Figure: Sir Arthur Currie, taken from Zheng, "Chinese Studies."
Sir Arthur Currie, the president of McGill University since 1920 established the Chinese Studies Department in 1930. He wanted the department of Chinese to be headed by a scholar capable of bringing to Westerners a new appreciation of the oldest civilization and who is also worthy of McGill and enhance its good name. Currie had many challenges in finding the most suitable candidate until Dr. Kiang Kang Hu (Zheng, 2013, 73).
Kiang was recognized as being both intelligent and knowledgeable in the field of Chinese studies and Currie was gratified to have been able to recruit him. Kiang was, however, a controversial figure in the political history of modern China and Currie was worried that his political background might be problematic. Gest (founder of Gest Chinese library) had also brought to Currie’s attention that Kiang was a prominent supporter of the Kuomintang Party, had been to Moscow and at times viewed as slightly Communistic. Kiang was politically active and he was considered the first person to introduce socialism to China. It was believed that Mao Zedong first learned about socialism from Kiang when he was in college. His party was banned in 1913 and an arrest warrant was sent out for Kiang. To this concern, Kiang had said that he had gone to Moscow to study Communism for himself and came to learn that it would not do for China (Zheng, 2013, 75-76).
In November 1933, Currie passed away. In July the next year, the Finance Committee recommended discontinuing the Department of Chinese Studies to which was accepted by the Board of Governors. Kiang was informed of the end of his contract with McGill while he was in China on his unpaid leave. Responding to this notice of dismissal, Kiang wrote: "I do not complain for the discontinuance of the Chinese Department nor do I beg for any special favor, but I cannot understand how a professor can be slighted and ignored by an institute of McGill's standing. I am doubly sorry for this treatment since the University has shown me great consideration and I have repeatedly pledge undivided service".
Before Kiang Kanghu's departure from Montreal, he addressed the Hung Tao Society explaining his reason for his return to China:
“China, my country, is now in great danger. I feel too comfortable here [in Montreal]. It is my duty to help save my people, or at least, serve and suffer with them. If I can do something of more direct service to China than I am now doing I will remain there; if not, I hope to return to my friends here. Peking, my home, is under the cloud of war. I do not know whether Japan, or myself will reach there first”.
The Montreal Gazette Archives