ttle
men, packed like sardines in the hold, which had been transformed into a
sort of fifth-rate lodging-house, with tiers of bunks for the
accommodation of these little coolies.

Each French ship of this particular line, going through the
Mediterranean, carries between a thousand and fourteen hundred of such
laborers; and what the effect of this will be upon the next generation
of Frenchmen remains to be seen. They were pretty, docile little
creatures, to be turned loose in villages and in the provinces, which
villages and provinces have been bereft of men these many months, and
where no race prejudice exists among the women. Many Frenchmen we have
met deplored this state of things, and its probable effect upon the
population of France. War is not very pretty, no matter from what angle
you look at it. And now that the Chinese are being imported as well, the
situation may become worse. An article entitled "China's Gift to the War
in Human Labor and Human Life," has this to say:

Of far greater menace to Chinese interests [than the
German submarine blockade] is the understanding which the
Chinese Government is contemplating to make with France,
Russia and Britain, for the despatch of laborers to
Europe. The Chinese Government wants to indulge in coolie
traffic. Bad business at any time, and worse now.

This business of sending Chinese laborers to these
countries has been going on for over a year. It is done
without regard to the interests of the people, or the wish
of the Government. The companies for organizing the
emigration were supposed to be under the inspiration of
Mr. Liang-Shih-Yi, who was sure of making a few dollars on
every coolie's head. The Chinese who have gone have been
with Chinese cognizance, but not under Chinese protection.
The business was of private or semi-official character,
not of official character.

For several months English missionaries in the province of
Shantung have been war-agents of the British Government
for securing laborers for France and England. This has
been done of late, at least, contrary to the wishes of the
Chinese provincial authorities. Thus the English, like
the Japanese in Shantung, have been going their own
free way, without regard to the Chinese Government. The
policy is bad missionary policy; the business is bad
missionary business.

However, I ask myself--I who am