THE CHINESE NATIVE PRESS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12771, 18 April 1910, Page 1

THE CHINESE NATIVE PRESS.

At the present moment, according to the Shanghai correspondent of the London "Times," there is hardly a newspaper worthy of the name in China which is not owned by the Mandarins, and the result, as shown in their columns, is that the outspoken criticism of two years ago is generally replaced by a spirit of comfortable acquiesenoe in the established order of things. This change, slowly and secretly brought about by methods which testify to a considerable amount of intelligent organisation in the official class, would not have boon so readily*, possible were it not for tho arbitrary postal and registration regulations introduced under the authority of the. Central Government. It is significant of the spirit in which the Imperial Maritime Customs Administration now works under the-Shui Wu Chu that these postal' and press regulations have come into effect without attracting protest or notice, so far as the public is aware. It is clear that, wheire official registration of a newspaper is required before postal facilities are given, tlie existence of any journal in Chinese hands can be made to depend on its attitude towards, tho officials; and even -where a nominal foreign ownership is introduced, for the purpose of protecting a newspaper from injustice or oppression, experience has shown that the Chinese editors and staff can be, and are, exposed to serious difficulties and dangers. In these circumstances, it is not .surprising to find that newspapers which formerly stood for criticism independent oi the official ciass, and which were* inspired by a sincere .conviction of their country's needs, have now passed into the control of officials. In Shanghai, for instance, a list of the owners of the leading newspapers, which provide ideas and information for a very wide circle of readers, include the Shanghai Taotai, the Governor of Manchuria, the Viceroys of Chili and Kiangsu, and a certain high official interested in tho sale of anti-opium pills. Tho Shanghai Taotai, in his own capacity and as representing the Viceroy of Nanking, is interested in four newspapers. It is a significant fact in connection with this form of official journalism that these newspapers continue to be registered in the names of foreigners for purposes of protection.