493
THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN
THE FAR EAST.
Far East since the war broke out between
THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS AND
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or two cruisers and a gunboat on the station part of the year, doing duty also in other portions of the great Pacific, now maintains
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[December 11, 1895. ·
ducted on better lines than in England. So far as that point is concerned, the Govern- ment can afford little or no assistance and British manufacturers and artizans must rely on their own enterprise and exertions to regain and maintain the front rank of in- dustrial excellence.
The change in the political situation in the quite a formidable squadron in Chinese waters. Lastly the United States, after China and Japan is very strongly marked.resting satisfied for years with representa Scarcely anything is as it was prior to that tion by a few obsolete wooden vessels, conflict. China is no longer a Power to now sports the stars and stripes on a large
But if the Continent can turn out ex- be reckoned with. She is now generally armoured cruiser and several modern ships cellent goods when required, it is also still regarded as a huge but flabby Empire of considerable speed and armament. willing to turn out shoddy and fraudulent : held together rather by the mutual Like the fleets gathered in Levantine imitations of British goods that have jealousies of other countries than by her waters watching developments in the Sultan's acquired a reputation worth trading on, and own powers of cohesion. She is destitute of dominions, the foreign squadrons in the Far the markets in Hongkong and China are any army worthy of the name; for with East are gathered for something more than flooded with such goods, for there is prac numberless legions of men, she has yet no the mere protection of foreign lives and pro- tically no protection for trade marks and trained troops that can stand the shock of perty. They are here to watch events incorrect descriptions such as is afforded by encounter with disciplined soldiers. Her China, Japan, and Korea; they are waiting the Merchandise Marks Act. In Hongkong navy is practically a vanished quantity, for to see what is the next move in the game that we have such an Act, nominally, but it the Nanyang squadron is for the most part has now been going on for years to secure is practically ineffective, as there is no a collection of small unarmoured cruisers predominance in the Central Kingdom. They machinery to work it. Fraudulently marked quite unable to meet the squadrons of the represent the anxiety of each great Power not goods may be brought into the colony in any Western Powers, while the Foochow and to be left in the cold if by any chance there quantity, or may be marked after arrival, Canton flotillas are only useful for policing should ensue a breaking of the porcelain. unless the law is put in force by private the coasts and keeping down piracy. The Most of them are ready, no doubt, to collect individuals whose interests are affected. corruption of the officials, the main cause of the chips, and those who do not covet pos No record is kept of the goods arriving the collapse of their defences when engaged session are doubtless anxious to assist in and leaving the colony, their origin with the Japanese forces, has not been mending fractures. No one Power desires or destination, such as would enable affected by the long roll of reverses, and the to provoke war; it is even possible that no merchants to ascertain which lines of goods same evils infest the mandarinate as before one Power wishes to acquire any exclusive were gaining ground and which losing it. the war.
There seems literally no moral benefit; but there is an absence of perfect Knowledge of that kind would keep traders health in China; the taint of corruption ́trust in each other that compels all of them
on the alert, but as it is they have to work hangs over every class, pentrates every strata ; to assume an attitude of distrust. Nor do in the dark. Nearly half the trade of China of society. No sign of improvement, no they trust China. They recognise that in passes through this colony, being entered appearance of a desire to wash and be clean,, this Empire which scarcely even boasts pos- in the Chinese Customs Returns as imports to accomplish a moral regeneration, can he session of one capable official now La HUNG: from and exports to Hongkong, but owing traced in any section or class of the people. CHANG has lost prestige and power, foreign to the absence of any trade statistics at this Attempts are being made in a perfunctory interests are not safe from attack, and that port all record of the countries with which and casual kind of way to reorganise the it may be necessary to maintain by force the this large trade is conducted is lost and no uavy, which may by and bye assume more rights acquired by Treaty. For some time one caur say how much is British, how much concrete shape, and efforts will undoubtedly to come, therefore, the political situation in German, how much American, or how be put forth to reconstitute the land forces, China is likely to continue unstable and much French. An attempt has lately such as they are, but it will be some time may become complicated. It is probable, been made by the Harbour Master to keep hefore China will be able to command however, that the Powers have a sufficient a record of the gross trade of the colony, respect much less excite fear.
general understanding to prevent any chances which is useful for colonial purposes, as a This being generally recoguised, the of a quarrel unless some new and wholly barometer to show whether the colony Western Powers have become uneasy lest unexpected development takes place. There itself is flourishing or not, but for the some state, more aggressive than others, certainly seems for the moment no cause for purpose of differentiating the various lines should quietly profit by the weakness and alarmngland and Russia appear to be of trade and affording information to the inertness of the Peking Government to good friends, though the latter is obviously home manufacturer and merchant it is secure a footing on the soil of the Celestial using France as à convenient tool to further useless. Some years ago an attempt was Empire. It is alleged that the fear of this her ends, and Gerfiany is content to remain made to pass a Bill providing for the keep- prompted the three Powers, Russia, France, a quiet observer of events. It is far from ing of trade statistics here, but although it and Germany, to intervene to prevent Japan - our purpose to suw discord or even to sug.
secured a large measure of, support the æquiring ferritory in Manchuria, and ever
Hope that the British, qpposition to it gest suspiciça, but, we
too strong and the since the couchísion of perve aŭ ujjeggy Government, while giving other Powers ting measure lind to be abandoned. Many of beling has prevailed that sonic Power credit for paritie intentions, will koene g those who opposed it did so on the ground
ther is Socking for concessions, bright look yout for all contingencios
that it would be an infringement of the froor 4hing which shall give the coures.
freedom of the port and that it would siomire a hold cover the aderrepit Empire.
engender a feeling of insecurity amongst The foreign squadrons, which, during the THE DECLINE OF BRITISH TRADE Chinese, who might perhaps be sub- preeŝnt war were greatly strengthegiod, have.
jerred to spiedzes by their own mandarins Inot been cut down to their normal strength.
in consequence of the compulsory disclosure "On the contrary, some of them have even The British Government has become, of their business; but the strongest opposi- been increased. The Russian Government thoroughly alive to the importance of tion came from those interested in trade of a are sending out additions to their already fostering British trade with the colonies and doubtful character and who foresaw a more formidable fleet, which will soon comprise foreign countries. A despatch has been strict enforcement of the law against forged four ironclads, four armoured cruisers, one sent to all Colonial Governors requesting trade marks. We have no reason to suppose third class cruiser, five sloops, and three reports on the displacement of British goods that the balance of public opinion has been gun-boats, of a slightly greater total touage by articles of foreign manufacture and the reversed since that time and are perfectly than the British squadron in these waters. reasons thereof; Mr. BYRON BRENAN has aware that the view we advocate is an un- The British Government, which some time been appointed to conduct a similar inquiry popular one, but from the time the agitation since withdrew the Crescent, Gibraltar.. as regards trade with China; and presuni-, was started in these columns some twelve Pallas, and the Pigeon, have lately decided,
years ago up to the present time our opinion to retain the Edgar, Spartan, and Eolas on
that one of the most urgent requirements of the strength of the squadron, and are send
British trade in the Far East is accurate ing out the cruiser Immortalité to replace
statistics of the trade passing through this the Mercury and the Narcissus to relieve the
colony has never wavered. Without such obsolete Caroline. They are evidently in no
statistics it is impossible accurately to panic, but they as evidently deem the
diagnose all the diseases from which British situation to be less settled and matters in
trade in this part of the world is suffering. China generally to be more precarious than formerly The French Government, which also reinforced their squadron in China, are not only maintaining the additions but propose to send out more vessels. Germany, who formerly was content with keeping one
--
ANDCATS CAUSES,
ally like appointments have been made in other countries. Perhaps one of the reasons for the stagnation of British trade may be that British goods no longer excel those of foreign countries to the extent they did in former days, owing to the advance made by foreign manufacturers and artizans. Not long ago a commercial mission visited the ironworks in Belgium on behalf of certain English interests, and their report was that the goods of that country did not rely solely on cheapness to secure a market, but that they were really good articles and that in many respects the factories were con-
th
Was
One thing that is damaging British trade, however, stands out conspicuously, and that is the bounty which British shipowners give to foreign trade by carrying goods from foreign countries at lower rates than those charged for British goods. It is high time