CHINESE MIXED MARRIAGES

From Our Own Correspondent, Chengtu, April 20

A Case For International Law

An event of more than local importance, and indeed raising international questions of law especially as regards marriage relations, has been the chief topic of late. Some time since rumour was set going in Chinese circles and gradually came to foreign notice, that there was in the city a returned student who had an English wife.

Such as unusual thing in this far western capital called for some comment but would have soon passed into the usual nine days wonder, had it not been for other information which gradually found its way up the long trade route of the Yangtze.

From apparently most reliable quarters the story, as now pieced together runs as follows: During September of last year on one of the outward bound German line steamers, the passengers had their attention drawn to the fact that down among the third class passengers was an English girl married to a Chinese. Inquiry brought out the information that the husband was a student who had been in England for some four years studying engineering, stayed at the young lady's home and that in the early part of 1907 they had been married at a registry office. A little girl of three years and a baby boy attested the genuineness of the affair so nothing further was thought of the matter.

>From Shanghai they travelled to Nanking and were not again heard of for six months. Early this spring, on one of the up-river steamers to Hankow, it was reported that an Englishwoman in semi-Chinese dress was travelling second class Chinese.

As this was against rules investigation had to be made and the lady was recognized by one of the officers as his former fellow-passenger on the outcoming trip from England. On inquiry it was found that her husband Mr Woo (or Hu) had left some months previously for a position here in Chengtu.

She in the meantime had been living in Nanking. She was then in charge, though she could not speak Chinese nor they English, of an elderly Chinese woman, her mother-in-law, and another woman said to be her husband's first wife.

On the steamer from Hankow to Ichang rules were strictly enforced and Mrs. Woo was required to come up to the European cabin. From Ichang to Chengtu the trio and the children travelled by native boat, being seen by a missionary en route down river and by the officers at the customs barrier, who debated about stopping her, as a foreigner without passport, but allowed her to proceed as she seemed to be a Chinese subject.

Here in Chengtu the matter has taken a legal turn. Mr. Woo (or Hu), who is reported to be a superintendent in the old arsenal, has been summoned before the authorities to declare the status of his wives. That both are his wives is admitted and moreover that the Chinese woman is his first wife whom he had married some years before he married the English girl in London.

As justification he claims that he, according to Chinese custom, married the first for the sake of his uncle who was childless and then later in London married the second Mrs. Woo who is his genuine wife.

Needless to say British law recognizes no such alliances and the lady has been duly registered with her children at the Consulate General here, for in such cases, according to British law, the children are also British subjects.

The matter, is however, by no means settled. It remains to be seen what Chinese, and especially what international treaty law, will say. The matter no doubt will have to be settled at Peking of higher quarters.

There is not the slightest suggestion but that the alliance was entered into in all good faith on the part of both parties concerned. But it is well that such matters should become known as, with the ever increasing numbers of students going to Europe and America, the rights of these questions which concern so deeply the future welfare of individuals and their families should be clearly defined.

Eric Politzer, who contributed this item, asks: "Do you suppose this is the inspiration for the Somerset Maugham story on this theme?"