CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 389

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"We Chinese are apt to lay a disproportionate amount of blame upon ourselves and to judge the acts of others too lightly. We believe that America is well-disposed towards us and that Japan does not regard us with enmity. If, we say, when Russia occupied Port Arthur and Talienwan, America had taken a port, or if when Russia occupied Manchuria she had annexed a province, China would long cre this have been partitioned and ceased to exist as a nation. America alone of all the nations has lightened our burlen by returning to us a portion of the Boxer indemnity, and showing her friendly feeling towards us, thereby inducing other Powers to moderate their covetous designs on us. This has had a tremendous effect on our external relations, and should be gratefully remembered by the Chinese people. And now, with regard to Japan. We argue that, although she has not been actuated by the same high motives as America, yet she threw away millions of men and money to recover the lost territory which our Government had gratuitously handed over to Russia; and although, when she had recovered it, her surrendering it back to its original owner was a matter in which she had no option, yet it cannot be considered as other than an act of generosity which should never be forgotten by the Chinese people.

"Now, let us turn to the present state of affairs. Our Emperor is dead, the present occupant of the throne is of tender years, the Empire is torn with suspicion, con- stitutional government is still a long way off, and popular control is but a name. If, on the one band, America and Japan treat us as an independent nation and abstain from interfering in our affairs; on the other, Russia has again appointed a Viceroy of the Far East, Turkey is interfering on behalf of Mabommedans, and there are troubles in Yunnan with France and in Thibet with India. If we really have the rights of an independent nation we can weather this critical period, and we can only count it for our good fortune in being able to make use of this Agreement, in so far as it will give us leisure to devote our whole strength and attention to internal reform.

"If this Agreement spurs us to further effort, then it is well; but we must beware of trusting too much to it. The Agreement speaks of respecting the inde pendence of China and protecting her territory from encroachments; and, as regards trade, equal opportunities and treatment for all. The two Powers are to unite in following a just and equitable policy with a view to upholding the present status quo. Our people say to this, Are we not an independent nation ? and, with regard to the protection of territory and treatment of foreign merchants, Have we not full sovereign rights?'

"But why do we tolerate other Powers exceeding the functions and making plans for us? The word 'protection' implies that we cannot protect ourselves, and that other Powers do not want to protect us. The phrase, respect our independence,' implies that formerly they did not completely respect it, and that other Powers are unwilling to do so. Equal treatment for all'implies that hitherto there have not been equal opportunities for all, and that in future there must be. The explicit mention of a just and equitable policy and maintaining the status quo implies that another policy is possible, and that if the two Powers cannot maintain the present status no others can. Their language resembles that of two grown-up men to a child. We, they say, take this child under our protection and will not suffer him to be robbed or ill-treated by any one; be, on his part, must not conclude any secret arrangements with other people which may interfere with our plans for his protection. I ask my countrymen what condition this is for a people and whether it is to be borne ?

"The history of the last few years shows America to have had differences with Japan on many points, in consequence of which she has changed her policy and evinced a desire to connect herself more closely with China. But what was America's object in consistently supporting us as she has done? Simply and solely to preserve her Chinese trade. What was there to prevent America, in the time of our late Emperor, contracting an offensive and defensive alliance with us, or coming to an Agreement with us direct, instead of making it over our heads with a neighbouring Power? Simply that at an alliance with us offered no advantage to America. The fact of our sending a Special Envoy to thank them for returning part of the Boxer indemnity and of our offering a cordial welcome to the American fleet did not alter matters in the least, and this is the heart-rending part of it.

***Both Japan and ourselves objected to the attitude assumed by the American Labour party towards the question of Asiatic immigration. Japan's present readiness to yield somewhat on this question shows that some further arrangement satisfactory to her must have been arrived at, and it is evident that America also must have made some concessions. I know not whether China will benefit equally with Japan under these new conditions: if she does not, Chinese will be stamped as inferior to

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Japanese; and if she does, we shall practically be enjoying Japanese protection. In a word, our existence depends not on our efforts, but on those of other Powers, and we are in the same position as Manilla and Corea. Is not this deplorable ?

"The only thing for us to do is to put forth all our energies and make ourselves a strong Power. But to do this we must carry out in all earnestness a thorough policy of reform, and not content ourselves with empty boasts and a haughty bearing. During the next nine years of preparation for constitutional government, students, merchants, agriculturists, and labourers must devote themselves, heart and soul, each to their special profession or calling, in order to consolidate the strength of the nation; and when that much is accomplished, China must build such a navy as will put her on terms of equality in this respect with other Powers in the Pacific. Then the Japanese-American Agreement of to-day will give place to an Agreement between China and Japan on the one hand, and China and America on the other; and then, and then only, will China be an independent Power, and the Chinese be the people of an independent nation."

I have, &c. (Signed)

HERBERT GOFFE.

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