Now it has not escaped me, Mr, Chairman, that in the course of' your speech you touched on various. im= portant points which concern not only British policy in China in general, but various special matters directly affecting British interests in Hankow, It would perhaps be dimeult for me to deal Individuatly with every one of the points which you have men-Woned but if, In anything I may say, I may appear somewhat elliptical hope you will not feel that this from any lack of sympathy with your aimeutties, 'On the contrary, let me say at once that 1 esteem it my business and my duty to do all in, my power to sup: port you and to assist' In remedying those grievances which exist and In bringing the points st view of each aide—that is, British and Chinese—to the better understanding of the other, because Tam convinced that it is by a beter and closer mutual understanding point of view of each other's true Interest Chin to admit, is undergoing a rapid and remarkable change. The age-old {traditions and the century-old methods and manners, are giving way before the march of progress, the Me fection of modern and Western Tearning, spirit of restlessness abroad here, seeking after newer forms of self expression, higher organization, greater industrial and commercial development—a desire In trict for complete modernization, intellectual and material, This ig an immense force and a factor which it would be mad and bad to disregard, Our own sympathies with sound and healthy pro-Bressive methods. are. well known, they have been declared in many cases both here and elsewhere, they have been proved In China by many acts. We can honestly disclaim any. desire (o impede the movement, not only because to do so would directly contrary to our own material Interests and to those of our coun trymen in China, but because would. be contrary to our regular principles and beliefs. We believe confidently that true freedom and sound progress are vital to the happiness of the human race.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.