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and its pig iron from 300.000 to 30,000,000 tons to equal the production of the United States, which is probably poorer in coal and iron resources than is China The number of its factory employees must increase from less than 100,000 to 40,000,000, and its children under public instruction from 4,000,000 to 50.000,000 to be proportionate with the figures for the United States.
Demand for British Education of Chinese.
In view of these possibilities, there can hardly be any doubt as to the urgent importance of pushing British influence in China through educational means. But beyond the academic desirability of such a policy, is there at this moment a ponderable demand for an extension of educational facilities on British lines? There certainly is, and it is manifested in the following ways:-
1. Through the Chinese themselves. On the 26th June, 1919, Liang-Chi-Chao, the well-known Chinese statesman, approached Mr. H. A. L. Fisher, with the desire to secure for new China "the spread of English educational ideals throughout the ountry." He pointed out that America and Germany had made great efforts to spread their educational propaganda; and he suggested that Great Britain should follow America's example in returning the remainder of the Boxer indemnity in order to found two modern universities, perhaps in Peking and Nanking.
According to Mr. Alston's despatch No. 350 of the 14th May, 1920, an Anglo- Chinese Educational Committee has been formed at Shanghai on the initiative of a Chinese gentleman, Mr. C. C. Nieh, to try and co-ordinate all efforts to send Chinese students and artisans to Great Britain and generally to approach the matter on business lines." His Majesty's consul-general says: "In view of the activity of the American and French Governments, some such organisation on our part appears vitally necessary." ***
2. Through the British commercial community in China. Their wishes on this question have been formulated at the conference of the Associated British Chambers of Commerce of China and Hong Kong (28th November, 1919). Article 12 of the resolution there adopted runs as follows:-
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This conference attaches the utmost importance to the education of Chinese on British lines, regrets that His Majesty's Government has not replied to important memoranda sent to it from responsible bodies in China, and urges upon His Majesty's Government the remission of a portion of the Boxer indemnity, or the adoption of other means, in order to aid British educational institutions for Chinese in the Far East, and to meet the cost of educational and vocational training and experience in the United Kingdom to selected Chinese students in adequate numbers, having regard to the present extremely disadvantageous position of Great Britain in this respect, and to the trade benefits to the United Kingdom which must follow the return of Chinese students favourably disposed towards British methods and products."
The British Chamber of Commerce for Tien-tsin goes still further, and proposes the institution of a form of education rate to be levied on registered Chinese companies (Mr. Lampson's despatch No. 123 of the 8th March, 1920-and see below, p. 151).†
* In a memorandum from His Majesty's Commercial Counsellor of Legation, Peking, he states, "We believe that recent conversations have taken place in London in reference to the training of Chinese students in Englund. Applications for information as to what steps should be taken by a student before departure, or on arrival in England, with a view to getting advice as to suitable courses of study and facilities for technical training reach the Legation from all parts of the country. As soon as any organisation has been established, even in a tentative way, we should be very glad of information." Further, Mr. Alfred Sze, former Chinese Minister in London, announced in his farewell message to the press: "If Anglo-Chinese co-operation is to become fruitful, it is essential that some proportion of the younger generation of Chinese be brought under the direct influence of British ideas and methods through and by means of education. The British must encourage and attract to their country some of the makers and workers of the China of tomorow."
Times," February 2, 1921.)
North China Herald," which is the most representative organ of the British community in China, in an article dated the 4th December, 1920, regrets the deplorable failure up to the present of Grent Britain to take steps for the education of Chinese on British lines." It continues, With the striking success that has attended the efforts of the United States in this matter, and the promising work in this direction now being undertaken by France, the omission of the British Government to follow these excellent examples cannot but be regarded with profound disappointment."
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3. Through the British commercial community at home. The China Associa- tion, which is representative of British interests in China, has drafted a scheme to anticipate the pressure which will probably be brought to bear in 1922 to remit the Boxer indemnity, by applying it at once for education in China (China Association letter and memorandum of the 7th December, 1920).
Private letters have also been received from the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association, and from the British Engineering Standards Asso- ciation. The latter have handed in a memorandum strongly urging a plan
corresponding with that of the American and French Governments.
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4. Through the authorities of His Majesty's Government. The question was fully investigated during 1917-18 under the direction of His Majesty's Legation at Peking. The results of this enquiry were embodied in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 348 of the 23rd July, 1918. Sir J. Jordan notes that we, as a nation, have in recent years done very little to promote education on British lines"; and he endorses Mr. Wilton's proposal that the unpaid amount of the Boxer indemnity should be made available for this purpose. In his despatch No. 40 of the 23rd January, 1920, he returns to this subject, and observes that since the 1918 report "the position of our educational institutions in China has become exceedingly precarious owing to the abnormally high exchange There is grave danger of their absorption by wealthy American educationaliste." Mr. Lampson, in his despatch No. 123 of the 8th March, 1920, agaan urges that something definite in the desired direction may be evolved at an early date. Sir C. Eliot, who was for several years vice-chancellor of Hong Kong University, says: "It is a question of primary importance for our influence in China and he strongly urges that the remission of the Boxer indemnity for educational purposes is a matter which ought to be brought before the Cabinet.
5. Through the missionary bodies. His Majesty's Foreign Office has received numerous appeals from various missionary bodies urging the importance of this question in general, and in particular asking for support for their own activities in case of a remission of the Boxer indemnity. Among others, the directors of the London Missionary Society have passed a resolution requesting His Majesty's Government to consider the possibility of applying the Boxer indemnity to the education of Chinese. Other letters have been received from the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (pointing out the facilities for Chinese students in Canada), the Christian Literature Society for China, the Mukden Medical College, the Anglo-Chinese College, Tien-tsin, the Westminster College, Chuanchow, &c.
6. Through educationalists at home. Dr. Shipley, of Christ's College, Cambridge, has written to Lord Curzon, offering his services in furthering any scheme to bring Chinese students to English universities. He had been much impressed by the numbers which he had seen in the universities in America.
7. Through the press. The question has been taken up in a series of paragraphs and articles in the "Daily Mail (the 27th November to the 16th December, 1920). The small number of Chinese students in Great Britain (under 270) is contrasted with the large numbers in America and France, As a remedy, a remission of the Boxer indemnity is urged. Such a graceful concession would have far-reaching and beneficial effects, especially on trade and commercial developments
It would obviously be a good stroke of business.' It is rumoured that the Northcliffe press intend to pursue the matter further.
Educational Activities of Great Britain and other Nations.
One of the principal arguments employed by those who urge that His Majesty's Government should take up this question, is that other nations, notably United States of America and France, have already done so, and that we shall be soon outdistanced by our competitors.
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United States of America. In 1907, the number of pupils in elementary schools in China were about the same for the American as for the British establishments, but in secondary schools the Americans had twice as many as the British, and in colleges five times as many. In 1908, a further impetus was given to the American activities by the famous remission of the Boxer indemnity." The American share of the indemnity had been provisionally estimated in 1901, at about 5,000,000. It was then examined by a special claims court, and it was decided to demand from China not the entire cost of the expeditionary force, but a sum to cover the difference between the war cost in the field, and the peace cost in garrison. This difference
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