"I do not think so. It is impossible for me to say what will be done, but my personal wish would be freely to combine foreign capital with Chinese capital {44} and labour." But the General, at this moment turning abruptly towards a staff officer who brought him a dispatch from the battlefield, announced, "But we shall have foreign advisers, and all such matters as this would be decided later." And he added forcefully, "We must consolidate the whole of China--that is the main thing." "You spoke of foreign loans just now. There will be need for foreign loans now more than ever?" "Yes, we shall need more foreign money and more foreigners in the employ of our Republican Government; but my party is convinced that there will be no difficulty in getting all the assistance, financial and otherwise, from the Powers. Already America has telegraphed her good wishes, and the time will come when the two greatest republics in the world will be on the most friendly footing--probably China will drift more towards America and learn more from her than from any other country." "As regards business, do you think that Hankow will benefit in trade from the Revolution?" The General pondered for a moment, thoughtfully putting his thumb and finger to his chin. He hesitated briefly, then declared straight out that he thought Hankow would become, perhaps, the biggest city in Asia. In concluding our conversation, Li Yuan Hung told me that he had been to Japan for one year only, that he had five children (two boys and three girls), that he was a native of Hwangpi in Hupeh, and that when his children were old enough he would send them away for their education. "Where to?" "To America," came the reply, and a happy smile with it. After wishing me goodbye, General Li, still holding my hand, said:-- "One word more before you go." He placed his left hand on my shoulder, bent his body slightly towards {45} me. "Please do not forget to say that this Revolution took place because the Manchus were so unfair to the Chinese--for no other reason." He then bade me farewell, and I departed. * * * * *