SIR ROBERT HART.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1118, 4 May 1911, Page 5

SIR ROBERT HART.

FAMOUS OFFICIAL RETIRES. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyrieht Peking, May 2. Sir Robert Hart has definitely resigned the position of Inspector-General of Customs in China. He will be succeeded by Mr. Francis Arthur Aglen,-' DeputyInspector since 1910.

Sir Eobert Hart is perhaps the greatest of those Britons who, like Kaid Sir Harry Maclean in Morocco, have elected to give their lives to the devoted service of "sick" nations. His magnificent administrative work in China has seldom been equalled in modem times. Born in Ireland in 1i)35, Sir liooett Hart, alter passing through various educational institutions in Taunton, Dublin, and Belfast, made his first voyage to China at the ago of 10, as a secretary in tho Consular Service. During the first year of his residence in that country he was a supernumerary interpreter,, held the Supcrintentlency of Trade in Hong-Kong, and was attached to the British Consulate at mngpo. For Ihe nest five years he filled a number of important Consular and othor offices, until, in 1859, he severed his connection with the British service nnci entered tho Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. Within two years ho was acting as Inspector-General of the Chinese Custom?, and was definitely appointed to that responsible post in 1563. During the forty-eight years which have elapsed since then, Sir Robert Hart has undoubtedly, been a "power behind tho Ihrono." Although he was gazetted British Minister Plenipotentiary in ISSS, he declined the honour. In most of tho stirring events which have agitated China since the Taeping rebellion, the influence and advice of Sir Robert Hart have played an important and, frequently, invisible, part. But they came prominently to tho front on occasions when complications arose with foreign States, and a strong hand was needed to "savethe face" of the Chinese Government. In such critical situations Sir Robert acted, not as a European diplomatist engaged in "squeezing" a weaker Oriental .Power, but rather as an honest and incorruptible Chinese patriot labouring to defend the interests and.uphold the presr.fiK*o9.f: bis (I native country. ....,.,