CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 672

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

668

CO 48231

REC

Prn 20 UG 19)

FAR-

The Honourable

sir,

The Colonial Secretary,

Hongkong.

East Parade Ground,

Canton, China.

6th May, 1919.

The loss to British influence in Canton and Kwongtung

through neglect of British propaganda by means of the natural method of education is so glaringly evident that there is no need to labour the point. The laissez aller method of the past has helped largely to change the earlier opinion of the Cantonese that among the nations of the West the British stand pre-eminent. A stranger hearing of one's nationality never now becomea enthusiastic over the name of England. Fifteen or twenty years ago it was different. Then the constant rejoinder was: "Good; England No. 1", accompanied with the expressive gesture of

thumbs up.

This loss of prestige, and consequently of influence and commercial opportunity, is at last attracting the attention of those who try to think imperially and financially,

The nation that has done the most fr education in South China is the one that is now "No. 1o in the estimation of the Cantoness. For educational purposes American money is never lacking. Their schools of all grades abound, and much larger plans at the present time are being matured. They are beginning to reap the reward of their wisdom. The French and Germans both have strong schools, while the Japanese are influencing Chinese student life according to their own methods.

Six months' study of the educational problem on the

spot has shamed one into effort.

The

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