ever since ernment. graft over certain figures punishable by death. If "F. D. can produce any conerer nce for his allegations, he may be assured that the culprit would be punished with the full rigidity of the law!
The above are topics which only men with first hand information may discuss, Let us insist on facts! Then draw our conclusion with some constructive criticism, from which] some good might to achieved.
Shanghai, Sept, 9.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.