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CHINA REPORT
the two peoples". This seems to show an extraordinary miscon- ception of what the Willingdon proposals really were.
The present settlement seems to us more liable to create friction and ill-will" and immeasurably less likely to promote "friendly relations and a good understanding between the two peoples" than the settlement which was proposed to and accepted by His Majesty's Government in 1926 and has now been cast aside. Already there is dissatisfaction in China over the terms of the agreement, and that dissatisfaction is likely to increase as time goes on and as the sorry results of the new policy are more clearly discerned. The disappointment and even dismay in Chinese educational circles increase with every announce- ment made by the Board of Trustees (and many such announcements have already had to be made) that it has no funds with which to carry out any plan for the advancement of education or any of the cultural projects for the promotion of which it is supposed to have come into existence. The belief is growing that Great Britain has thrown away a magnificent opportunity to do a great service to China and also- directly and indirectly-a great service to herself.
In view of the existing situation and the financial impotence of the Board of Trustees, it is hardly necessary to say that the hopes entertained before our delegation left England, that we might be able to persuade the Board to allocate a small portion of its funds to the promotion of Chinese studies in the United Kingdom, could not at present be realised even if the Board were keenly anxious to act upon the suggestion. If it has no money to finance any of the educational projects named in the Willingdon Report or any of the other schemes advocated in Chinese educational circles to-day, it is certainly Great not in a position to endow Chinese professorships in Britain.
In spite of the many discouraging features of the present situation, it would perhaps be premature to say that it is quite hopeless. Given the necessary awakening on the part of the British Foreign Office, and a skilful and tactful handling of the situation in China, something might even now be done to bring about at least a partial reversion to the principles rightly and willingly accepted by His Majesty's Government as recently as five years ago. This is a matter which, if opportunity occurs, we should be glad to discuss with the Universities' China Committee; and if the Committee can see its way to use its powerful influence, and the influence of the great academic institutions which its members severally represent, to bring about the re-opening of a question which undoubtedly deserves the most careful recon- sideration in both countries concerned, there is at least a possibility
SITUATION CREATED BY EXCHANGE OF NOTES
that the remission of the British portion of the Boxer indemnity will eventually produce results not much less beneficial to both China and Great Britain than the remission of the American portion has already proved itself to be to the economic and other interests of China and the United States.
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