CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 327

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Extract from "Daily Plegraph" 17 May 1922

STUDENTS FROM CHINA.

BRITAIN'S OPPORTUNITY.

From Correspondent.

From time to time there are echoes in the British papers of a gradual increase of Chinese studenta in this country. There convey little to most readers, yat we seem to be on the eve of vast developments, and Dr. Alfred 8ze, the Minister to Washington, who entertains broad views on the subject, is credited with the belief that China will st no remote data send shrond 100,000 students to devote them- selves to every branch of work and scientific study so that they can return home fully equipped to take in hand the remodelling of their native land.

At present there are in this country only sond 180 students, a number much less than a few years ago. Many have come bare and left disappointed for Germany, while the lace of the United States draws many thither. At present, there are over 2,500 Chines students in the United States, and more at Columbia University than in all Ormat Britain to-day, or. indeed, at any time since the |high-water mark was moched in 1914, when there ware about 950. Plans are on foot vastly to extend the number. Congrem has now before it a bill to remit the second half of the Boxer Indemnity in order that the money so released may be used to promote the dow of Chineso students to Amorica. Both Hon individually have passed it, and it has now but to pass them collectivaly-an easy task, Canada has realised the value of those students, and It is now representing to Great Britnia that it also should remit the balance of its Boxer Indemnity for much the same purpose. When the war started the annual payment of the Boxer Indemnity to Britain was remitied for five years, which expire this year, and the British Government insists on payment. The Cabinet has considered the matter, and although the Prime Minister in sympathetio he contends that share la no sign of any public support of the pro- posal, of which Sir John Jordan is a warm advocate, to devote the money to educational purposes. Some manufacturers realise the importance of the problem to them, wines the Manchester Chamber of Commerce bat passed a resolution in favour of this policy, and those who know bort assert that in five years time we shall begin to feel the effect on our trade of these armies of studente all returning home with

Amarios experie American sympathies. American ideals, and attachment to American trade and manufacturers. In the United States every con- ceivable facility is offered these students. Not only do they often have a university placed at their sazrica for their annual gatherings, but batch of twelve or more will be employed in one district learn- ing how to make roads, whereof China will stand in great need, while on the main lines, such as tho Illinois Central, planty of learners may be found. In factories they are welcomed. Yot in Great Britain exactly the opposite policy prevails.

It is not costly to maintain a Chinese student. The annual allowance, paid either by the Chines Government or by private Chinese, will probably soon be only 100, ance this can always be supple- mented in the United States by the well-established custom permitting students to devote themselves to various forms of labour during the holidays. Here it is not more costly to live than in the States, but there is little chance of adding to one's income. Living is very cheap on the Continent for students, and in most places scholarships are fairly plentiful. An sopus! half-million, derived from the Boxer indemnity, would not only keep a large number of students, but would help us to send our own Ona doy profossors to Chins for mutual benefit. these returned students will be the groat advocales Inf everything-especially trade-in the country which trained them. When we reach the day of the 100,000 we shall be more hopelessly outdistanced than we ne DOW. It has not weaped attention that all the three Chinese negotiators at Washington were American-trained, and that the experts attached to this delegation only comprised but a very fow English-trained man. There are so few in existence.