Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Ts'ao Ju-lin

Mr. Tsao Ju-lin

曹汝霖字潤田

Mr. Ts'ao Ju-lin was born at Shanghai in 1875. In 1898 he passed a competitive examination and was sent by the government to Japan to pursue a higher education. Upon his arrival at the Island Empire, he learned the rudiments of the Japanese language, after which he entered the the Imperial University in Tokio. For several years he studied law in that well-known institution of learning, and upon his graduation he returned to China in 1904. Then the government was holding an examination of all the returned students from Europe, America and Japan. This examination was taken by Mr. Tsao, and successfully passed. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Law, and at once appointed a junior secretary of the Board of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce. At the same time he was a lecturer on law in the Peking Imperial University which was just founded. In 1905 he was transferred to be Junior Secretary of the Board of Foreign Affairs. He participated in all Chinese-Japanese negotiations in 1905 in consequence of the Russo-Japanese War. While in the Foreign Office, he was concurrently a member of the bureau for the drafting of a constitution for the country. His promotion was very rapid, from junior secretary then senior secretary, then Councillor, then junior Vice-president of the Board. During the First Revolution, 1911, he retained the latter mentioned post under Yuan Shih-kai's Cabinet. In 1912 Mr. Ts'ao became Yuan Shihkai's personal advisor and also practised law in Peking occupying a prominent place in that profession. When the First Parliament was convoked in April 1913, he was a member of the Senate, representing Mongolia. In the meantime, the relation between China and Japan was becoming critical. President Yuan desiring the service of Mr. Ts'ao in handling Sino-Japanese affairs, appointed him in August 1913 to be Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. He assisted President Yuan in the negotiations with Japan over the Twenty-One Demands issue in 1915. In April 1916 he was appointed Minister of Communications and in May 1916 he was ordered to hold concurrently the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. At the end of June 1916, shortly after the death of Yuan Shih-kai, he resigned from the two posts and retired. After the collapse of Chang Hsun's movement to restore the Manchu House in July 1917, Mr. Ts’ao was appointed Minister of Communications, which post he held until May 1919 through many changes of premiers. At the same time he was President of the Bank of Communicatons. He was concurrently Acting Minister of Finance from March 1918 to January 1919. He had a share in all loan transactions with Japanese financiers through Mr. Nishihara in 1918 and therefore, has been considered a leading pro-Japanese official. He resigned from all the government positions in May 1919 as a result of students activities against him for his pro-Japanese attitude. Mr. Ts'ao was awarded the Third Order of Merit in January 1920. In January 1922 he was appointed High Industrial Commissioner which post, however, he only held until June 1922 when he was proscribed in connection with alleged compilations in making foreign loans while a cabinet minister. During the past few years, he has been interesting himself in mining enterprises although his influence in political affairs is still felt.