1911 December 21st, The Times, № 39,801 (Monday 22nd January 1912), “China: No advance in general prosperity” (Correspondent’s letter), page 36/2:
With the destruction of constituted authority goes much of the credit which belongs rightfully to it, and, as far as can be foreseen at present, the task of reconstruction must necessarily be slow. But if it also be sure there will be little cause for complaint. In this connexion the position of the newly-fledged Ta-ch’ing — i.e., Manchu Imperial dollar — becomes interesting. It will be remembered that this coin was to be the outward and visible sign of a stable silver currency for China, pending whatever further reform might be introduced later on. The scheme involved the cessation of all provincial minting, and the gradual redemption of all coins so minted by exchanging them for Imperial dollars. To assist China in this task was one of the main intentions of the Four-Power loan. The new dollar was to be gradually introduced, and was destined, like Aaron’s rod, to swallow all the lesser productions of the provincial mints.
