November 7, 1895.1
land must also regard infractions of that clause in the same light and if France should prevail upon China to perpetrate such a breach of her solemn obligations a struggle would ensue out of which Eng- land would not emerge the loser. Eng- land is willing to regard China, as she al- ways has done, as an open field in which all comers are to be treated on equal terms, and she can afford to look on with a -friendly eye at French development in Indo-China so long as it is conducted on fair and neighbourly principles; but if France endeavours to oust us out of our rights in China and to use her Indo-China possessions as a menace to our own commercial develop ment, the result will be that France will herself be the sufferer and a very heavy one. If France proceeds on the principle that there is not room for two England will proceed on the principle that France is the one that must get out. We do not attach much value to the vapourings of our Tonkin contemporaries when they refer to British interests, in reference to which they seem to be afflicted with a species of madness, but so much has been said about the exclusive privileges secured to France by the recent Convention, and such reticence is observed as to the publication of that instrument, that it is almost impossible to avoid the conclusion that an atteurt has really been made to induce China to set aside the favoured nation clause. But China is not a free agent in the matter. She has solemnly engaged that whatever advantages are given to any other nation shall also be given to Great Britain, and, to borrow a phrase from the Indépendance, we will know how to maintain our privileges intact. Germany and other powers would no doubt take a similar view.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
considered as fairly launched on a career of terms of his degradation he is ineligible for progress that will rival that of San Francisco, any future appointment, but there is no- Vancouver, and the other ports of the thing in his sentence to prevent his travel- American "Pacific Slope." While Russia ling with as much state and pomp as his has thus been asserting herself and securing pleasure dictates and his means allow. He material advantages England has been is in just the same position as a Hongkong floundering helplessly about and is unable official would be who was dismissed from Her to secure even the treaty rights of the Majesty's service. There would be nothing transit pass system in the southern provinces, to prevent such an officer making a parade on much less the opening of the West River his departure from the colony or receiving or the construction of railways. It is laudatory addresses and testimonials, which time that all this WAS altered. It would no doubt be tendered to him if he is stated that the recent Franco-Chinese possessed the sympathy of the public. It treaty was signed by the Chinese unwill- would certainly be a breach of propriety for ingly and without any time being afforded any officials to sign the addresses, and it them for reflection. The portions of that may be possible for the Legation at Peking treaty relating to territorial concessions, it to urge that the Szechuen officials who have is further stated, will not be ratified, owing done honour to Liu in their official to the opposition of England to China ceding capacities should be reprimanded, but it what was not hers to cede; but the com- mercial clauses will be brought into force, official reprimands in China, passed at the seems rather a shadowy object to pursue, for and are indeed being already acted upon, as request of a foreign power, possess no value. the new Consular appointments show. Eng- Even apparently serious punishments are land must follow the example of her neigh- apt to resolve themselves into a mere sham, bours and make China, whether willingly and the correspondent of our evening or unwillingly matters not, concede such contemporary states that there is a growing reasonable facilities as are required for the conviction that Lu's punishment is of that expansion and development of trade, the description. High authorities on Chinese demands including the opening of the West official procedure have expressed their River, and, possibly, the construction of a satisfaction with the decree degrading the railway from Nanning to Pakhoi, the line ex-Viceroy, and it would appear that to be under British administration for a specified term of years. The railway ques- venting his employment in future, but as he it must prove effective to the extent of pre- tion may require further examination before is an old man and was already in disgrace it is definitely pronounced upon, but as to the probability of his obtaining another the West River there can be no division of Viceroyalty was remote in any case, and. opinion. China should be told in plain the practical effect of the decree may words that whether she likes it or not that be to secure for him popular sympathy and important waterway must without further admiration as one who has suffered for his delay be opened to foreign trade and naviga- patriotism. The punishment that would prove tion and that the transit pass clauses of the really effective in the case of high Chinese treaty must be honestly observed. The officials convicted of inciting or countenanc- Hongkong Chamber of Commerce has re-ing anti-foreign outrages would be to seize cently, it has been stated in a contem- their persons and detain them for the rest of porary, addressed the doyen of the di- their lives in some foreign possession, British, plomatic body on these questions, which we French, or otherwise according to the ha- think was a mistake in policy, for the tionality of the Europeans against whom the It is gratifying to observe the warmth with co-operative system at Peking seldom peccant official had offended. Mere decrees, which the proposal of the Blackburn Cham- results in anything tangible, what is every- however strongly worded, and however. ber of Commerce to send a commercial body's business becoming no one's, besides serious their technical effect, are to be re- mission to China has been received. It is which the action of the Chamber looks like garded with suspicion when they are granted time that British merchants were up and helping on the decadence of British in- at the request of foreign powers, for the doing, for while the foreign trade of China fluence in China, of which we have heard official against whom the decree is directed has been rapidly expanding Great Britain's
so much of late and which is so painfully will still retain the secret approval of his share in it has been almost stationary and apparent. British influence must have sunk own Government. in some lines shows a positive decline. low indeed if the Chamber of Commerce in Other nations have been gaining on us in
a British colony has to carry its appeals the race, notably our German friends, who elsewhere than to the British Minister. If have adapted themselves more readily to
the action taken has the desired result, the changing conditions and have also however, and the West River is opened, the arrived at Canton, with a large number of LIU YUNG-FU, the Black Flag chief, has enjoyed an advantage in being able, by the colony will have cause for thankfulness; but his followers. What will the Chinese Gov- kindness of British shipowners, to send their
we trust that while the diplomatic body is ernment do with him? goods out at lower rates of freight than their discussing the question the British represen-him with open arms, as they seem to have If they receive British rivals. Now that China is begin-tative individually will take the matter up done, they are liable to be called to account firmly and energetically and receive such by the Japanese Government for inciting support from the home Government as to him to resist the occupation of Formosa cause his demands to be promptly complied after the cession of the island and supplying with.
him with arms and ammunition for that pur- ing to settle a claim for the expenses of con- pose. They would not take kindly to hay-
quest and indemnity for the lives lost. On the other hand, if they repudiate Liu and treat him with contumely they might drive he has amongst the populace as the con- dueror of the French, the Japanese, and all the Western barbarians he would have a big following as the leader in an attack on the existing order of things. Possibly, how ever, the Japanese, now that they have completed the occupation of Formosa, may prefer to ignore Liu and
any claim
MEASURES FOR THE DEVELOP- MENT OF BRITISH TRADE IN CHINA.
ning to manufacture cottons for herself the decline in the import of those goods from Great Britain is likely to become still more rapid unless steps be taken to scientifically study the capabilities of the market and to introduce new classes of goods. Much of the non-expansiveness of British trade must be attributed to errors in our commercial system,
THE DEGRADATION OF LIU PING- CHANG AND ITS EFFECT.
The fact that LIU PING-CHANG, the
LIU YUNG-FU.
while that is a matter for commercial
emselves to look to, political action degraded Viceroy of Szechuen, is returning him to join the rebels, and with the prestige
is also required to remove the obstacles that exist to the distribution of goods. In this direction Russia is supplying us with a capital object lesson. She has taken in hand the rich but undeveloped country of Manchuria, is about to connect Port Arthur with her Trans-Siberian Railway and to build subsidiary lines in various directions for the opening up of the different districts, and by next spring we shall probably see a branch of the new Russian Bank established at Port Arthur, which place may then be
to his home in Anhui without suffering any inconvenience from the Imperial displeasure and that he has been presented with the Ten-thousandames Umbrella by the officials and gentry of Szechuen has been thought of sufficient importance by the Shanghai correspondent of the China Mail to form the subject of a special tele gram. What inconvenience it was pected that LIU would suffer, further than
his inability to again
hold office, we do not know. Under the
ex- they might have for waive and ex
pense he caused them, especially as they are hampered in their dealings with the Peking Government by Russia, France, and