In addition there is about 15,000,000 pounds of
paper money. A comprehensive scheme of reform, placed in the hands
of the Bank of China, would require at least 15,000,000 pounds;
but this sum would be sufficient to modernize the currency and
establish a universal silver dollar standard.
The Bank of China requires at least 600 branches throughout the
country to become a true fiscal agent. It has today one-tenth of
this number.]
For once Chinese realize that parliamentary government is not
merely an experimental thing but the last chance the country is to
be given to govern itself, they will rally to the call and prove
that much of the trouble and turmoil of past years has been due to
the misunderstanding of the internal problem by Western minds,
which has incited the population to intrigue against one another
and remain disunited. And if we insist that there is urgent need
for a settlement of these matters in the terms we have indicated,
it is because we know very prcisely what Japanese thought on this
subject really is.
What is that thought--whither does it lead?
It may be broadly said that Japanese activities throughout the Far
East are based on a thorough and adequate appreciation of the fact
that apart from the winning of the hegemony of China, there is the
far more difficult and knotty problem of overshadowing and
ultimately dislodging the huge network of foreign interests--
particularly British interests--which seventy-five years of Treaty
intercourse have entwined about the country.
Pages:
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492