6
with popular wish; but this is going too far. What puzzle me are the two subjects at the head of this article.
"As regards the first, the Agreement is cancelled, funds subscribed, work begun, and there is no call for additional foreign money.
Yet a loan is forced on the officials and gentry, whose distress is pitiful. As to the rice the Japanese refused in Hunan, turn to the Nanking Viceroyalty. The Viceroy's and Governor's telegrams prove the wrong policy of rescuing a man from a well (referring to a Tso Chuan story of a warrior who hauled his foe out of a well only to be captured by him.-E. H. F.), yet the Government, unheeding, insists on compelling them to satisfy outsiders' boundless wants. Mencius' warning to take notice of general objection is disregarded by this violent adoption of a policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Does the Government wish to alienate the people, whose attachment it is hard enough to secure in these times of crisis? Does it want to please outsiders, who need no encouragement in their schemes against us? These things puzzle me.
"Foreign loans are admissible enough when home funds are short and the people unenlightened; when projected reforms, general or particular, are blocked by want of money, then it may be worth risking the fate of Egypt and India by undertaking monetary burdens in hope of future good to State and people. And such action in face of popular objection may be pardoned if there is no other motive.
But do any of these considerations apply to the forced railway loan?
"Relief of distress, charity to neighbours, is indeed a way to cement friendly relations, but we must really have surplus before we help outsiders. Now, the Kiang-huai has year after year been starving, and this year the unfed people died of hunger in the ditches in untold numbers. Does the Government forget, or does it purposely shut its eyes? Moreover, its action is styled charity, but is it charity to let one's own stomach go empty in order to supply the rich? Does the duty of mutual exchange justify forcing what is non-existent into being?
It is called keeping its word. But does the duty... Ab me! To-day society men pervade capital and provinces, evil folk stupidly plot rebellion, daily spying of blunders by Government to give excuse for stirring general disorder, men of purpose constantly lament that the danger of disunion and debacle is not far off. If the Government schemed for a happy future of peaceful constitutional Government it would base its external and internal policy on popular feeling as ascertained by inquiry. But if its policy is repression, does it want to see how much the people will stand, or does it look on them as mere pawns to be given as presents? If so, Yang's words unhappily apply to it."
The "Nan Fang Pao" of the 9th November, under "Railways and Mining," has the following:-
"Censor Hsu Ting-ch'ao has presented a sealed Memorial regarding the forced loan. He points out that though the Soo-Hang-Ning Preliminary Agreement was made by the British Envoy, Sheng notified by letter its abrogation for delay in starting work, and Governor Chang announced its non-recognition. The other side also recognized that they could not build in time, and acknowledged its abrogation. It is by no means good policy now to lose faith with the people in order to acquiesce in a neighbour State's request, and it is impossible to turn forcibly a commercial into a Government railway. Of late the people have been enthusiastic and shares subscribed reached 30,000,600, but the sudden news that the English money is going to be borrowed to build it has greatly incensed people's feelings, and trouble may be apprehended. But if the Wai-wu Pu are in an utter quandary and cannot retrieve the position, we must treat this loan as a State loan independent of railways, though the two provinces will still have to repay its principal and interest out of railway funds. Thus railway rights will not pass into foreign control. This question is a very serious matter for China, since any compromise over it will probably have a great bearing on the cancelled Hankow-Canton Railway question and on the diplomatic difficulties as to Yunnan and Tonquin,
"The Wai-wu P'u is, by rescript, bidden to take note of the above."
The "Universal Gazette" of the 8th November reports that certain shareholders in the Hunan Railway Company have presented a joint application to the Viceroy to withdraw their subscriptions, on the score of there being no definite date for starting and of the managers having thrown up their responsibilities. The Viceroy, Chao, bade them wait quietly and not set an example which might shake the whole business.
The same paper says that the Hankow Electric Light and Waterworks Company has applied to be paid the 300,000 dollars promised by his Excellency Chang as Government share in the enterprise, now that all the private capital has been paid in and all arrangements made.
Grand Councillor
The "Nan Pao" of the 10th November: "Important news. Yuan's maintenance of mistaken views as to borrowing funds.
"His Excellency Yuan vigorously fathers the loan for the Soochow-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway and is quite unmoved by the telegraphic protests from all over China. A very trusted secretary took an opportunity to ask privately his reasons, whereupon his Excellency recounted his views to the following effect: The development of mines and railways is China's most urgent task and admits of no delay. Unluckily it requires a dozen millions, which the utterly impoverished provincials cannot supply. The inevitable delay in Chinese development will not only make outsiders' interference inevitable, but is also bad for China. Moreover, lots of European States attained to wealth and strength only by borrowing for important works as their own funds were insufficient for. Everything depends upon clear limitation of the Concession granted when making agreements, but if sovereign rights are not let slip it does not follow that the mere raising of foreign loans is to be considered a boundless calamity. So I feel bound to support borrowing to develop mines and railways in every province, the Soo-Hang-Ning Railway being only one instance. Now the final scheme in controlling the State must be to have a single object. However much provincial officials and gentry oppose, I'd rather use absolute force than let popular opinion sway me for hope that the overcoming of this obstacle, by preventing any one daring to stand forth in opposition to future loans for similar ends in other provinces, will enable me to answer to myself without shame. Five per cent. discount, which went into the agent's pocket, has been the rule in arranging loans; but my firm determination is not to take a cent, turning the discount into the principal. My sole aim is by saving the people a fraction of State debt to accomplish a fraction more of my duty. As to public right and public wrong, they take a long time to prove; could the animadversions of the present overthrow my fixed policy? From this his entourage perceived that his mind was made up and did not venture to offer any more advice on this subject."
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و دوران ایران اسلام
56
6
with popular wish; but this is going too far. What puzzle me are the two subjects at the head of this article.
"As regards the first, the Agreement is cancelled, funds subscribed, work begun, and there is no call for additional foreign money.
Yet a loan is forced on the officials and gentry, whose distress is pitiful. As to the rice the Japanese refused in Hunan, turn to the Nanking Viceroyalty. The Viceroy's and Governor's telegrams prove the wrong policy of rescuing a man from a well (referring to a Tso Chuan story of a warrior who hauled his foe out of a well only to be captured by him.-E. H. F.), yet the Government, unheeding, insists on compelling them to satisfy outsiders' boundless wants. Mencius' warning to take notice of general objection is disregarded by this violent adoption of a policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Does the Government wish to alienate the people, whose attachment it is hard enough to secure in these times of crisis? Does it want to please outsiders, who need no encouragement in their schemes against us? These things puzzle me.
"Foreign loans are admissible enough when home funds are short and the people unenlightened; when projected reforms, general or particular, are blocked by want of money, then it may be worth risking the fate of Egypt and India by undertaking monetary burdens in hope of future good to State and people. And such action in face of popular objection may be pardoned if there is no other motive. considerations apply to the forced railway loan?
But do any of these
"Relief of distress, charity to neighbours, is indeed a way to cement friendly relations, but we must really have surplus before we help outsiders. Now, the Kiang-huai has year after year been starving, and this year the unfed people died of hunger in the ditches in untold numbers. Does the Government forget, or does it purposely shut its eyes? Moreover, its action is styled charity, but is it charity to let one's own stomach go empty in order to supply the rich? of mutual exchange justify forcing what is non-existent into being?
It is called keeping its word. But does the duty Ab me! To-day society men pervade capital and provinces, evil folk stupidly plot rebellion, daily spying of blunders by Government to give excuse for stirring general disorder, men of purpose constantly lament that the danger of disunion and debacle is not far off. If the Government schemed for a happy future of peaceful constitutional Government it would base its external and internal policy on popular feeling as ascertained by inquiry. But if its policy is repression, does it want to see how much the people will stand, or does it look on them as mere pawns to be given as presents? If so, Yang's words unhappily apply to it."
The "Nan Fang Pao" of the 9th November, under "Railways and Mining," has the following:-
"Censor Hsu Ting-ch'ao has presented a sealed Memorial regarding the forced loan. He points out that though the Soo-Hang-Ning Preliminary Agreement was made by the British Envoy, Sheng notified by letter its abrogation for delay in starting work, and Governor Chang announced its non-recognition. The other side also recognized that they could not build in time, and acknowledged its abregation. It is by no means good policy now to lose faith with the people in order to acquiesce in a neighbour State's request, and it is impossible to turn forcibly a commercial into a Government railway. Of late the people have been enthusiastic and shares subscribed reached 30,000,600, but the sudden news that the English money is going to be borrowed to build it has greatly incensed people's feelings, and trouble may be apprehended. But if the Wai-wu Pu are in an utter quandary and cannot retrieve the position, we must treat this loan as a State loan independent of railways, though the two provinces will still have to repay its principal and interest out of railway funds. Thus railway rights will not pass into foreign control. This question is a very serious matter for China, since any compromise over it will probably have a great bearing on the cancelled Hankow- Canton Railway question and on the diplomatic difficulties as to Yunnan and Tonquin,
"The Wai-wu P'u is, by rescript, bidden to take note of the above."
The "Universal Gazette" of the 8th November reports that certain shareholders in the Hunan Railway Company have presented a joint application to the Viceroy to with draw their subscriptions, on the score of there being no definite date for starting and of the managers having thrown up their responsibilities. The Viceroy, Chao, bade them wait quietly and not set an example which might shake the whole business.
The same paper says that the Hankow Electric Light and Waterworks Company has applied to be paid the 300,000 dollars promised by his Excellency Chang as
Government share in the enterprise, now that all the private capital has been paid in and all arrangements made.
Grand Councillor
The "Nan Pao" of the 10th November: "Important news. Yuan's maintenance of mistaken views as to borrowing funds.
"His Excellency Yuan vigorously fathers the loan for the Soochow-Hangchow- Ningpo Railway and is quite unmoved by the telegraphic protests from all over China. A very trusted secretary took an opportunity to ask privately his reasons, whereupon his Excellency recounted his views to the following effect: The development of mines and railways is China's most urgent task and admits of no delay. Unluckily it requires a dozen millions, which the utterly impoverished provincials cannot supply. The inevit- able delay in Chinese development will not only make outsiders' interference inevitable, but is also bad for China. Moreover, lots of European States attained to wealth and strength only by borrowing for important works as their own funds were insufficient for. Everything depends upon clear limitation of the Concession granted when making agree- ments, but if sovereign rights are not let slip it does not follow that the mere raising of foreign loans is to be considered a boundless calamity. So I feel bound to support borrowing to develop mines and railways in every province, the Soo-Hang-Ning Railway being only one instance. Now the final scheme in controlling the State must be to have a single object. However much provincial officials and gentry oppose, I'd rather use absolute force than let popular opinion sway me for hope that the overcoming of this obstacle, by preventing any one daring to stand forth in opposition to future loans for similar ends in other provinces, will enable me to answer to myself without shame. Five per cent. discount, which went into the agent's pocket, has been the rule in arranging loans; but my firm determination is not to take a cent, turning the discount into the principal. My sole aim is by saving the people a fraction of State debt to accomplish a fraction more of my duty. As to public right and public wrong, they take a long time to prove; could the animadversions of the present overthrow my fixed policy From this his entourage perceived that his mind was made up and did not venture to offer any more advice on this subject."
0
و دوران ایران اسلام
56
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