COMMENT ON CHINA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 February 1927, Page 2

COMMENT ON CHINA.

AVHERE MISSIONS STAND

PRESBYTERIAN POINT OF VIEW.

Some interesting comments on the Chinese situation, particularly as it affects missionaries of _ the Aiesojterian Church, were given by Die secretary of the Foreign Missions Committee, the Rev. Mr Barton, at a meeting of the. Dunedin Presbytery. As far as missionaries are concerned, they are out of their .areas at present, instructions having been o-iven on January 7 for all British nationals to withdraw from Chinese territory. He stated that this did not mean evacuation of merely inland places, but even of places near the sea, such as their own mission districts. Three missionaries had remained to confer with members or the Chinese Church Synod regarding tile handing over of the work to them, medical work having been transferred to the control of a hoaid predominantly Chinese some time ago. Arrangements were now in hand tor handing over other work in accordance with resolutions of the synod, and cabled advice bad been received that control of the work, staff, and funds bad been handed over to the svnod. “This should not lie. regarded as panic legislation,” continued Mr Barton, “for it is in accordance with what was previouslv outlined, though it was hastened by the present delicate situation. “Those who have studied the Chinese situation,” he said, “are aware that, whatever the causes of the trouble, aud whatever . it. may have accomplished in the stirring np of the Chinese, there can he no question that they will result in the performance of international justice to China, which has been so long deferred.”

The British Foreign Office was not only showing a spirit of forbearance, but was also doing justice towards Chinese aspirations. China was determined to be mistress in her own house. One should look on what was being done by the British authorities not merely as an act of sympathy towards China, but merely ordinary justice.

“There is no doubt that China will become mistress in her own house,” he asserted, “and, further, that China, has suffered great and many grievances at the hands of other Powers during the past years.” Their attitude as a church, expressed first by the Foreign Missions Committee, and endorsed by the church, was that they did not want their foreign mission work dependent on the treaties Chinai now wished to have. A toleration clause in the old treaty gave shelter and protection to missionaries, but this was not desired non', ns they were prepared to rest on the protection which the Chinese Government was prepared to give to missionaries in the future.