Leading Articles i\ the Reviews. 



327 



SIX MONTHS AFTER. 

 China's Predicament. 



Under the heading. " Six Months After the Drama," 

 Comte Albert de Pouvourville contributes to La Revue 

 o( August I St un article on the present condition of 

 affairs in China. 



OIT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO 



Explaining China's predicament, he says here is a 

 country with the richest of soils, without money, 

 financial institutions, or credit, and the people have 

 not the ghost of a notion of economic or fiscal matters. 

 Inevitably, then, the country was bound to become 

 dependent on Foreign Powers. But we can understand 

 and sympathise with the leaders of the triumphant 

 revolution. Undertaken for the liberation of China 

 from foreign yoke and outside obligations, the net 

 result of its success is a probable increase of the pre- 

 \ ious burden and the creation of new obligations. The 

 revolution, like all other revolutions, cost a great deal, 

 and it at once became necessary to find money, and 

 that quickly. That, indeed, was the first duty of 

 \'uan Shi Kai and the Government, and it brought 

 them face to face with a F.urope, at first hesitating and 

 auspicious, and afterwards ac(iuiescent in principle, 

 authoritative, punctilious, and draconian. 



BOND SLAVES OF EUROPE. 



Public opinion in China, as was to be expected, 

 found the re(|uiremcnts of the Powers inexpliiable. 

 and there has been much di-(()ntent in consequence. 

 The Chinese vented their wrath on Yuan Shi Kai. who 

 had to negotiate the loan under most difficult circum- 

 stances, and overlooked the fact that their country 

 was at the end of its resources, and was overwhelmed 

 with debts, and that money must be procured on 

 whatever conditions possible. 



Immediately the universal cry went forth, "' What 



"Help I" 



\()tNt. »HiN\: "I e.Tn ni.-in.i;;*' linn pcrjVrtly well liy myself, think you. 

 Unfortiin.itcly, at llic present nionicnt hv appears to be helplessly Muck in 

 the mud." 



was the good of overthrowing the dynasty if the suc- 

 ceeding regime was going to overwhelm them with 

 crushing charges and a humiliating tutelage by 

 foreigners? The revolution was made to restore China 

 to the Chinese, and yet the new regime is introducing 

 the foreign element more than ever was done by the 

 Imperial dynasty. We cannot endure it. Let us begin, 

 even if we have to suffer for it, by refusing this money — 

 w'hich we need, but which we will not accept along 

 with such shameful suspicions of slavery." The 

 animosity of the yellow race was further aroused. 

 The Chinese Republic, which Europe was going to 

 control, was considered valid enough by European 

 judges to guarantee a loan of sixty millions, yet this 

 same Europe, while recognising China a,s a valid debtor 

 and financial client, refuses to recognise her as a 

 Government and as a political entity. From the point 

 of view of international diplomacy the Republic has 

 ceased to exist. She is not worthy to be a national 

 figure — but she is considered responsible enough to 

 pay ! 



NORTH VERSUS SOUTH. 



The truth is, adds the writer, that since the disap- 

 pearance of the dynasty popular passion has had no 

 outlet for its ardour and enthusiasm. Disenchanted 

 by the accomplishment of the revolution, the people 

 are now suffering from a sort of lassitude. It is pointed 

 out how divergent is public opinion in the North and 

 in the South. The Northerners hate all foreigners, and 

 yet are willing to resign themselves to the financial 

 control of Europe, which must bring other control in 

 its train. In the South and in the Centre, the people, 

 imbued with the political teachings of Taoism and 

 Confucianism, care little whether they live under a 

 republican or a monarchical government, but they do 

 t.ike a direct interest in public affairs. They demand 

 that China, empire or republic, shall continue to be a 

 confederation of autonomous pro- 

 vinces — autonomous as to taxation, 

 military service, and internal ad- 

 ministration. Hut not even the 

 Chinese of the ."^outh can dispense 

 with a budget or an army or a 

 na\y ; and it is folly to say that 

 these things should have disappeared 

 with the sovereigns. A firm hand is 

 needed to prevent a recurrence of 

 the rupture patched up for the 

 moment between the North and 

 .South. Has \'uan Shi Kai the hand 

 and the head .•' Tiiough he is only 

 fifty-four, his life of work and 

 ambitious activity is telling on his 

 physi()ue. Moreover, his moral posi- 

 tion is less brilliant than it was. His 

 retirement is even foreshadowed in 

 certain circles. Nevertheless, those 

 who wish to be rid of him have the 

 leiist idea how to replace him. 



