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THE CHINA CRITIC
March 13, 1930
March 13, 1930
THE CHINA CRITIC
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2.
Search of all Post Office boxes.
3.
of facilitating the As a means search, all mails destined for the Far East should be handled by specially de- signated Post Offices.
The Ministry is understood to have forwarded the above communication to the Opium Suppression Committee for reference.
EXPORT RAW SILK TO BE TESTED
It is announced at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Labor that be- ginning from March 1, all shipments of raw silk destined for exportation abroad will be subject to examination by the Testing Bureau of the Ministry at Shanghai before such shipments may be exported. The purpose of the examina- tion is to ensure that only raw silk of the requisite standards shall be shipped abroad so as to enhance the quality of Chinese products in foreign countries.
GOVERNMENT RADIO ADMINISTRATION According to a spokesman of the Min- istry of Communications, formal notifica- tion of the termination of the Govern- ment's contracts with the Great Eastern and Great Northern Telegraph Com- panies at the end of the current year have been dispatched to the Companies concerned.
With the Government Radio Adminis- tvation now in direct contact with Man- ila and in view of the early completion of the construction of the powerful radio stations near Shanghai for direct com- munication with Europe and America, it is believed that satisfactory arrange- ments will be made for all messages abroad to be transmitted direct through the Government's radio stations.
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GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS: REVENUE & EXPENDITURE
According to a statistical report re- cently compiled by the Ministry of Rail- ways, the total revenue and expenditure for 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918 of thir teen Government Railways, namely, Pei- ping
Nanking, Liaoning. Shanghai - Shanghai Hangchow, Peiping-Suiyuan, Taiyuan-Shihehiachwang, Taokow-Ching- hua, Lung-Hai, Kirin-Changchun, Can- ton-Kowloon, Hunan-Hupeh, Sipingchi- Taonan, Kiaochow-Tsinan and Nan- chang-Kiukiang Lines, are as follows:-
Total
Total revenue expenditure $111,110,613 $47,990,511 75,892,621 50,621,403 76,292,582 51,405,365 62,445,686 41,256,072
1915
1916
1917
1918
MODERN PAPER MILL
Wenchow is greatly interested at the prospect of having the country's first modern paper mill in the immediate future. Preparations for the construc- tion of the mill have been under way for some time. It is stated that over
half of the authorized capital of $3,000,- 000 has been obtained through subscrip- tion to the stocks of the proposed com. pany, which is headed by a powerful group of Shanghai newspaper magnates. According to technical experts who have been investigating the district around Wenchow, the pine forests will make excellent pulp for the paper making in- dustry.
RAIL COMMUNICATIONS
as
It is announced by the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Administration that beginning from March 3 all up-trains on the Line will proceed as far
Tsinanfu only, while down-trains will leave Tsinan for Pukow once a week. Down-trains from Tientsin only proceed as far as Lienchin, one station north of Tehchow, on the Shantung-Hopei border.
TONNAGE OF VESSELS &
IMPORTS REQUIRED
In a circular ministerial order issued on Mar, 2 to all Superintendents and Commissioners of Customs throughout the country, the Ministry of Finance in- structs that full reports on the total tonnage of foreign vessels engaged in the export or import trade during the year 1929, as well as the total tonnage and quantity of all foreign imports during the year should be immediately submitted to the Ministry.
YUNGTING RIVER BRIDGE COLLAPSES
Two bridges of the Yungting River suddenly collapsed on Mar. 4 and 8 resulting in the destruction of over 400 feet of the embankment. The Conservancy Bureau has rushed a number of workmen to effect immediate repairs.
an
The necessity for reinforcing different parts of the embankment is keenly felt by the Hopei Provincial Authorities and
for a petition
appropriation of $1,000,000, to be remitted by the Chang- lu Salt Inspectorate, for effecting re- pairs has been submitted to the Central Government.
COAL MINES Preparations for the opening of the coal mines at the Hualyuan District, west of Pengpu in Northern Anhwei, having been completed, it is announced by the National Reconstruction Com- mission that work will be commenced on the 15th inst.
It is expected that the preliminary excavations will require one year to complete following which, it is estimat- el, a daily output of 300 tons will be obtained. To facilitate transportation of the coal, extensions of the Tientsin- Pukow Railway from Pengpu and Huai- ho to the mining area will be construct- ed. The Commission is also planning to construct a road directly connecting
Hofei with the Yangtze River.
PRESS COMMENTS
M. TARDIEU'S CABINET
IN FRANCE
The China Times: On the 17th ultimo, M. Tardieu's Cabinet was de- feated by a division of votes on the Bill. decreasing the income tax payable by married women, the Chamber's votes showing 281 for and 286 against the Bill. M. Chautemps, leader of the Soci- al-Radical Party, succeeded in forming a cabinet. But the Chamber threw his government out by easting only 277 votes in favor of his declaration of policy and 292 votes opposed to it; and since M. Chautemps made this a ques- tion of confidence, his Cabinet had to resign en bloc. Whereupon, M. Tardieu resumed his premiership on the second instant.
M. Chautemps' Cabinet lasted five days only, a rare phenomenon in the annals of parliamentary government of the world; not even in the history of France has there ever been a cabinet as short-lived as that of M. Chantemps'. It is a well-known fact that the French Cabinet has been changed scores of times since 1870 when the Republic was reestablished for the third time. The chief reason why a French Cabinet can- not be maintained for long is because of the multicipility of political parties, coupled with the divergence of views held even between members of the same party in and out of the Parliament. This explains why it had hitherto been impossible for any French cabinet to control its own party or to make advantageous use of the support of the majority party. Cabinet Ministers had to resign on any occasion when more votes were cast opposing any govern- ment proposal or bill than those in support of it. No Cabinet could, there- fore, be sure of the duration of its tenure of office.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, as a result of her political lassitude, the national affairs of France were in a state of chaotic confusion. M. Georges E. Clemenceau, popularly nick- named the "Tiger", became the Prime Minister. By virtue of his dominating spirit, he had the French Parliament completely at his command; and his Cabinet lasted as long as two years and nine months. And in 1926 when France was threatened with financial bank-
ruptcy, M. Raymond Poincare was call- ed upon to assume the premiership; and his Cabinet, having secured public support by a pledge to rehabilitate French finances and stabilize the price of the franc, was enabled to eke out a life of over two years. These two instances of durable cabinet were exceptions rather than the rule, as
a
th were favored by the circumstances and tendencies of their times.
Although the French political parties lack the stamina to support the Cabinet, yet they appear potent enough to sound its death knell. The Cabinet of M. Chautemps had the full support of its own party and the Leftists, but the Right and Central parties would rather prefer M. Tardieu, as proved by the ringing cheers they raised in favor of M. Tardieu upon the defeat of the Chautemps Cabinet, although the Left- ists answered by their vociferous cry of "vive le M. Chautemps." From this, we may safely say that the Leftists and their adherents entertain no pleasant feelings towards the Tardieu Cabinet. (A short record of M. Tardieu's past deeds and achievements is given in the concluding portion of this article.) (March 7.)
CONSERVANCY WORK OF THE
YUNGTING RIVER
The Sinwanpao: The North appears to be again afflicted with flood, especial- ly threatening has been the aspect of the Yungtingho. For the present, pre- ventive measures must be urgently taken. But no fund is available owing to lack of a clear understanding as to responsibility between local authorities and the Central Government. How dangerous such a situation is!
The rise and fall of rivers and streams in the North have never been regular. At low water, a river can be forded on foot. But suddenly a flood
the would appear, inundating
whole countryside around, and converting it into a vast lake. If preventive men- sures were inadequately taken, and the embankment of a river was burst open. the region situated even as far as several thousand li away might often become a mass of water. The breach of a rivér embankment, however small, must not, therefore, be lightly regarded.
The delineation of responsibility be- tween the central and local governments is a matter that should have our atten- tion in peaceful times. Upon an emergency, all other considerations should be disregarded, in order to tackle the problem confronting the nation as speedily
possible. With flood stretching beyond the horizon, involving the lives of hundreds of thousand or millions of our people, what a danger- ous spectacle this is. Could we be so callous as to be able to discuss the niceties of ethics calmly and leisurely under such distressing circumstances?
As
In all forner dynasties, river con- servancy was invariably regarded as a very important branch of work under- taken by the government. The local officials were held absolutely responsible for keeping the river flood in harness, and it was their bounden duty to look
after all repairing and constructional works at ordinary times. Special com- missioners were appointed to superint- end such works in connection with im- portant rivers. These officials were considered to have done their duty well only after having successfully passed the three periods of high water in a year without encountering any mishap. Now-a-days, official lassitude seems to be the order of the day in respect of river conservancy. When any danger is approaching, they are still wasting valuable time by a quarrel as to who should really be the responsible party to "bear the baby". The local officials should at least be charged with trifling with the lives of our people. (March 7.)
RESULT OF THE NAVAL CONFERENCE
The Shunpao: According to preced- ing cases, no satisfactory result could possibly be expected from the Naval Disarmament Conference now being held in London. In spite of the earnest and utmost exertion on the part of certain individuals, the human mind is full of doubts and suspicions which can never be wholly dissipated in all circum- stances. Not to mention the designs of ambitious persons in this world, the simple desire not to suspect others is as difficult to materialize as
our aim not to be subject to the suspicion of others.
Before the outbreak of the European War, the Powers vied with each other in their endeavor to maintain peace by their "military preparedness," in the belief that in view of their military strength, no оле Power would have dared to start hostilities, and that peace could have thus been preserved. But the Great War was the result of this very military preparedness.
After the war, the wise men in all countries have unanimously condemned the policy of "armed peace", having learnt the painful truth that war has never been and will never be profitable. The disarmament proposal was, there- fore, broached immediately upon the conclusion of the European War. A]- though this proposal is still being acted upon today. little has SA far been achieved, judging by the result of several international conferences on this question of disarmament.
The chief obstacle which may easily wreck the Naval Conference today is the pretext of "self defence" advanced by most Powers. What may the stand- ard strength considered sufficient for the purpose of self defence be? This question depends, of course, on the re- quirements of different Powers in whose countries conditions widely differ. Hence, a unanimity of opinion is out of the question. No fixed standard of disarmament can he agreed to. The vain effort to seek a solution by the
ratio of proportion, even if successful, would not prove effective in the pre- vention of war by the restriction of all kinds of armament.
Should the Powers of the world sincerely desire to attain the object of disarmament, they should each try to be the first to reduce their armament to the minimum strength in order to set up a model for the world to copy, irrespective of what the other countries might or might not do. This would be a much more effective way towards universal disarmament than the hold- ing of futile conferences, (March 7.)
QUARANTINE SERVICE IN CHINA
our
The Sinwanpao: The Health Corn- mittee of
of the League
Nations discussed the proposals made by China the other day. Measures to be under- taken in China by herself, we shall pass over for the present. Our atten- tion should be paid to those questions that require international collaboration, such as, the reorganization of the quar- antine service and the collaboration of the Epidemiological Office at Singa.. pore with
Ministry of Health for fighting small-pox and cholera, both proposed by OCT Government. Japanese Delegate voluntarily gave his assurance that the Japanese medical world would gladly collaborate with us, through the intermediary of the League. In international affairs, col- laboration is certainly necessary. But collaboration should be confined within a certain scope, and preparations on our part should be made in advance. One thing we must guard against, and that is, we should take care not to drift into the reprehensible habit of relying too much on others.
The
In sounding this warning, we are influenced by the lamentable lack of talented men in all branches of work in this country. Moreover, we find that public works undertakings have usually been carried out in a slipshod way. We feel some apprehension that in matters of international cooperation, our countrymen might conceivably find their position untenable and might decide to give way and shirk respon- sibility, unon discovery of their inferior- ity in everything inaugurated or done. It is owing to this reason that we urge upon our people the necessity of pre- paring themselves beforehand, should China's proposals be adopted.
We would point out another drawback in the characteristics of our peorle. In the introduction of anything or any movement affecting public welfare in this country, ill-feeling or reactionary feding has often been aroused. This
is because of the backwardness of our social progress, and, sometimes, of the lack of an earnest interest displayed by the men engaged in the work or under- taking. (March 8)
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