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DR. SUN YAT SEN'S RAILWAY PROGRAMME,
A DEFENCE
Mr. George Bronson Res writes in the current issue of the Far Eastern Review a long defence of Dr. Sun Yat Sen's the following
Railway programine, from which we jako
ewaken his
bo
Dr. Sun's
TURKISH CIGARETTE. opinion should unanimously agree in the most favourable financial and con- his railway plans it very wisels refrained
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193
financial terms for the construction of the definitely compromising him with other proposed system. It was left entirely to parties ratil the Pauling contract with my discretion as to whether the scheme all its details was formally signed, so it should be offered as a whole to an inter- could serve as e precedent and guide to actional combination of independent others. I was also very anxious that Dr. Official Banking San should leare China and come to capitalists, to the Groups, or whether it should be disinte Europe to conclude the other contracts on the ground, so he could personally reap grated, and separate contracts entered into for each line. The scheme as presented to all the credit and honour that belonged My the lending financiers in England, France rightfully to him as bead of the Corpor MACGREGOR&C. and America met with their unqualified tion and originator of the schemo.
one regret is that I permitted the trans- When Dr. Sun Yat sen was empowered approval, and in France and America it in September, 1912, by President Yuan was indorsed by members of the Official for of the Pauling negotiations from Dr. Sun to come to London, as then ho Shih-kai to organize a national corpora- Banking Groups as the moss practical London to Shanghai instead of urging tion or company for the financing and plan yet presented for the solution of construction of future railways in China, the intricate Chinese railway problem. would never have been actively implicated The contract for the financing widespread publicity was given to his The scheme could have easily been in the rebellion which destroyed his use ideas, through the medium of several financed in its entirety, as negotiations fulness. speeches whereby Dr. Sun hoped to could have been opened and preliminary and construction of the Canton Chunking full agreements signed so that China would Railway was signed at Shanghai on July countrymen to realization of what railways meant have been obligated to their final accept 4th; 1913, between Lord Ffrench and Dr Dnes. Owing to certain political com-Sun, or within a month after Lord Shanghai from Peking. 10 the future prosperity and plications and the attitude of one of the Ffrench arrived development of the country. At that official institutions who refused to Copies of the contract were due to arrive period Dr. Sun held the view that it would relinquish certain perquisites connected in London by the Siberian mail on the well-nigh impossible to arouse with the departmental system of construc 20th of July, when active negotiations enthusiasm amongst the people, by tion, I decided that another plan should could proceed with the other parties who advocating the construction of a few thou be carried out in China by inviting the had already accepted the basic terms. On sand miles of trunk lines such as any tyro great construction firms to enter the field, the 18th of July, the rebellion against. familiar with the needs of China could feeling confident that with their experi- Président Yuan was commenced, and two ence and organization (hey could build days later Dr. Sun's powers as Director outline, so he deliberately traced on a large map an elaborate, comprehensive the railways more economically and General of the Chinese National Railway schete embracing 00,000 miles of railway expeditiously than individual engineers Corporation were annulled by the Presi to illustrate his idea of what China nominated by the Banks under the dent in a special mandate, thus bringing actually required to take her place abreast prevailing departmental system, where to an abrupt termination all further of other countries where modern trans the Bauke are the principals to the negotiations in Europe.
From that time to this not one word portation had reached its highest develop contract.
With this idea view a contract was about Dr. Sun or his railway plans:has ment.
of been conveyed to the public by any one Dr. Sun's so-called dress was arranged with the greatest firma nothing more or less than a prophetic ilway constructors in the world, a firm formerly connected with him, nor has the vision of the lines which in the next fifty who had already built thousands of miles Government itself made any public state years China will be compelled to coof lines in other countries, whose credit ment. This silence is due to the fact that struct. His mistake consisted in giving publicity to his ideas without a full and reputation for honest work was such absolutely nothing was known about what
that the building of all the Rhodesian had been accomplished. explanation of what he had in mind. lines had been entrusted to their care by papers and records were removed from These, with his rather vague fancies of the Rhodesian Government on a percent his offies before bis Bight to Japan, and The bis Chinese assistants and staff have been financing the lines, and the length of time age basis without competition. they would take to construct, were out terms arranged with Messrs. Pauling & deterred from saying anything in defence lined in various speeches for the benent Company of London were must equitable of his railway scheme for fear of being of Chinese audience, and were given and honourable to both sides, in fact, they misinterpreted and implicated in the universally cognized by all abortive rebellion against the President, world-wide publicity through the foreign are Press associations. That foreign public disinterested financiers and engineers as If the fovernment knew anything about stamping him as a visionary and his struction terms ever accorded to any from making public any information that Of Dr. Sun's scheine as impracticable was a foregone Government for work of this nature. So might reflect credit on a man proscribed conclusion. The world smiled and favourable were they that I have been as a political outlaw. refused to take bin seriously. A criticized by my intimate friends, in other political schemes and dreams, I know. mistake was undoubtedly committed in large financial and engineering firms for nothing. I do know, however, that during making no effort to counteract the pre- permitting such a precedent to be estab- my connection with him as the Technical vailing idea at that time, but to do solished, on the grounds that China was no Secretary or Adviser to the Chinese would have necessitated the publication cutitled to such special consideration National Railway Corporation, and as of important details, which might have when all other Governments recognized the Deputy Director General holding his BY popular English Manufacturers. In brought about inmediate failure of his higher rate of proft to the contractor power of attorney, nothing but the I may go further and state that it is highest and most honourable patriotic plans owing to the delicate international political questions involved and the mono- almost impossible to duplicate the terms motives and complete devotion to the best The agreement interests of his country characterized his in any future contract.. poly held by the Official Groups for rail with Messrs. Pauling & Company created labours for the perfection of a practical way loans to China. Since the time of his an entirely new precedent for the coa- railway scheme for China. Un to the speeches in Northern China in September, struction of railways in China and time of my departure from China on the 1012, the public has received no official or liberated the Chinese Government from special mission, Dr. Sun would listen to He accurate information concerning the work the usual terms of the departmental no criticism of the President from his of the Chinese National Railway Corpora system, by opening the door to an experi-subordinates in the Corporation. tion, and the opinion then formed from enced railway construction fire who up trusted him implicitly, and I personally Dr. Sun's incomplete exposition of his to that time had been debarred from know that when appealed to from all deas for Chinese consumption has for operating in China by the enforcement parts of the country to permit his name various good reasons been permitted to of the monopoly accorded the official to be used as a candidate for the prevail without any attempt at correction. banking groups for business of this Presidency in the coming elections, Dr. Sun worked in his home until early morn When Dr. Sun arrived in Shanghai nature
All other Governments in the world are ing hours writing letters to his friends From Peking to put his plans into opera
Dr. tion one of his first acts was to enlist the now carrying on important construeio and adherents advising them to support
on a percentage basis with Yuan Shih-kai for the Presidency. zervices of a competent adviser. There works
me were emphatic in that he did not were several highly qualified British and reputable engineering firms, in fact under Sun's parting and private instructions to European railway experts who aspired to certain given conditions a percentage or the positions, bet Dr. Sun Inclined to the cost plus a fixed sum contract is the only desire one cent set aside as commission bolicef that in the preliminary work of his feasible method to get the work financed for himself or the Corporation in any organization he required the aid of one and started. The system has been found negotiations I might initiate. who had an intelligent grasp of the good for the most enlightened Govern desired that the lowest possible terms. political problems connected with Chinese ments in the world, and from my own should be secured for the country, and railways rather than a trained and knowledge and experience as a contract he confided in my honour and integrity experienced technical railway expert. ing engineer for public and other works, to protect his reputation from any taint He held that he needed someone who had I had no hesitation in assuming the or suspicion of graft or illegal commis
Chinese railways. a the rough knowledge of the trade routes responsibility for employing it in the siona. and topography of the oantry, and whoss Construction of advice would guide him a igat in devising especially as no survey had been made or his final scheme, by steering him through could be made within the time and funds
n the disposal of the Corporation... the minze of international political pitfalls
Whether I was right or wrong in this created by the many treaties, conventions derision is purely a matter of opinion. and loan agreement through which China My judgment on this point is as good imbued with life, driving itself, and con had parted with her tights. It was hi tirit of any railway engineer in China, earnest desire that his final programmed I have the experience of other would be in strict iccardar with rights Governments to justify my action. The already ceded to other parties, so that nonly opposition to its adoption in China international obstacles could be placed in arise from interested and prejudiced the way of its success. He know that his parties who prefer to fasten the depart a weak Government, original schems if officially presented to mental system on the world would embarass and compromiso so that certain practices and perquisites the President and the new Government, can be perpetuated. The casentials to Wheels are in motion, and they have set and he was animated by the most loyal the faithful performance of a percentage themselves in motion; there is driving and patriotic motives in trying to avoid contract are an honest and experienced power, and yet it is power supplied by
contractor of high financial standing, the machine Human nature, flesh and any complications.
Passing over the high qualifications and and honest supervision on the part of blood, very real manhood, all is sub merits of several well-known foreign those appointed to protect the Governordinate to one impulse and desire to get
reliable, and to go to the front
Whatever you go you see drilling, railway experts, Dr. Sun, after consulta ment's interests. Given
Drilling ia no new spectacle in Aldershot, tion with many prominent Chinese,honourable and competent contractor invited me to join him as his adviser on with an established reputation, and an
but this drilling is. It is the motion of a these preliminary matters, I painted honest official to guard the interests of
machine in which each component part wheel out to Dr. Sun that I was not a railway the Government, the percentage or cost engineer, and had no experience in the plus five manner of on is alive. It is as though every wh construction and operation of railways, equitable manner of carrying on large willed itself to revolve and that my only qualification for such public works where it is impossible to If the an honour was my knowledge of interna- make an accurate estimate at the time of and intrigues for control of China's Government objects to such a contract tional politics as expressed in concessions entering into the contract. railways. I warned. Dr. Sun that mvit simply indicates distrust in appointment would be adversely criticized integrity of its own officials, and merely
on core stringent terms by others having a more practical experiAdds further ammunition for bankers to ence in the construction of Chinese insist railways. I therefore suggested that the supervising the expenditure of loan fundi Cost plus & fixed sum" is title of Technical Secretary would be more in accord with the nature of the undoubtedly the best arrangement but duties of the position, instead of the word. with honourable contractors and faithful Adviser, which had lost considerable of inspectors representing the other side, the This would percentage system is as equitable in the its significance in China leave the door open in the future for the end. The legitimate recognized percent You can see men walking about, of employment of a proper technical expert age of proft allowed by all European and duty, studying instruction books. Thou as Adviser to the Company American Governments on large public sands of them seem to have forsworn On assuming the position of Technical works is invariably ten per cent over the pleasure, unless it be conducive to fitness, I can cite fitness for Active Service. Never has Secretary of the Chinese National Rail- actual cost of construction. way Corporation, Dr. Sun confided the several such contracts being actually Aldershot been more orderly cleaner, carried out for various Governm nts more disciplined. And this discipline, revision of his original unwieldy railway throughout the world. Messrs. Pauling again, is a living part of the machine,
THE VOLUME, which consists of an scheme into my hands, and at my sugges-thrustpany were willing to undertake working of its own accord, Pages, and includes Sketch Pla tion no authoritative information con- the work in China op a basis of siren per cerning the plans of the Corporation was allowed to leak out to the public from cent. profit over the actual cost of con. Aldershot itself is aware of the improve of historical interest showing the dispos that date; the only parties entitled to struction, or three Fer cent, under the of anybody than that which a doctor intion of the Forces at the battle of Eweili such information being the higher officials, standard of the Government at Peking A com prehensive scheme for the construction of 10,000 miles of essential trank lines was then designed, to be financed and con- structed over a period of ten to fifteen yar, calling for the expenditure of £100,000,000 or at the rate of £6,666,666 per year, a perfectly feasible, and practical scheme for the financial markets of the world to assimilate.
rabo other
the
in
Governments
He
KITCHENER'S ARMY. THE RACE FOR FITNESS. If it were possible to imagine a mechine. zeins of purpose, the metapher might serve to describe Aldershot the hire of Kitchener's Army, writes the special representative of the Westminster Gazette from Aldershot. In any event it is a very dificult thing to describe, as is every wonderful thing. Yes; it is a living A machine,
I watched some men of the Black Watch at bayonet drill, and I could have watched them all day. If a Zeppelin had appeared immediately overhead I believe they would not have taken their oyes from the sergeant as though they expected to be using the who was instructing them. They looked bayonet in action that very afternoon. There lies the secret. In Aldershot to-day there is going on a perpetual race for fitness, and the prize is Active service. Strong heavy follows have been known to burst into tears on being passed over......
ment. I bave never heard warmer praise
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The the town bestowed upon Kitchener's Army, consider as fair and reasonable, financial terms were also one half of one upon its sobriety, its gentlemanliness, its per cent. better than the last Chinese character generally, to say nothing of its railway loan. The Agreement for the intelligence and earnestness. There is no Carton-Chungking line speaks for it elf ragging, no larking. It is a serious busi As Dr. Sun could not personally visit ness, and the mon know it. When an army London to arrange the details and sign is to be made at speed there is no time to
It would be foolish to suggest that the presentation to friends at Home. the agreement, at my suggestion it was waste. arranged that Lord Ffrench, the repre wentative of Pauling & Company in entire army is composed of educated men i As Dr. Sun found it impossible to leave China, should proved to Shanghai and there may even be a downright rough China at that time to initiate negotio- negotiate the details directly with Dr. element; but in the main it is an astound- tions, for the financing of the lince, he Sun. While these meetings were taking ingly superior body. And here the requested me to undertake this mission place, other negotiations with well-known remarkable aspect of the men is their and pave the way for him to come to and experienced contractors and finan- cheerfulness. There are thousands who Europe later on, and ratify and sign the ciers were initiateal in London and Paris have been accustomed to a soft life. Life the same favourable terms as the at Aldershot is not soft; far from it. In final contracts. In order to successfully on enter into negotiations, Dr. Son contract with Pauling & Company, some respects life at Aldershot to such as appointed me as his Deputy, with a full Being desirous that Dr. Sun should have these is downright fint. But there seems power-of-attorney to act for him and the all the honour and prestige arising from to be no use for grumbling; it does not Corporation in arranging preliminary the success of his plane, I refrained from
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