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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[October 30, 1895. | territory and that the Chinese Government Majesty in the Palace Councils. The Japa- shall not cede it to any other nation. The use nese are necessarily most vitally interested of the word "permanently" in the agreement in the peace and good government of Korea suggests that a temporary occupation may and that the Minister should use his influence be in contemplation and have been secretly in favour of whichever party might seem provided for. In that case England would most likely to promote that end would not have to act as her interests might seem to be strange or unprecedented. But how-
ever that may be, the emeute has once require. Temporary occupation by one power, however, would not confer the right brought Korea prominently into notice as to exclude the trade of other powers, and a disturbing element in the politics of the as the peninsula would be much better Far East and the war clouds seem to be governed under Russian than under Chinese again gathering. An international guarantee rule, the prospects of trade being propor- of the independence of Korea has often tionately improved, England might possibly been suggested as a desirable and convenient means of disposing of the difficulties arising not think the matter one about which
go to war, from the jealousies of the various powers it would be advisable to even though the temporary occupation in relation to that kingdom, and the case of should be extended indefinitely. Russia's Belgium has been referred to as an example. object in occupying the peninsula, assuming But there is no analogy between the two. that she does so, would be, hot only to secure Belgium is a civilized state as capable of for her fleet the use of a harbour not closed managing her internal affairs as any of the by lee during the winter, but also to other European nations, and all that is enable her to connect her railway system with required in her case is a guarantee against Port Arthur. That is a project which it territorial aggression. The case of Korea is would be decidedly bad policy for England entirely different, because that unfortunate to attempt to oppose It is certain that country is totally incapable of managing Russia will never rest until she obtains her own internal affairs and maintaining access to a port open all the year round peace and good order within her borders. and for England to attempt to prevent her She may nominally be accorded the status' doing so would be a stupendous under- of an independent kingdom, but her coun- taking, of doubtful success, and with no-cils must be dominated by foreign influence. thing tangible to be gained by it. Korea, in short, must be treated on much
would the railway
contri- the same lines as Egypt. But who is to Moreover, bute greatly to the commercial develop play the part in the Land of Morning of Northern China, in the ad- Calm that Great Britain plays in the Khe vantages of which English merchants would dive's realm? Not Japan, says Russia. Not share. And if Russia were allowed to make Russia, answers Japan. Perhaps the diffi- a railway through Chinese territory it would culty might be tided over by some system be a precedent on which England might urge of joint control similar to that formerly her claims to carry the proposed Burmah rail-exercised by England and France in Egypt, way into the heart of Yunnan, should that be but the temper of the two powers does not deemed advisible, or to make railways in promise well for any such friendly ar other directions, say from Kowloon to Can- rangement. Russia objects to Japan exer- ton or from Pakhoi to Nanning. That is an cising any influence whatever on the con- argument which perhaps should not carry tinent of Asia, and Japan on the other much weight, for England can urge her hand is equally determined not to be own claims without precedents if neces- pushed on one side. In fact the probability sary, but on general grounds it would of a war with Russia was, it is reported. undesirable that she should in foreseen long ago by Japanese statesmen be any way attempt to impede the opening, and has been provided for in so far as it is up and development of Northern China possible to provide for such contingencies because it happens to be Russia that is If there is to be a war delay would be in carrying out the work and that will most favour of Russia and it would be Japan's.
The Trans- policy to hasten it on and get it over before immediately profit by it. Siberian Railway is not a work that Eng- the completion of the Trans-Siberian Rail- land is interested in thwarting; on the way affords a ready means of transport for contrary the line will prove a great civilizing Russian troops. And Japan, there is reason to believe, would have no hesitation in agency and will make for peace rather than war. At the same time the fact cannot be lost entering on the conflict at once. sight of that at the present moment Russia, her confidence in her own abilities would be France, and Germany are striving to justified by the result is another question, diminish British influence in the Far East but the confidence is there, provided it is and to secure for themselves exclusive Russia alone that is in question. If, however, France and Germany come to Russia's assist- advantages; but with a rigid insistence on the observance of the favoured nation ance the matter must assume a very differ to the most hot-headed clause in spirit and letter Great Britain will ent aspect even be able to hold her own both commercially of the Japanese. In that case there will be no war, but the powers will have a difficult and politically.
matter on their hands in the settlement of the Korean question.
RUSSIAN DESI NS IN THE NORTH. Reports have for some little time been past in circulation to the effect that Russia ha made arrangments with China that her fleet shall winter at Port Arthur. This news has been cabled to London by the Times correspondent, with the addition that "Russia has secured various other ad- vantages outside the favoured nation "clause," and the telegram would appear to have thrown the London press into a state of some excitement. The situation in the Far East is undoubtedly a critical one and requires to be closely watched by the British Government. The Times telegran, however, in the version given of it by Reuter, seems somewhat meaningless and does not justify any special alarm. It is not in the power of China to confer any privileges outside the favoured nation clause and whatever advantages may have been secured by Russia would inure necessarily to the profit of other na- tions. To say that advantages have been secured outside the favoured nation clause is very much like a contradiction in terms, for the meaning of that clause is that any nation coming
enjoys every advantage that may be accorded to another. Territorial concesions, however, are necesarily outside the favoured nation clause. If, for instance, Hongkong secured the enlargement of its boundaries for which it is agitating it would not be open to other nations to come in and claim the same territory, for that, as Euclid says, would be absurd. If Russia has secured any territorial concession in the North, it might therefore be referred to as a matter outside the favoured nation clause, but that would be a curious phrase to use as in- dicating territorial concessions. There is another class of questions that may also be said to be more or less outside the favoured nation clause, namely, those referring to the frontier trade. There are special re- gulations governing the land trade between China and Russia, between China and Tonkin, and between China and Burmah, each set being adapted to the special local circumstances. Either England or France might object to the other's frontier trade being specially favoured, but the extent to which they could rely on the favoured nation clause is limited because the circum- stances vary and the particular routes affected are accessible only to the particu- lar nation controlling them. Along the seaboard, however, it is different, and China cannot open a port to one nation without at the same time opening it to all who come in under the favoured nation clause. If Russia has secured the right for her fleet to lie at Port Arthur, that port still remaining Chinese, it would be open to the British fleet, if the Admiral thought fit to so direct, to go and lie alongside the Russian ships. China could not object, and if Russia chose to do so the matter would be one for decision by the guns of the respective fleets.
Should it be a case of the permanent cession or temporary occupation of territory the case would assume a different complexion and would have to be dealt with on other prin- ciples. England might be willing to acquiesce in the cession, as she has acquiesced in the cession of Formosa to Japan, or she might object, as Russia, France, and Ger- many have objected to Japan's occupation of the Liaotung Peninsula. At present it does not appear that there is any question of per- manent cession. One of the terms of the retrocession of the Liaotung Peninsula by Japan is said to be that neither Russia, France, nor Germany shall permanently occupy the
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ment
THE COUP D'ETAT AT Seoul.
The recall of General MIURA, the late Japanese Minister to Korea, on the ground that he was responsible for the recent coup d'état at Seoul, goes to show prima facie that the event is disapproved and regretted by Whether the the Japanese Government, Minister conceived the movement in his own mind, however, or whether he has only been clumsy in carrying out his instructions and done noisily what ought to have been done quietly is a point on which some doubt may be entertained. We do not, of course, refer to the supposed murder of the queen, but simply to the substitution of the in- fluence of the Taiwon-kun for that of her
Whether
THE MAHOMMEDAN REBELLION.
:
(24th October.)
i
of
It is difficult at all times to know what measure of credence to give to Chinese reports; they are in almost all cases, no matter what the subject, exaggerated to a considerable extent. During the progress the war between China and Japan the reports given of the hostilities were in most instances ludicrously false and always wholly un- reliable. The Psalmist, one would imagine, most have known or heard of the Chinese, when he wrote "All men are liars; at any rate if they have equals in mendacity they
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