HELP FROM CHINA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 74, 20 December 1917, Page 7

HELP FROM CHINA

TROOPS MAY BE SENT

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. MORRISON

[Dr. Morrison. Foreign Adviser to the Chinese Government, who arrived in Sydney last week, bates (said a cablegram a few days ago) that it is absolutely certain that China will send an armed force to the assistance of the Allies. All classes of thought in China, he ,1 funned, favour the country's active participation in the war.] Dr. G. E. Morrison has exercised probably more influence in Chinese affairs during the past ten years than any other man living. He is'just now in Sydney on a holiday trip, which (states tho Sydney "Sun") will extend over six months. In two or t three days he will go on to Melbourne, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Returning by way of Melbourne, ho intends to go to Adelaide, and travel thence b.y tho East-West railway. ancl_ at Frsmantle take his passago for Singapore. Officially ho is ono of the foreign advisers to tho Chinese Government. There are four other 'representing Franco, Japan, the *Unife3 StalesJ and' Belgium, each looking his own country's interests. Dr. luorrison is i the political advisor. Ono nf tho others is legal adviser, a- third is adviser to tho Foreign Office, and another .ldviser on constitutional government, di'. Morrison was the_ first appointed, and lie has been in intimate association . witli Chinese affairs of State ever since. Even before he accepted nn official appointment, his position ern correspondent of "Tho Times made him a man of influence throughout tho East.

China's Part In the War. China is right in the war on the side of the Allies. The official position is supported by popular opinion, and Dr. Morrison thinks it extremely likely that an armed force will ho sent to Europe at an early date. Up to the present only coolies have been dispatched. "China declared war on Germany and Austria in August. Slio has already for somo.time past been sendinu a. largo number of labourers to the Western front in France," he said. "Tlie coolies aro probably the finest in the world, and they are drawn principally from the province of Shantung. It is a wonderful service, and has been thoroughly organised by tho British Consular authorities. These yien aro well paid, and'they are permitted to leave a large proportion—about half— of their pay to anyone they nominate in China. That means that hundreds of thousands of dollars aro coming into one province of China every month.

"The great difficulty in China is that tho value of silver in relation to gold varies so much. The range of one dollar in value is from Is. 9d. to 3s. 4d. Just now it is about 35., consequently the men who aro paid on a gold basis are not so well off as they would bo if tho value of the silver currency was. lower. But tho high rato of oxchange has proved very valuable to China, and the financial position of the country is better than it has been at any other time during tbo last 20 years. China has to meet her foreign obligations in gold, and with silver at such a high price, tho advantage is all in China's favour."

Punishing Cermany. Speaking of 'China's part in the war, ho said that already about 80,000 coolies had been sent to tho French and British. "They aro industrious, docilo and well-managed men," he added. "Indirectly China has been able to severely punish Germany. All Germans have been dismissed from the Government service,' which includes the Customs, tho Post Office, and tho salt industry. In the Customs Department alone 118 Gormans were put off, and many of them held high positions. Under tho salt administration the second man on tho staff, enjoying 'a large salary, was displaced because he was a Gorman. An immense proportion of the people agree with tho policy of the Government," he added in answer to ft question. "I should say that the wholo of tho thinking people—all those who desiro tho uplifting of China—are in accord with tho action taken by the Government in its policy against Germany and Austria. "The declaring of war at onco raises China's position among the nations, and gives her a voice at tho peace conference that will come afterwards. It means, the re-establishing of her finances. Tho war terminates her treaty engagements, and by treaty engagements China owes Germany £12,600.000 and Austria £600,000. Those obligations were wiped out hy the declaration of war. Tho debts consisted of war indemnities which were forced upon 1 China. She is now in a position to repudiI ate them. They represented Germany's and Austria's share -in tho Boxer' indemnity of 1900. China also recovers possession of the foreign _ concession aroas which were alone subject to German control in Tientsin and Hankow.

Troops for Europe, "Absolutely certain" was the emphatic rejoinder Dr. Morrison made to an inquiry as to whether China would send an armed force to Europo. "There is a difficulty in regard to finances, which is now being adjusted. Of course, there is also a difficulty regarding transport and ■ the maintenance of troops, but all classes in the community aro agreed as to the importance of sending troops. Whatever number wont —say a force of 25,000, was dispatched—it would bo kopt up to its full' strength throughout. Thcro would bo no trouble in feeding_ them. The Chinese are the most omnivorous eaters on the earth. Of course, large numbers of them are vegetarians, but there are no caste prejudices as there are among some of the other Eastern races. Tho northerns are grain caters. Their food is mainly millet, com, and a kind of macaroni. The, feeding of the men would present no difficulties. Practically there is no limit to the number of men China can send tci Kurtjno. It is estimated that at least 800,000 could be dispatched, subject, of course, to tho transnort The financial question will bo satisfactorily settled. The cost of a Chinese soldier would not be so great as the cost of the coolies who have already been sent. "Everyone who is in favour of tho uplifting of China advocates the sendin* of troops. -All thoughtful Clmiose, and all thoughtful foreigners m China oxpect tlioy will he sent, because it will have a great effect upon the wholo nation. There is a HJod deal of internal dissension in China, and _ it _ requires somo big act like coming the war to bring the people together.'

A schoolgirl was required to writo an of 250 words about a motoroar She submitted tho following:— "My undo bought a motor-car. Ho was riding in the country, when it busted u]> a hill. I about twenty words. The other 230 are what my uncle said when he was walking back to town, but they aro not fit for publication.