38
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA IN THE
FAR EAST.
1
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
J
July 18, 1895.
In
France and Germany, made a naval denions- piracy and the destruction of the bands tration, while the three Powers presented which come and go from one side of the what in effect was an ultimatum to Japan border to the other. Whether or not the relations between to withdraw her claim to the Laotung
The basis of the the Governments of Russia and Great ROSEBERY obiected to be a party to such ac representatives of each country will be en- Peninsula, it is not surprising that Lord arrangement, it is said, will be that the Britain are less cordial since the conclusion tion, of the Chiuo-Japanese Treaty of Peace, it the Foreign Offices in London and St. other to concert means for the pursuit of What passed on this occasion between titled to call upon the authorities of the is evident that the Russian Press is some- Petersburg on the subject remains to be what more Anglophobe. The Moscow and published when history is written, but it any band which may be threatening to St. Petersburg journals have lately indulged dropped by the Japanese Minister in London, and reciprocal right for either of them would seem, from some expressions recently cross the border, and, further, an absolute in thinly veiled threats against Great Bri- that the British Government were something to pursue across the border any band tain, and Beuter now informs us that the more than strictly neutral. Otherwise how which may Novoe Fremya has been urging the Russian could England have won
be in flight The draft Government not to complete the delimitation titude of Japan?" It has been surmised sideration of the Indo-China Government “the undying gra- of the arrangement is now under the con-- of the Pamir boundary until Chinese ques- Powers to deprive Japan of all the territorial French Minister at Peking, and it is hoped that it was the intention of the Allied and will shortly be transmitted to the tions are settled and adds that it must fruits of her victories, and that but for British the agreement itself will be in force as soon be demonstrated to Great Britain that interposition she would have been compelled as the cool weather enables active operations friendly relations with Russia depend upon to surrender Formosa as well as Manchuria against the pirates to be undertaken. mutual concessions. We hardly think that Whether this is the fact or not we have no the meantime, however, strong pressure is the Russian Government will act on this means of ascertaining, but whatever forin being brought to bear upon the Chinese advice, though it is quite possible that they Lord RoSEBERY'S action took it has cer- Government to secure the liberation of the may let it be apparent that they are dis- tamly given umbrage to Russia and France, LYAUDET captives. It will be remembered appointed at not receiving British support though M. HANOTAUX took care to give no that the LYAUDET family, consisting of the in their coercion of Japan to compel her to expression to it in his reply to the inter-futher, mother, and one child, were abducted forego the slice of Manchuria she contempellation of the Marquis DE BEAUMANOIR in from Port Wallut, the port of shipment for plated assimilating. Why is Russia either the Senate on the 31st May. The French the coal from the Kebao mines, M. LYAUDET angry or disappointed? The British Foreign Minister was certainly ingenious if Government, true to their policy of avoiding not ingenuous in his statement in reference unfortunate family has since remained in being the manager at Port Wallut. The entangling alliances, had never committed to the part played by France in the negotia. captivity and it is said the child has died as themselves to any pledge either as to their tions that led to the abandonment of policy in Europe or Asia. They had not, the so far as the public are aware, even com.
conquered territory in
a consequence of the hardships of life with Manchuria by the Japanese. He said, replying to the mitted themselves to any definite expression criticisms made on that action:-"I have port. The abduction was a most daring one the pirates, but from the latest Tonkin papers we observe that doubt is thrown on this re- of opinion to the Russian Foreign Office on Oriental politics. All that they had done, "ment, in making friendly representations threw the foreign population of Tonkin into no hesitation in declaring that the Govern-
and was most skilfully executed. Naturally it and this was on the accession of the "to Japan, in association with other Euro. Czar NICHOLAS II., was to express their "pean Powers, was inspired, above all, by ment appears to have arrived at the con a state of great excitement and the Govern- cordial sympathy with His Majesty, "consideration for the interests of our clusion that it is high time something just as his uncle the PRINCH of WALES country." Whatever may have been had shown it during his visit to Russia thought by Japan as to the friendliness of was done to put an effectual stop to such to take part in the funeral ceremonies the representations, no one will doubt the have been ransomed, sometimes for very con- of his brother-in-law ALEXANDER III. At truth of the object set out by M. HANOTAUX. siderable sums, which was equivalent to cutrages. In previous cases the captives the time the British Press expressed not only When, however, he says, later on, that "the offering a premium to the pirates to repeat profound sympathy with the young Emperor and the Imperial Russian family, but many “resolved was, in point of fact, limited to an would naturally wish to secure their release common action on which the Powers thus the transaction. The friends of the captives influential journals also took occasion to urge the desirability of more cordial poli-nation, justly proud of her victories, fell in feeling is entitled to respect and the suffer- exchange of views with Japan, and this
by the readliest means offering, and their tical relations between the two great em. "with the friendly counsel which was given ings of the captives to sympathy, but from pires, which united would be able to ensure her, and this sile did in a spirit of wisdom the endurance of peace and the triumph of which has my entire admiration" he is
a public point of view the payment_of occidental civilisation in the Far East. It less candid.
ransoms may well be held to be a mistake. The exchange of views was backed up by a very obvious display of At all events, that is the view taken by M. force, and in the case of the Russian who, as soon as the LYAUDET affair was re- ROUSSEAU, the present Governor-General, Squadron a distinct menace. Government yielded the point with dignity, has adhered to his determination. He is
The Japanese
ported to him exclaimed No ransom," and but neither as the result of conviction nor 28 an act of free will. There is reason to be will be successful. Strong representations adopting quite other means, which we hope lieve that neither France nor Germany were have been made to the Peking Government by proud of the part they were induced to play the French Minister. The captives had been at the behest of Russia, and. they certainly have not as a consequence advanced in the and their deliverance was demanded. The
carried across the frontier esteen of the Japanese. The role was one Peking Government, however, sems not to into China, that Great Britain certainly could not play have sufficient authority to make itself even to oblige a powerful friend, and that obeyed in these outlying regions of the Em- friend will have to recover her temper and pire, where the local officials are almost in- equanimity as she
can, and the Pamir boundaries for a twelve month if mined by the French to take action on the
may sulk about
dependent. Accordingly it has been deter- it will assist her in the operation.
was pointed out by several able writers, who expressed the opinion of at least a great portion of the thinking British publie, that the int rests of the two nations should not clash and were in many respects identical. A conviction has grown up in England of late years that, in Europe, the so-called Eastern Question, which for several decades was the nightmare of European statesmen, has practically ceased to vitally interest the British Isles. The Turk is, as he always was, hopeless; but he is no longer essential to stem the tide of Muscovite aggression. The Balkan States have grown into flourish ing kingdoms with distinct aims and hopes, and Russia is not eager to assume the once coveted post of honour and danger at Con- stantinople. Even if she were, it would not be British ships or soldiers that would bar the way. The old policy which sought to check in every direction Russia's expansion has been greatly modified.
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THE SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY AND THE New franco. CHINESE TREATY.
spot.
•
M. CAMILLE Gauthier, the French Consul at Pakhoi, bas been called to Tonkin, and, having received his instructions from the Governor-General, has been sent to Moncay, But, as we have said, if the tile of public
the frontier post in the neighbourhood of opinion and the policy of the Foreign Office
The French are taking active steps to ultimatum to the Chinese officials on the which most of the trouble occurs, with an have gradually and almost insensibly changed, and a certain amount of friendly establish order on the border between China other side of the border. Accordingly, on feeling grown up for Russia, partly as the and Annam. The treaty recently concluded, the 7th inst., M GAUTHIER, Colonel CHAU- result of the consistent efforts of the late which provides for the demarkation of the MONT, the military commandant, and CZAR to preserve the peace of Europe, it froutier and for railways and telegraph lines the civil and military mandarins recently does not follow that the British Government being carried across it, also provides, accord-appointed by the Chinese Government, met should, at Russian suggestion, join any
at Moncay to concert measures for the attempt to bully or browbeat a smaller ing to the Courrier d'Haiphong, that a speedy deliverance of the LTAUDET family. Power with whom they are also on friendly supplementary agreement shall be entered But while the conference was going on the terms. When, therefore Russia, aided by into making provision for the repression o pirates took advantage of the opportunity to