Item 49 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Kung Tian Cheng

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S. W. - Was glad to get Kung's postcard [TRER/47/49] with news of his journey to the South; sorry Kung could not visit Europe this year. Perhaps he may later on, in which case Trevelyan hopes to see him. '[Al]ways looked forward to the arrival of Republican Advocate [of which Kung was editor], and was very when it came to an end'. Now it is 'very hard for us in Europe to have any idea of what is going on in China'.

Is glad Kung can say the 'political outlook is brighter', and hopes it remains so, but 'it looks as if, for the time, parliamentary government had been a failure, and that is very sad, after the high hopes we all shared'. This set-back will matter little though, 'if the country is really gaining organic strength and coherence in ways other than political'.

Here, they are 'in the midst of a political crisis. The Tory party has been encouraging disloyalty in the army, and hopes to frighten the Government and the Country intro dropping [Irish] Home Rule, by inducing officers to do their duty'. Does not think they will succeed, but if they did, it would be a 'disastrous triumph of aristocratic militarism over Parliament and democracy'.

He and his family have been in London for two months so that their 'little boy may go to an infant school'; they return to the country next month. Is very sorry that Kung missed seeing Dickinson; if Kung come to England, Trevelyan will introduce them. Dickinson much enjoyed his visit to China, and 'liked the Chinese better than the Indians'. Since his return, Trevelyan has 'several times met young [Lionel?] Giles', who says that Backhouse is returning to 'be a Chinese Professor in London'.

Does not have Kung's address with him in London, so will have to wait until he returns to the country to send it.