1921-08-01 — Page 10

10

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

[Nsuter's Service to the China Maik.)

SILESIAN PROBLEM.

Losnos. July 30th. Beater learns that the Anglo-French situation is very much better. Various misunderstandings have been dispersed, and the Supreme Council will probably mest on Augus; 4th after all.

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B3

Lord Hardinge Ms. Briand after the French Cabinet Council, and the position is now regarded in Paris cleared up mest satisfactorily

Loszos, July noth. Mr. Lloyd George, unveiling a

was incon memorial at Thame, said it erirable that France and of the and Britain should quarrel over the interpretation

they had achieved at such a tre There had been difer ences recently regarding the interpreta tian

of a section of

but plain the Treats, speaking on both sides had had excellent They were now on the high road arranged

o cost.

to an understanding.

It was

that the Allies should meet in a few days shen it was hoped that the vexed ques tion would be firal

finally settled.

дот з

George

to

att. Lances gave Britain recognised. that France's

greater pecial claim for consideration, but he respectfully pointed out that France's apprehensions of dezger were apt defect her from calm judgment. The sole concern of the British Empire was the Its attainment of immediate peace. sole anxiety was lost the Allies by the anwise and barsh use of their power strengthen the roots of future conflict. Hruce. the whole might of the British Empire today was thrown into the scales of peace as it was thrown into those of mac in 1914.

Pas, July 30th,

As a result of an understanding be- tween the British and the Frenen Gov- eraments, instructions have been sent to General La Rond that, peading the meet- ing of the Supreme Council, einse 20- operation between the Allied troops in Upper Silesia must be observed, with a ris to preventing any attempt at in- surrection, whether by Poles or Germans.

BRUSELS, July 30th.

Belgium will probably be represented At the next Supreme Council.

The Foreign Minister has asked M. Briand to include the famine to Russia and the Leipzig sentences in the agenda.

Pans, July 1st. Lord Hardinge informed M. Briazd readily that the British Government bad acted to L. Brand's proposals, and the

Berin British Ambassador

the

Freach and the Italia Ambissadors. in a joint demarche, with a view to informing the German Government that it must

facilitate the passage, Allie troops through Germany, which the stimation is Urre: Silesia' migh: Becapitate any moment.

*Very way

z

Lord Curzon has proposed August 8th, as the date of the meeting of the Supreme Council, as the italian Premier is ad

ble to arrive in France earlier. Mr. Lyd George would attend the Council, if the French Government so desired.

The tone of the British reply is most cordial.

TWO SINH, FEINERS.

LONDON. July 20th.

The Irish Master of Rails has directed the use of writs of attachment against General Macready. General Strickland and other officer, who disregarded an order of

of the Court to produce two Sian Feiners, who were sentenced to death by

Military

Courts. The Master of Rolls has decided that such courts consisting of an informel and local gathering of officers. acting summarily, had no warrant mader the Restoration of Order (Ireland) Act, which bestowed powers only on properly constituted court-martials.

LONDON, July 30th.

Counsel for the military authorities informed the Master of Rolls of Dublin today that he had been instructed by the Government to slate that the two Sinn Feiners, mentioned this morning, will be released, pending appeal against the Master's order.

The Master of the Rolls, therefore, granted stay of execution of the writs of attachment.

IMPERIAL AIR

SERVICES.

LONDON, July 30th. The Morning Post says the Empire Conference Committee of imperial air remmunications, yesterday, discussed the expert committee's repert. No definite decision was reached, but probably the committee would recommend the Empire Conference to utilise the existing air- hips for an experimental service within certain limited zones, as, for example, Great Britain and Egypt, and Great Bri- tain and South Africa.

Loxbox, July 31st.

As regards the cost of the Imperial airship services the Obere say the facts are that a financial enterprise' is willing to provide the money for four years for development, on condition that annual the Government guarantees an subsidy of £300,000.

BEAT WAVE IN NEW YORK

New York, July 31st. The thermometer has recorded 90 do- groes daily for a fortnight, and the tem perasure in the business quarter of the city has averaged over 100 degrees Considerable suffering has been caused to the poor, and a number of deaths and ces of prostration from the heat have been reported. The beaches and parks. are crowded nightly. Many wealthy

-businessmen are living on yachts anchor

ed in the rivor; and the roofs of many apartment houses have been temporarily converted into dormitories

· INTERNATIONAL COURT OF

JUSTICE.

THE HAGUE, July 31st The Foreign Ministry announces that the Dutch Legation at Berne has sent to the Secretary General of the League of Nations the ratifications of the statute of the Permanent International Court of Justice, adding the declaration that the Dutch, Government recognises

of that court as conformity with the statute on n magkad patikenty for five years, and for

the

oblis foot-

of disputes to the inters

zin regard to which nothing has been

agreed to by partits

as regards any other manner of reaching a pecine solution.

EARLIER. TELEGRAMS.

[To the Editor of the "China Mell."]

LORD NORTECIATIE.

WASHINGTON, July 30th. A statement issued under Lord North- eliffe & authority says that, for reasons of which he is not aware, an invitation ex- tended to him to stay at the British Em- bassy and attend a dinner there on July 5th was afterwards withdrawn.

The statement attributes the cancella- tion of the invitation to Lord Curzon,

It is officially denied in Leadon that Lord Curzon had in any way influenced the decision of Sir Auckland Geddes to cancel the fanation & the Embassy.

LATTE. Lord Nartheliffe, prior to his depar

a dinner given by the ture, attended wife of Mr. Maclean, proprietor of the Washington Post, at which Mr. Hugbes. Mr. Hoover, Mr. Denby, Senator Falk and General Pershing were among the guests.

WASGTON, July 30th.

Lord Northeliffe has left for New York en route for Montreal and Australia

NEW YORK, July 30th. The New York Times, in an editorial note, says The interview with Mr. Wickham Steed, editor of the Landan

Time, was written by a crasterort of

porter, who believes that his

the interview is accurate, but Mr. Steed bas aince intimated that the interview contained matter that should not have been published. Mr. Steed had no op

As

to reviss the interview,

in England in one of Lord Nertheliffe's own papers, the interview was incorrectly attributed to Lord North- cliffe himself. Lord Northcliffe has not given to the New Fari Times, nor has the New York Times reported him as giving, any statement or conversation pur ported to be between King George and Mr. Lloyd George."

LONDON. July 30th.

His Majesty the King's Secretary, Lord Stamfordban, bas telegraphed to Lord Northeliffe that His Majesty is glad that Lord Northcliffe's message hix confirms the statement made, on authority by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

PASSPORT REFORM.

Batas, July 30th. The French and Belgian Governments have decided to abolish passports be. tween the two countries.

MAXIM GORKI'S APPEAL

BERNE, July 30th.

As a feast of Gork's appeal for belp for disease and famine-stricken Russians, the International Union for the Relief of Children. whose beadquarters are in Geneva, has began the distribution of food and clothing. Moscow appeals for contributions.

ANARCHIST ACQUITTED,

MILAN July 30th. The Court of Asize has acquitted the well-known anarchist Halátta and some of his companions on a charge of fgmente ing anarchist conspiracy in connection with the risings in Xilen and elsewhere last year.

FRENCH TRAIN ROBBERY.

PARIS. July 30th.

A man named Cherrier has been arrest ed. in connection with the recent rob- bery on the Paris-Marseilles express. after a struggle with the police, in which two accomplices were killed and a police inspector serious injured.

FLIGHT TO MONT BLANC.

CHAMONIX, July 30th. The airman Durafour landed in an aeroplane on the summit of Mont Blanc:

PRINCE OF WALES.

BOMELY, July 31st.

A meeting of the All-India Congress Committee convened to decido the future plan of campaign, it is understood, has passed a resolution favour

Four of boycotte

ing the visit of the Prince of Wales, also urging a complete boycott of foreign cloth on the lines suggested by Mr. Gardhi.

LONDON July goth Sir Godfrey Thomas, Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, states that the suggestion that the Prince of Wales will not be able to stand the strain of his visit to India is absolutely unfounded, but the Prince of Wales will not accept any more private engagements until he bas sailed for the East in October,

GERMAN LOAN.

BERLIN, July 31st.

The Reichsbank has arranged a load through the Amsterdam firm of Mendels sohn and Company, bringing the total credits obtained through this firm to 250 million gold marks

to

DISARMAMENT · CONFEREN OZ.,

LONDON, July 31st.

The Observer says that, with a view the necessity of counter acting attempts to mislead American opinion on the Irish situation, it will not be surpris ing if Mr. Lloyd George goes to America in the next few weeks,

The journal hopes that Mr. Hugh.. Mr. Massey and General Smute will accompany him to participate in the preliminary conversations with - Presi dent Harding as regards the Washington Conference.

*

WASHINGTON, July 30th. The date of the Disarment Conference has been discused by Mr. Hughes, with Sir Auckland Geddes, Baron Bhidshare and the Italian Charge d'Affaires,

Great Britain favours a November 11th

ater

date then Japan is agreeable to. the earliest time to which the other Powers agree, but feels that an early date will

borgeous owing to the di and forward time required to prepare

tance

the

Diplomatic circles understand that French officials prefer à date near the end. of the year.

LONGWOOD BOWL

Boston, July 30th:/ B. M. Williams bent Ebimidan" in the final of the Toogwood Challenge Bowl

BOSON 31 Johnson (holder) has defeated Williams, in the thallenge round of the Longwood' Lawn Tennis Bo1 match 6-4, 61, 21, 85,

THE CHINA MAIL.

"MUI TSAL"

(Confinsed from Page 9.)

of an industrial school or reformatory. in Hongkong for the poor Chinese boys who at present hawk in the street withy out license and commis municipal and criminal offences that their number would be increased by the uninterrupted inflow of children from the mainland, is it not to be feared that while the number cf of mui tsai was reduced, the number of For prostitutes would be increased

adopted daugh and ter-daughters

well aware, are the tess," as you designations generally used as a cloak for purchasing girls for the purpose of prostitution by a special class of people. have now laid bare all the circum- stances which I have studied in relation to the subject and i will leave it to you to formulate your replies to the ques tions asked. and to make such sugges tion as will tend effectively to prevent abuses, if abuses do exist to such an extent as require interference.

as you are

MR. HO. FOOK.

THE HON. The Hon. Mr. Ho Foor said:-This matter originated with an English lads. Mra Hazelwood, and her accusations farm the materials for discussion at this meeting. It seems to me signifcant that none of the many officials of our Cadet Service who have successively

pursued the study of the Chinese language. manners and customs, in Canton, for long periods, have proposed the abolition or control of the mui trai system, if that svitem is fraught with such abuses as are alleged. To name a few, there were Sir Henry May and Sir James Stewart Mr. A. W. Brewin and Mr. Lockhart, Mr.. Cecil Clementi: there are Mr. C. Mel. Messer, Mr. E R. Hallifax, Mr. E. D. C. Wolle.

C. Ross and Mr. A. G. Mr. S. B. C. M. Fletcher. Surely, these men's experi -ence and knowledge of the subject Cannot be inferior to Mrs. Hazelwood's There are six main questions before us, and i hope you will give us the benefit of your own unbiassed opinions,

Taking the questions in order. Mr. Ho Fook said:-

-Prostitutes are mostly recruited from young girls brought up for the purpose by a special class of women

tortoise women. commonly known as Unlike servant-girls, they are generally regarded as or designated, adopted daughters and are not given mezial to preserve their good looks work, so and the softness of their skin, with & view to their earning a good income

In

people in due course. some cases, people live the prostitution of their

upon daughters. It is, however, very rare that a servant girl is made to become prostitute, for the owner is generally deterred by the law which prevails both in Hongkong and in China, probibiting the sale of girls for the purpose of prostitution.

Fatem of

0

2.-Theze i a vast difference between slave and servant girl. A slave re mains such not only is his out person, bat in the persons of his descendants from generation to gederation without cessation, while a servant-girl becomes absolutely free upon her marriage. The f slavery was abolished in the Ising Dynastet of acquiring

The

servant is mainly to provide domestic service. When and if the master takes a servant-girl as a concubine,, as hap pens sometimes, it is generally done with the consent of

of the girl herself Very few cases have been heard of where servant-girls have been

re-old after been dishonoured by their mas baring ters, Chinese women and highly value

their

good name and a thing happens,

and chastity. I it is that such a the parents of the wrenged main-silent with folded arms.

will re-..

~The system of qui trai bas Deve! been abolished in China. Some years ago, Chaa King-wa, the Commissioner ef, Police at Canton, made an attempt towards that end, but eventually be had to drop the matter owing to the dif

culties he enconeraus;found guilty

5.-In Hongkong,

of ill-treating theis servant-girls have

been invariably

panished When one's iment. children are guilty of naughtiness or disobedience, they are mildly chastised, and one cannot find any good reason for withholding such treatment in respect

servant-girls.

of

6-Poverty being prevalent is Chica, many people with several children would find it difficult to feed all of them, and consequently would have to sell at leist a daughter so that not

only would there be one mouth less to feed, but the of would be saved from

girl so disposed of "There are cold and hanger.

other who Бате to sell a daughter in

in order to abtain the wherewithal to establish a mall business to keep the remaining members of the family from starvation. The abolition of thé mui faai systein

may lead to child destruction by drow ing, strangulation or other means. There are several thousands of servent-

in Hongkong and proper measures must Brat be taken for their care before Ward any law is introduced, if it ever to

to be introduced to abolish the system. Besides, no good would b achieved by any prohibitive measures in if similar measures were not in China. Registration of

Would

necessitate periodical

visits, which would inevit ably cause trouble and annoyance to the people. Why cannot se Chinese take up the matter ouracives by forming

with a strong committee of af · CB-

ment for the purpose lightening and educating the masses in their duty towards their şervant-gizia, and sovuring power to prosecute in cases of ornel treatment of these girls venture to commend this suggestion to your consideration.-(Applause.)

PROTRACTED DISCUSSION.

I

The subsequent proceedings occupied about two and a half hours.

Mr. CHAN, Tono Yuso said he kept De servant-girls in his household; it was not, very profitable, to da so bat

many did in order to sasist needy parents, unable. to support their off-spring. It was not right, he declared, to denounce this system, es people of feeling would not be cruel ta mui Ejai, Even parent had sometimes to siise children for naughty behaviour. Careful investig tion would be made into the system, ise

Association to improys the cond Bomestic servasia.

Hr. PUN YAT Kar gave an instance of arunity to tous trai Having spoilt some salt in the kitchen, through ignorance of her duties, a mai tai, be ssic, was forced by her master to kneel on the floor. Every time she moved she In the painful position was whipped.

she had to remain at the whim of

her master. Another girl brought back from market the upper part of a duck instead of the leg as ordered. For this she was forced to kneel on an inverted chair and hold above her head o basia of water. Everytime her hands trembled and the water slopped over she was beaten.

AD

Mr. Ho Kox Toxa declared that the

wa the previous speaker

who should be punished for not having_re ported the matter to the police. This view was received with applause and it was not until the gentleman castigat ed had explained that the famils in Fatshan that the meeting's desire to its streng disapproval was op

peased.

Mention of traffic in girls for sala sbroad was made by a member of the audience whose remarks were not gene rally understood as they were made in a country, dialect.

Some people bought girls to keep children company, according to Mr. Chang Wan Shan, who demanded to know why rich men, who could afford to pay all the employés they wanted, should buy girls, unless they wished to assist needs parents. Many persons not employ amabs because they were not A mai tras on the other Always honest. hand was a member of the household. Poor countrymen brought their children here and sold them to save them from fram starvation. Only rich mea could afford to buy children. He would suggest that instead of the present system under which a a girl did not regain her freedom Botil marriage, arrangements should be made whereby the contract respecting a mui troi could be converted into mortgage and be redeemable by the par ents after a certain period.

Speaking against the mui mai zysico Mr. Tarxo SEIC CATE declared that 3 some cases girls bought as servant girls were brought up for prostitution. Some bad masters, even, sold them to brothels to become prostitutes The majority of mui trots were pot

ciucated. Should they be gailty of misconduct

In they then lost all hope of marriage. any event it was impossible for a ser vant girl fully to regain ber freedom the as marriage made her subject whims of her new husband. Discussing the question whether or not servant giris were brought up for the pleasure of their masters. the speaker Esserted that if a master did not take the girl as his own concabine he sometimes gave her to a friend for the same murpose. Slaves and servant-giris now were quite

MONDAY, AUGUST 1. 1921

different from those of former times when they were taken because their parenta had committed crime. If a girl were ill- treated she had only to go to the Secre- tary of Chiness Adair and make a com-

Giving several plaint.

instances to illustrate his assertion, the speaker declared that servant-

t-girls could be in- trested Obeying orders, he said,

I

TO

I can make her lose all her freedom,

can make her work at all hours

པ་ the day and night. I can make her fan me do anything I like. The prostitute has a worse name than the servant-giris but the prostitute lives in better circumstances" Where a servant- girl was presented to another master 5. as a concubine she had a very unhappy the prin- time, continued the speaker, cipal le

wife was

was annoyed at the addition to the family. In some cases girls were given education at the expense of their masters, but this was very infrequent. In other cases girls were bought osten- silely for adoption but were soon treated ntury such a es servant-girls. In this century practice should not exist.-(Applause.) Those members of the meeting attempt ing to deferd the practice would fail. If they did not fail now then they would fail same day sistement that children

Regarding the

in order were bought

relieve needy of burden, the speaker queried sincerity of this claim and expressed

parents

to

to

form

the opinion that the real intention was to make them servant-girls

subject to the to the absolute will of their masters. The urchase of children was not the way wist

destitate parenta. The way to

and do that was to establish homes

association for the sole purpose relief of lending

This. woney to the needy. was the radical solution of the problem In conclusion be hoped the Chairman would take a broad view of the matter and take steps to restrict the system. it was a practice that should not exist. (Applause.)

Serezal subsequent speakers made re- ference to principles of humanity, urg- ing that the system should be abolished if ill-treatment were proved. One speak er condemned the system and asked the Chairman to have the matter raised in the Legislative Council so that it might be completely suppressed. Another speaker said most of the prostitutes were originally mai tai

After several more speakers had ad- dressed the meeting for and against the custom. the CHALAMAN declared that if the mus taai system were suppressed, the would also have to be rystem

arder to secure equality. He denied, by way of reply to a previons speaker, that the agitation for abolition originated with Hongkong Europeans, and attributed it to Mra Hazlewood.

I was pointed out that there were many humane people who reported ill- treatment to the local ausborities who were very accessible.

One member of the audience declared that it was futile to ask-as one of the questions before the meeting did whether servant-girls were brought up to become prostitutes as the masters con cerned were not likely to admit that, Was it right to kidnap, was is right to sell girls? be demanded, adding

Il people did nos do it. course not.

here would be no need for a law.

Yet another speaker declared that thự 15 question was whether the keeping of servastgiris was bensfcial or harmful to the Chiasse. If harmful they should le their best to do away with it. There were good points in the system, but most of the speakers bad dwelt on the had ones.

Personally be favoured tha system because he felt the good out- weighed the evil.

I vehement defence of the system, 3 speaker, who addressed the meeting with

great animation and much gesti- culation, declared that they could not stop people from giving birth to child- ren and demanded to know, "Do you suggest drowning them or killing them Bould they

guarantee to keep all the servant girls if the present system were, abolished

In answer to an interrap tion he declared that as one, the Govera ment included, could stop him from saying what he thought.

A member of the Chinese YMCA, pointed out that the British Government had voted $20,000,000 towards freeing the black slaves in America.

THE RESOLUTIONS.

The CHAIRMAN then put the questions before the meeting. By show of hands the assembly declared, unanimously,

that

(1) servant girls are not brought up for prostitution;

with two dissentients, that

(2.) servant giris are not slaves;

toaninewly, that

(3.) servant giris are

nat kept for

sexual purposes by their masters:

with

eight dissentients, that

kas

(4.) the Chinese Government passed no law to abolish the practice; sod, with one dissentient, that

(3.) owners cannot ill-treat them as they please.

In putting the resolutions, the CEAIL- KLX interspersed two or three lengthy speeches and became involved in argu- meat with some members of the audi- ence.

After another half-hour of desultory discussion a further resolution was pak

and carried unanimously, to the effect that steps be taken to establish society for the prevention of cruelty to mui frai, on the lines of the society re

at the instance of the cently established, as European. community, for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

The proceedings then terminated and the audience for the evening theatrical performance began to assemble.

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