Feb.
THE message of the Shanghai Christians to their missionary ce-workers, which we published on the 10th instant is the concern chiefly of the missionaries to whom it is addressed; but, inasmuch as it was sent to us {for publication, it was, evidently, Imeant to appeal to a wider circle and is therefore open to comment in the press. It is a very wordy, document and is couched in the inflated language usual in cor-tain religious publications, This may be all right in its own place the protection of their lives and property.
A reference to financial difficulties and future readjustments seems to convey a rather obvious twas the territorial official tmr-\Catoems "ete tne, "and ranged of, a8, 8, bub statement but, as a public statement it mediately subordinate to the lover to Peking. But we believeltne plain man if written im plain Governor of the province. Thelthe intention of the Cabinet, is language. The fat poatlate the by the chief local official.
If|repayment of internal loans, but) ™<asase makes is ap follows not to use the money for the "Nationalist"
Wananga ae Gri Oe eat demands and was|hint at a loan. The manifesto|it had been possible to continue cee Het fr ne amg a "As followers of Christ all of us upon Chinese of the deavateh of people of China for Joperation in the common cause their ce-broke out, many difficulties would, jarge loan. If the Inspector' being misunderstood have been avoided. But when General were t2 attempt to carry treated, over derations the troops and the presence in the Huangpu of so many men-of-Ty, Ware, st otherwise, the "4s would not be so desperate-+z anxious to get these guardians of the peace withdrawn, On the other hand, it is less satisfactory to learn that Eugene Chen spent another two hours with Mr. O'Malley on Tuesday morning, when all the possibili ties of getting round the "Nationalist" objections were explored. To plain men these dis. cussions appear both useless and undignified. What on earth is there to negotiate? The British Government have had their answer. The reception given by the Red administration to the most generous offer ever -made by one nation to another is proof conclusive of their real intentions, When the British Minister: himself went to Hankow last:
December, in a far calmer atmosphere than now prevails, it is an open secret that he found the Reds utterly unreasonable and intractable; and the published writings of their mouthpiece to Mr. O'Malley stand as evidence that they have not improved. Grant everything they demand to-day and they will invent fresh demands to-morrow; indeed it is whispered that official circles already have word of new conditions in preparation. The reason is obvious!
The Reds the destruction of Great Britain.
Supposing by ome fluke of evil fortune or craven expediency, an agreement (God save the/mark) were concluded, does any man possessed of a grain of sense, suppose that it would be wort the paper it defiled? We know what the authority is which sits on stolen property at Hankow. It is not Chinese, it is alien and hateful to all men of reason, peace and sincerity in East and West, alike. To convince the world, the Chinese and our own, doubters of its true nature and': our own good faith, we have met! against Bolshevism and for the the country was split up into @lout such orders, it is certain restoration of China, Not un-number of hostile camps, if that the full enmity of the Kuo-naturally this manifesto betrays the revenue had continued to be mintang would be directed keener interest in what foreign paid into the hands of the local against the Customs Service. Powers may do for the support Jofficials it was to be feared that Even had he wished to obey, the Marshal Chang Tso-lin than the money would be appropriate spector General must know in what China herself can do.
Jed for local purposes, and for-that such orders could not be; It is an open secret that Marshal eign debts would not be paid. To carried out. To attempt to do Chang has made more than one save the credit of the country it Jso would wreck the Customs bid for foreign assistance, only became necessary to entrust IService. When the orders were to meet with failure. This, how-ithe collection and banking issued he was absent from Peever, possibly annoys him les the revenue to the Inspector king. Without waiting to hear than the servile court which is General of Customs, through what he had personally to say, being paid from outside China his subordinates the' Commis-jin defence of his conduct, the the Southern party. For them, sioners of Customs at each port. inspector General was dimi jit, would seem, all the favours It was not to be expected that'
Such summary treatment is an lof the Powers, all the adulation this change would be accepted ill return for the immense ser-lof sentimentalists and of the with a good grace by the Super-vices Sir Francis Aglen has Liberal press abroad are rejintendents of Customs; for it de-rendered to China, We cannot served; whereas for himself, who prived them of most of their believe that the matter will be} has treated foreigners within his revenue, and a great deal of allowed to rest here. domain fairly and has, in the their importance. Yet it met But what has now happened main, governed his provinces with no serious opposition. At only part of the larger question. well, there is nothing more than that time practically the whole Though the collection of the sur-leald' courtesy and the equivocal Customs revenue was absorbed tax has brought matters to a title of "warlord of Manchuris the service of the foreign' head, the remittance to Peking [The complaint is not unjust.
Jdebt: so no question arose as to lof the surplus of the ordinary The idea apparently prevalent what wes to be done with any Customs revenue, collected at all abroad that Chang is the ruth-balance that remained. But ports, whether these ports were less autocrat, while the Southern. when the tariff was revived in [controlled by Peking or not, had): party are disinterested, high-1919 and again in 1922, and the already occasioned many difficul toned, whole-souled patriots, Indemnities were much' reduced, ies. The parties interested are would be laughable if it were! large surplus was created. At ithe Peking Government, the for not so inherently mischievous. the same time the prestige of cla bondholders, the "domestic Clearly there is room for some ithe Peking Government fell lower, joan bondholders, and the Go of revision of the foreign jand lower. And still the whole! jornments of provinces not con-attitude. surplus Customs revenue passed. trolled by Peking. These last, We say frankly that not for automatically into the hands of naturally wish to retain for their lone moment would we advocate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.