BOXER INDEMNITY.
CLAIMS OF EDUCATION AND MEDICINE.
A CAMBRIDGE MEMORIAL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir. At a meeting of Chinese and other members of this University held at Christ's College on February 14, over which I presided, it was decided to cireularize graduate residents as to the purposes to which the Indemnity Fund should be devoted. This having been done, the appended memorial is being forwarded to the Foreign Office duly signed for purposes of space a few signatures only are here attached.
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As noted by Mr. McNeill, in moving the second reading of the Indemnity Bill on Tues- day, the only contentious question is the pur- pose of the fund. As given by Hansard," his exact words were :-
The Interpretation of the words "educational or other purposes "really, to my mind, means that the object must be something in the nature of educa tion, or, at all events, it must be something which in not absolutely divergent from the mala idea.
This divergency was, however, urged by several subsequent speakers, who desired to in- clude railways among the other purposes. The reasons against this inclusion were succinctly put by Mr. MacDonald the inadequacy of the money available; the troubles, complexities, and negotiations which would be involved even in capitalizing the fund for the purposes; the psychological effect on China of thus using the funda.
These are the very reasons put forward in the memorial. It is, however, evident that the interpretation favoured by Mr. McNeill will have a rough passage in the Advisory Com- mittee unless the Standing Committee, to which the Bill is now referred, adopts some change of wording auch
#4 期 educational, medical, or other similar purposes," an amond- ment already handed in. This would satisfy our signatories, who, though in favour of education and medicine, would approve any other ameliorative agency of a similar nature. Yours faithfully,
A. E. SHIPLEY. Christ's College, Cambridge, March 9.
The following is the text of the memorial:- We, the undersigned, are of opinion that, for the following reasons the China Indemnity Fund ought to be devoted exclusively to educational or medical purposes:
(a) In China, public opinion, as distinguished from military desires. I overwhelmingly in favour of education in some form or other.
(8) Education is the only field on which real co- operation between English and Chinese in possible. At this juncture, when China 1 being subjected to pressure from Russia and Japan alike, a friendly movement which during 20 years would be bringing Chine and England into closer understanding would be invaluable to both nations.
(c) The other remitting Powers have devoted their respective quotes elther to education exclusively (Russia), or by legislative action to educational and cultural purposes (United States and Japan). England arust not be allowed to low "face" in China by making a lower choice; although, when her choice has been made, she will doubtles take a distinctive line of her own.
(d) Railways, roads, conservancy, and such ama- Horative undertakings, though good in themselves. are local and narrow in their scopo instead of being national and distinctive. The Chinese would see in them an absence of disinterestednew, and would resent the foreign control Involved. Apart, however, from these considerations, an absolute bar to the effectiveness of such use of the fund exista in its being limited to a total of $400,000 a year for 28 years, The signatories to the memorial include:- Masters of Colleges -Sir H. K. Anderson. Gon- ville and Calus: Dr. Bond, Trinity Hall Bishop Drury, Ht. Catherine's (who signs provided that the medical side of missions is included); Dr. Fitzpatrick, Cheena Dr. Murray, Selwyn; Dr. Mollison, Clare Bir A. E. Shipley, Christ's.
Professo-Dr. H. A. Glles (Chinese) (who signa provided that religious teaching is excluded); Dr. A. Pearce Higgins (International Law); Canon Kanakott (Hebrew); Ble J. Larmor (Mathematics); De. Nairna (Divialty); Dr. Nuttall (Biology); Sir W. Bisseny (Archeology).
Mt. 6. Loire Plokinson, King's ; Rev. A. C. Mole, At John Perry, Vice Holland Boss, (hirisha -
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