At all events, I heartily endorse the optimistic message it conveys. 1 too believe that in spite of occasional' regional difficulties, like the trouble' at Sian, China has come through the] worst of her revolutiofiary period and is advancing towards strength and uriily as a powerful nation. Quite definite evidence of that is given by the change of attitude towards her fon the part of other countries. In Shanghai itself, which Is my particular district, 1am happy to be able leave my' post in the knowledge that our relations with the Chinese authorities and people have never been more cordial than they are now.
'A strong and orderly China will inevitably mean the gradual eurtallment of foreign privileges of the Kind that are not enjoyed in other parts of the world, and in this eonnection I" would cal your attention'
an important passage in the speech made by the Ambassador the other} day at Hankow where he expressed, the opinion that, taking the long view, our position in China will be better served on the basis of mutual sympathy and good will than on that stipulations and agreements drawn up many years ago in citeumstances very different from those of to-day. But, as Sir Frederick Leith-Ross pointed out, when the Chinese house haw been sct in order the inhabitants will develop a higher standard of living and. that will lead to an increase in the value of trade generally and in particular to a richer market for British high grade goods, So far as British official repre:
China is concerned you have seen that H. M. Government are doing all within their power, by the appointment of financial snd com experts, to take fil advan. tage of the new conditions. Apart) from Sir Louis Beale and Mr. Hall-Patch who have more permanent ap-! ointments out here. we have had Frederick Leith-Ross and Mr. Kirkpatrick who are not only out: standing in their respective spheres of activity but up-standing too; both of them six and a half feet tail and the very embodiment of high finance and long credits,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.