Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking,
China, March 20,
1906.
No. 262.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of correspondence which I have had with the president and
chairman of the board of trustees of Soochow University, Shanghai, in
regard to the attitude of the Chinese Government toward Christian
educational institutions in China, together with an extract from the
Chinese Recorder and
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Missionary Journal of March, 1906, containing my letter of January 24,
in reply to certain questions of the Rev. A. S. Mann, of St. John’s
College, Shanghai, in further reference to the same subject.
I believe that the inclosed letters will show the department the attitude
taken by this legation; that it is my earnest desire to promote an
understanding between the Government and missionary schools of this
country, and that I am strongly in sympathy with the movement which, if
successful, can not fail to improve the relations of the two peoples,
and at the same time to place the missionary educational institutions on
an equal footing with the new Chinese institutions of a similar
character.
A committee, consisting of the Reverend Doctors Sheffield, Lowry, and
Hart, has been appointed to represent the educational association,
which, it is hoped, will confer directly with the board of education of
the Chinese Government, and will succeed in persuading those in
authority in Peking to so frame their regulations that students in
Christian colleges will have the same advantages resulting from their
education as those in private schools or government institutions.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
D. L. Anderson
to Mr. Rockhill.
Soochow, September 20,
1905.
Dear Sir: The recent edicts from the throne
abolishing the old-time literary examinations furnish the occasion
for this letter, and as the matter I wish to present for your
consideration is, I think, one of great importance it closely
concerns both the new educational system of China and also the
effectiveness of our mission colleges, I trust you will pardon my
troubling you with this.
The recent edicts, in which the Government declares that from
henceforth candidates for literary degrees are to be selected
directly from the schools, change entirely the status of all schools
throughout the Empire, both government schools and mission schools,
while at the same time they naturally give to graduates of the
government schools superior advantages both of official standing and
of government employment. These men will receive the coveted
literary degrees, will be appointed to official position, and from
their number will be selected those who are to be sent abroad to
perfect their studies in the great universities of Europe and
America.
Now, the best organized schools in China to-day—and very probably
this will be true for years to come—are the mission schools; and
these are chiefly American schools, such as the Peking University,
Nanking University, St. John’s College, Shanghai, Soochow
University, and others, representing both Protestant and Catholic
missions, hold an important place in the educational field of China
to-day, and are really doing the larger part of the educational
work. These institutions have erected large and costly buildings
specially adapted to their needs; they have marked out full and
thorough courses of study; they, moreover, have on the field good
corps of competent professors devoted to their work. These schools
are not only doing good work for China, but are, in fact, doing
better work than China will be able to do for herself for some
years, and which she can only hope to equal through a very large
expenditure of money. These mission schools cost China nothing. They
are the free gift of the better element of western lands, especially
of the United States, to China’s advancement and progress.
Now, if the Chinese Government will recognize the work done by these
mission colleges by conferring on their graduates the same literary
degrees that are granted to graduates from the government schools,
also having obtained their degrees, by giving them the same
opportunities of government employment or of being selected to go
abroad for further study, such action will not only greatly advance
the interests of these mission industries, but will also
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add much to the
educational resources of the Empire. All mission colleges will be
brought directly into the service of the Government and will work
hand in hand with the government schools to supply the Government
with thoroughly trained men.
If, on the other hand, the Government does not recognize this work in
some such way as suggested above, students will be drawn from the
mission colleges by the superior attractions in the way of degrees
and government employment offered by the government schools. This
will not only hurt the effectiveness of the mission schools, drawing
away their students before graduation, but, as for the present at
least, these mission schools are better equipped, better governed,
and are really doing better work than the government schools. The
cause of true education will also suffer.
What the government needs is thoroughly educated men. The training is
important, more important than the place where the training is
gained. The Government has hitherto recognized this, in that for
years past it has been sending young men indifferently either to the
United States or to Europe to be trained for her service. Would it
not be well for the new board of education, in the reorganization of
China’s educational methods, to plan to recognize the educated young
man of China, even though he does not get his training in a
government school and at government expense? And to this end would
it not be well for this board to fix definite requirements—that is,
mark out a, definite course of study for the degrees of B. A., M.
A., etc., and then arrange to recognize the student who has
completed the course, no matter in what school? Such action on the
part of the board of education will, certainly be of great advantage
to the cause of true education throughout the Empire. It would also
enable China to recognize among her educational resources the long
list of mission schools.
There is no competition whatever between the mission schools and the
government schools. In every case the mission school charges full
tuition fees, etc., while the government schools are not only free,
but make contributions for the support of the student. Very probably
the course of study in the mission schools will, for some years at
least, be broader than that of the government schools, the teaching
more thorough, the graduation more difficult. Hence the student who
is simply after his “degree,” his “button,” will find easier and
shorter road in the government school.
Mission colleges need, under the new regime, recognition as
educational institutions. While some of us are duly incorporated in
the United States, and hence are competent to give degrees, etc.,
yet, after all, recognition of our work through the bestowal of
degrees on our graduates will enable our students to win the only
degrees really valuable in Chinese eyes. This recognition will also
enable us to retain our students to graduation, and thus do more
thorough work. Mission schools ask nothing but this recognition of
their work. They seek no government funds nor favors.
Now, that the plans are being formed for the new educational system,
I have presumed to trouble you with this, trusting that you will
both approve the suggestions made and that you will be able to
influence the proper authorities so as to secure the needed
recognition for our schools, which will be a practical
incorporation. Could this be secured, not only will your effort be
highly appreciated by the various schools, but it will also add
greatly to American influence in China, since the schools are
largely American.
Again begging your pardon for troubling you,
I remain,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Young J.
Allen to Mr. Rockhill.
Shanghai, December 12,
1905.
Dear Sir: At a recent meeting of the board
of trustees of our Soochow University I was requested as their
chairman to call your excellency’s attention to the attitude of the
Chinese Government toward our educational institutions. In general,
the Government recognizes the treaty right of toleration, and the
Chinese are not debarred membership in the Christian Church, but as
Christians, educated in our institutions, irrespective of their
qualifications, they are counted
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and treated as ineligible to any, even the
most inferior, offices. Thus showing that the limited toleration
they enjoy has reference only to their relation to foreigners, and
by no means implies that the Government is disposed to recognize
what it is supposed to grant. Now, while we are averse to
recognizing the right claimed by the Chinese to inspect our higher
institutions and dictate what their curricula shall be, thus
attempting to substitute a Confucian for a Christian curriculum, we
would by no means object to recognizing any curriculum the
government schools may adopt, and undertake, in connection with our
own system and courses of study, to prepare men to stand the
requisite examinations for the respective degrees, if by so doing
our graduates are made equally eligible, according to qualification
and merit, for appointment to office in the government service.
The point, then, to which we desire particularly to call your
attention resolves itself into this, to wit, that the measure of
toleration granted in the treaties is not sufficient to cover
existing conditions, and that unless we insist on a wider
recognition on the part of the Government, we may expect to find our
schools ignored and their great value to China depreciated and lost.
We, therefore would urge that while China is projecting and adopting
reforms, no reform is more urgent or would be more appropriate and
timely than to grant once and for all entire religious liberty. It
would be in harmony with the present aspirations of the Chinese for
a constitutional government, and nothing could commend it more fully
to the comity of nations.
Believing this to be so, we would most earnestly commend this subject
of religious liberty to your attention and anything you can do
toward achieving such a reform will greatly relieve our Christian
work, and, we are sure, will not a little influence and improve the
relations of China with all Christian nations.
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Rockhill to
Mr. Y. J. Allen.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of December 12 last, in which you inform me that at the
request of your board you have to call my attention to the attitude
of the Chinese Government toward Christian educational institutions
in China.
This very important subject was brought to my attention in September
of last year by Dr. D. L. Anderson, president of the Soochow
University. In reply to Doctor Anderson’s letter I assured him that
I would have much pleasure in doing all that I possibly could to
secure just recognition by the Chinese Government for your
institution and all American educational institutions in China.
I have since then talked the matter over repeatedly with some of my
diplomatic colleagues whose nationals maintain educational
establishments in China, and quite recently with Dr. D. Z.
Sheffield, president of the Peking University.
While I quite agree with your board in thinking that nothing would be
more beneficial to China than entire religious liberty, I greatly
doubt whether the Government is prepared to take so far-reaching a
step at the present moment. I think that we must and can attempt
with a fair chance of success something to remove, at least in a
measure, the disqualifications under which you state native
Christians educated in your institution labor as regards admission
into the service of the Chinese state.
The point is well set forth by Doctor Anderson in his letter to me to
which I have previously referred. “If the Chinese Government,” he
says, “will recognize the work done by the mission colleges by
conferring on their graduates the same literary degrees that are
granted to graduates from the government schools—also having
obtained their degrees by giving them the same opportunities of
government employment or of being selected to go abroad for further
study—such action will not only greatly advance the interests of the
mission institutions, but will also add much to the educational
resources of the Empire. All mission colleges will be brought into
the service of the Government and will work hand in hand with the
government schools to supply the Government with thoroughly trained
men.”
[Page 345]
It seems to me that if we could secure acceptance by the Chinese
Government of your suggestion to “undertake in connection with
[your] own system and course of study to prepare men to stand the
requisite examinations for the respective degrees”—subject probably
to inspection by government officials—with permission to compete at
such examinations as may be required for entry into governmental
service, we would already be making a very big step in the direction
of ultimately bringing about that complete religious liberty which
we all hope to see insured in China.
It has occurred to me that it would perhaps be a good plan for a
small committee representing the various educational institutions
conducted by Americans in China to come to Peking and discuss this
matter with the newly established board of education. I would be
delighted to give any committee which may be chosen such assistance
as I can to further its object.
Should this suggestion not commend itself to you, I shall be much
pleased to address the Wai-wu Pu in the matter and urge its
favorable consideration of such requests as we may deem practicable
and likely to prove acceptable without too protracted
discussion.
Trusting that you will favor me with an early reply,
I remain,
