CHINA AND THE TIBET TREATY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1716, 18 January 1905, Page 18

CHINA AND THE TIBET TREATY

(“London Times.”) Tang Sthao Yi, who has been recently appointed a special commissioner for the purpose of investigating the question of the Tibetan treaty and is to state the case for the Chinese Government at Calcutta, is a remarkable man and a member of an enlightened family. His elder brother was the famous Tang-kin-sin, the organising head, if not the actual founder, of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, of which he was long the director. The first railway enterprise in China was largely due to Tang-kin-sin, as also the opening and working of the Tang Shan Collieries. Thanks to this elder brother, two of whose sons have been educated in England, Tang Shao Yi was sent to America to study law. He has a family of several daughters, all of whom have had a good Chinese education and the further advantage of instruction under a high-class English governess, while his adopted son was placed under an English tutor in a good. .-English family. On his return from America Mr Tang became under-secretary to the late Li Hung-chang when that' great Viceroy was intent on building a navy, reforming the army, and developing China for the Chinese. When, after the wretclied fiasco in Seoul in 1884, Yuan Shih-kai was sent as Chinese Resident to Seoul, (Mr Tang was chosen to accompany him as first secretary and legal adviser. I well remember visiting Mr Tang in Seoul and being surprised at his wellstocked library, containing the best books of the day on international law. Daring the many years he was in Seoul he fulfilled the duties of Chinese ConsuFGeneral as well as those of political adviser and secretary to the Resident, and distinguished himself by his justice and kindliness. During bus residence in Seoul he became the personal friend of that ripe Chinese scholar and able Consul-General, Mr (now Sir) Walter Hillier. Alt that time the British Government was at a disadvantage in Seoul owing to the fact that its agent had only the status of a Consul-General, subordinate to the Ambassador in far away Peking, while the representatives of other nations had the rank of Minister; and but for the abilities of Mr Hillier and his friend, Mr Tang, British interests would have suffered. When war broke out between China and Japan Mr Tang returned with his chief to China. A period of enforced idleness ensued, and it seemed as though his official career was at an end. After an interval, however, he was made Customs Taotai at Chifu, Where he did good service during the Boxer crisis, keeping a cool head and maintaining order with a firm hand. When Yuan-shih-kai became Viceroy of Chi-li he rewarded. his former faithful secretary by making him Customs Taotai at Tien-tsin, where he has carried out his difficult duties with conspicuous impartiality and quiet energy.