100
1
:
8.
367
I am unaware whether Sir J. Jordan informed the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs regarding the contents of my letter (as I had informed Your Lordship) but he has from time to time written to me saying that he had pressed the Wai Wu Pu to show their appreciation of our efforts to assist China in her endeavours to acquire Western Education, by giving a subscription to the Endowment Fund of the University.
9
I learn with much dismay that Your Lordship does not approve of this policy to which I had supposed, by the absence of any comment on my letter to Sir J. Jordan (forwarded five months ago to the Colonial Office), Your Lordship took no exception, and I fear it may now be somewhat difficult to withdraw. I have, however, telegraphed Your Lordship's views to Sir J. Jordan. I may add that the Viceroy of Canton is enthusiastic regarding the scheme, and has declared his intention of raising subscriptions for it. I yesterday verbally informed the Consul-General of your views, and pointed out that the Viceroy's subscription list must therefore be considered as a private one. He said that although these subscriptions were in no sense by the Chinese Government, it was difficult to distinguish in the case of a high Chinese Official how far any subscription in his own name was derived from his private purse or from official funds in his charge. He has, I am told, already collected a sum of $200,000 or more, and I enclose a somewhat remarkable letter which he has written to me on the subject. He had spoken to Mr. Fox on the subject of memorialising the Throne (with a request that the Chinese Government should officially subscribe) and, in consequence of the views contained in your despatch, I have asked the Consul-General to discourage any such idea.
10.
1
Your Lordship bases your view of the unadvisability of accepting a contribution from the Chinese Government upon the fact that cases have occurred in the past where