CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 490

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

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AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

37666

CONFIDENTIAL.

RECE

REGE 9 OFC 10!

[November 17.]

SECTION 2,

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[41907]

No. 1.

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(No. 388.) Sir,

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received November 17.)

Peking, October 28, 1910. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a copy of an interesting memorandum drawn up at my request by Mr. Fox, acting commercial attaché to His Majesty's Legation, in regard to the tour around the ports of China of a large body of repre- sentatives from the chambers of commerce of the American Pacific States, who are visiting China at the invitation of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce. This visit has, as Mr. Fox rightly remarks, been seized on by the large party of Chinese students who have received their education in the United States and other Chinese who feel that they must look to America alone for protection, in order to make a demonstration of their political faith. The Chinese press, which, through the influence of the Peking "Daily News" and the Press Bureau at the Wai-wu Pu, is always more inclined to favour the United States than any other foreign country, has been full of lengthy articles emphasising the common interests and ties that bind the United States and China and the uniform goodwill displayed by the United States towards China in marked contradiction to the attitude of the Powers generally. return of the balance of the indemnity is constantly mentioned in the press and in public speeches as a strong claim on China's gratitude, though no mention is made of the exaggerated dimensions of the original American claim which rendered the return of the balance possible. References are made to the number of Chinese students who have received and are receiving their education in American educational establishments, but not to the far larger number of Chinese who are repulsed from American shores under the exclusion laws.

The

The present is the fourth occasion during the past year on which the visit of prominent citizens of the great Western republic has afforded an opportunity for demonstrating the preference felt by a large body of educated Chinese for the American nation. In the autumn of last year ex-Vice-President Fairbanks and his wife, a worthy but unimpressive couple, who would have preferred hobnobbing quietly with Nonconformist missionaries to banqueting with officials, were, through the activity of American newspaper correspondents, of the American returned students, and of the Peking "Daily News," forced into a position of temporary prominence in the eyes of the Chinese.

In the early summer Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Robinson, the latter a sister of President Roosevelt, afforded the pro-Americau party another opportunity of loudly proclaiming their political preferences. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, whom I had previously known in America, and who are both possessed of ample sense of humour, were intensely amused at being treated as Royalties. At every station they passed through and at every place they visited guards of honour were turned out, special trains were put at their disposal, banquets given in their honour, and in every respect they were treated by the Chinese Government as if they were members of a reigning family. This impression was doubtless fostered by the American Legation and newspaper correspondents who were oblivious to the fact that they were allowing their Chinese friends to make themselves ridiculous, so long as the screech of their eagle could make itself heard above the roar of the lion, the growl of the bear, and the ery of other kindred allegorical beasts. The wife of the Grand Secretary Na Tung, for instance, talking to my wife of Mrs. Robinson's children, employed a term which is only applied to the children of the Imperial Princes.

In September Mr. Dickinson, the Secretary for War, accompanied by a party of ten, including General and Mrs. Edwardes, old friends of mine from Washington, spent a week in Peking, and were treated with most marked consideration and courtesy, but in the case of the visit of a Cabinet Minister of a friendly country, the honours and civilities that were shown him and his party were more reasonable.

There can be no doubt that the Chinese were inclined to attach too much political importance to the visit of the American Secretary for War. Chinese newspapers contained hints as to an alliance with the United States and Germany to counter- balance the effects of the recent Russo-Japanese agreement and the Anglo-Japanese

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