solution. These soldiers were called the republican army. Although
the Northern troops have not yet become so degenerate, still they
never hesitate to disobey the order of their superiors whenever they
are ordered to proceed to distant localities. Now we have come to
the point when we are deeply satisfied if the army of the Republic
does not openly mutiny! We cannot expect any more from them save to
hope that they will not mutiny and that they will be able to
suppress internal disturbances. In the circumstances there is no use
talking about resistance of a foreign invasion by these soldiers. As
China, a republic, is situated between two countries, Japan and
Russia, both of which have monarchical governments, how can we
resist their aggression once diplomatic conversations begin? From
this it is quite evident that there is nothing which can save China
from destruction. Therefore I say there is no hope of China becoming
strong.

Mr. Ko: But why is it that there is no hope of China ever becoming
rich?

Mr. Hu: People may not believe that while France and America are
rich China must remain poor. Nevertheless, the reason why France and
America are rich is that they were allowed to work out their own
salvation without foreign intervention for many years, and that at
the same time they were free from internal disturbances. If any
nation wishes to become rich, it must depend upon industries for its
wealth. Now, what industries most fear is disorder and civil war.
During the last two years order has been restored and many things
have returned to their former state, but our industrial condition is
the same as under the Manchu Dynasty. Merchants who lost their
capital during the troublous times and who are now poor have no way
of retrieving their losses, while those who are rich are unwilling
to invest their money in industrial undertakings, fearing that
another civil war may break out at any moment, since they take the
recent abortive second revolution as their warning. In future, we
shall have disquietude every few years; that is whenever the
president is changed. Then our industrial and commercial condition
will be in a still worse condition. If our industries are not
developed, how can we expect to be strong? Take Mexico as a warning.
There is very little difference between that