52 Some Side Lights on the China Question. 



magnitude of the outbreak, we must not for a moment imagine 

 that the whole of China was against us at this time. In 

 provinces where there seemed for a time to be a serious out- 

 break the motive was anti-dynastic rather than anti-foreign, 

 and since the time when the allies began to obtain the upper 

 hand in the North the source of danger had subsided. He for 

 one could not bring himself to believe in a "yellow peril" as 

 an actual, practical menace to the world's peace. It must be 

 remembered what Sir R. Hart, in expressing grave fears on that 

 score, wrote but a few days after the raising of the siege of the 

 legations. It was not surprising that he should at such a time 

 have looked at things through dark spectacles. It should be 

 noted that combination had always been China's weak point, 

 and that, strong as the Boxer movement had been, it would 

 have been a mere rabble but for the adhesion of the Imperial 

 troops. It was now for the allied powers to take effective 

 measures for restricting the introduction of firearms into 

 China. Much, Mr. Crawford thought, had been learnt on both 

 sides, and if toleration was mixed with firmness and due regard 

 to iustice they must all believe and hope that China would yet 

 take her place in the comity of nations, and that in time she 

 would become a source of strength, and not of danger, to the 

 whole civilised world. 



The lecture was profusely illustrated by special limelight 

 slides and maps. 



The hearty thanks of the society were accorded to Mr. 

 Crawford, on the motion of Mr. T. F. Shillington, J.P., 

 seconded by Mr. F. R. Lepper. 



Mr. Robert M. Young, B.A., M.R.I.A. (Hon. Secretary), 

 presented the Society with a well-executed portrait of Mr. 

 Robert Lloyd Patterson, D.L., F.L.S., who on several occasions 

 filled the position of its president. 



The President acknowledged the receipt of the interesting 

 gift, and said it was most appropriate that the Society should 

 possess portraits of its presidents. 



