The International Development of ChinaSun, Yat-sen
History
The International Development of China
Sun, Yat-sen
China -- Economic conditions -- 1912-1949; Railroads -- China
One of the greatest fields of potentiality in the immediate demands
of the New China, is agriculture. The country depends in its final
analysis upon the prosperity of its agriculture. At present probably
as much as 80% of China's population is agricultural. China's
greatest problem is the proper feeding and clothing of its vast
population. Improved conditions in agriculture, opening of new lands
to cultivation, irrigation and conservancy works, the encouragement
of the cattle and sheep industries, the development of the cotton
industry and the improvement of tea, silk and the seed crops of China,
are timely subjects in any program of developments. There is a vast
work to be done in agriculture in China, which will lead to prosperity
generally, and make possible developments with native capital in other
fields of activity, whereas if agricultural improvements are neglected,
it will be difficult to insure prosperity in other directions.
Thus for the present, I hope the main thought may be centered on
improvements in transportation, in currency and tax administrations, in
the development of coal and iron industries, and in agriculture. Many
of the suggested activities included in your very extensive program
will follow as a corollary to the above.
In thinking of all these developments, I believe that we should always
give thought to the fact that we are not dealing with a new country
but with one in which social arrangements are exceedingly intricate
and in which a long-tested system of agricultural and industrial
organization exists. It is to my mind most important that the
transition to new methods of industry and labor should not be sudden
but that the old abilities and values should be gradually transmuted.
It is important that the artistic ability existing in the silk and
porcelain manufacture, etc. should be maintained and fostered, and not
superseded by cheaper processes. It is also highly important that no
export of food should be permitted, except as to clearly ascertained
surpluses of production. It would produce enormous suffering were the
food prices in China suddenly to be raised to the world market level.
The one factor in modern organization which the Chinese must learn
better to understand is the corporation, and the fiduciary relationship
which the officers of the corporation ought to occupy with respect to
the stockholders. If the Chinese cannot learn to use the corporation
properly, the organization of the national credit cannot be effected.
Here, too, it is necessary that the capital of personal honesty which
was accumulated under the old system should not be lost but transferred
to the new methods of doing business. So at every point where we
are planning for a better and more efficient organization, it seems
necessary to hold on to the values created in the past and not to
disturb the entire balance of society by too sudden changes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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