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THE SECRET AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[March 12, 1896.
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this treaty or agreement, and it seems ex- same time they are not such as to strike the tremely probable. Our Shanghai contem worldly imagination very forcibly. It is porary asks whether our Government will perhaps not difficult to account for the oppose the ratification, or will take compen- difference in the measure of success achieved That a secret agreemont or treaty has been sation in the Yangtze Valley and assist in respectively in wholly savage countries and entered into by Russia and China has been the partitioning of China. A preliminary in a semi-civilized country like China. more than suspected for some time past, and question, however, is whether there is any the former, the missionaries have a practi the N. C. Daily News now publishos what thing to justify opposition to the ratification.cally virgin soil to work on, whereas in China purports to be the genuine text thereof. No one, we think, will say it will fiot the ground is already occupied by a civiliza- The communication has come through Chi-be an excellent thing to have a railway tion which, defective as it is, is yet revered nese channels, but it bears evidence of to Talienwan, even though it be in Rus and held in deep affection by the authenticity. In its introductory remarks sian hands. As to the trading advantages natives, and which has a moral code of relatively high order, high our contemporary seems to assume that this promised to Russia, they all inure to Great a is the same treaty ns that which WANG Britain as well as Russia under the most indeed that as between the converted Cam-chux took to Russia with him in the favoured nation clause. With regard to the sul unconverted Chinaman there is not latter part of 1894 when he went to convey cession of an island to Russia for a fortified mach difference to outward seeming. The the Emperor KWANG SO's congratulations on coaling station, the only course we could unconverted South Sea Islander is useless the accession of the Czar. Obviously, how adopt if we felt our interests threatened for any systematised commercial or indus ever, that is impossible, because the document thereby would bo to claim some equivalent trial purposes, whereas in the case of a now under notice refers to conditions and advantage for ourselves. China is at liberty Chinaman no European having business to events which were non-existent at that time. to dispose of her territory as she pleases, do with him ever thinks of asking whether WANG COHI-CHUN's treaty was not ratified by unless, as in the case of Chusan, she has he is a Christian or not, and if the fact that the Czar, the Russian Government deeming it entered into some special convention in he is a Christian happens to be known it! more advisable, for self evident reasons, that restraint of that liberty. We in Hongkong does not eugender any increase of confi- it should remain a secret agreement or under- want an extension of our Kowloon frontier dence or respect, As domestic servants the standing and not take the form of a definite at China's expense, and we cannot admit preference would probably be given, to treaty. Consequently it was open to both that it is the business of any other nation men who were not Christians, the general parties to deny that any such treaty than China and ourselves. Russia may experience of the latter not being uniform- existed. Since that time the agreement justifiably take up similar ground with ly favourable. must have been redrafted and amplified, rogard to the arrangements between China but the probability is that it was still in- and herself in the North. For Great Britain tended to keep it on the footing of a secret to say to Rusia that she shall not take such understanding and that its pablication will and such territory or to China that she shall cause no small displeasure to the Govern- not make such and such a conecasion would mens of the two countries concerned. be an impolitic proceeding. Russian ax pansion may not be agreeable to Great Britain, but it is not a thing that we should try to oppose by force. What we should do, rather, is to see that our own expansion keeps pace with, that of our rival; if the pace becomes too hot the latter may then be disposed to call a halt and discuss forms of arrangement, just as she undertook, in eonsideration of Great Britain's withdrawal | from Port Hamilton, that she would occupy no part of Korea. At the present juncture England might appropriately bccupy Clusan and, possibly, some island on the Korean coast, the latter to be one more suitable for a trading station and more easily defensible than Port Hamilton.
no effect
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MISSIONARIES AND THEIR WORK,
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Far be it from us to suggest that the Christianisation of China is not desirable or that it does not justify the strongest efforts for its accomplish- ment, but it is well to look at the facts as they really are. The administration of China is thoroughly rotten and corrupt, selfishness, greed, and cruelty characterise the whole of the inhabitants, and it will be a huppy day for the country when the light of Christianity shines in all its dark places; but taking things as they are the foreigner finds the individual Chinaman by no means a bad man to do business with as a workman he is industrious and frugal de a merchant or tradesman he is not devoid of probity.
Although it would not be correct to say that the agreement reduces China to the level of a Russian protectorate it secnis that Russin's assistance in securing the re- trocession of the Liaotung Peninsula is to be paid for by China by very substantial concessions indeed. She gives Russia the use of all ber harbours and allows her to recruit her forces in Chinese territory; and at Port Arthur, or, in the alter- native, Kiaochow Bay, Russia is to bo
Dr. EITEL, in his speech at the meeting permitted to canton her troope and build
on Wednesday, said that whilst crediting coal sheds. Three Chinese interpreters are
the Hongkong community with a measure to be appointed to the Russian ships to
of interest in and respect for mission work, assist the Russian and Chinese officials in
he must also say that far more scope might their mutual intercourse. If China on her
be given to this often latent appreciation part has difficulties with other Powers,
of a noble pursuit. When the appreciation Rusia is to use her endeavours to arrange
exists at all it is more often latent than them, but if these good offices bé of
active, and latent appreciation, we take it, Russia is "to give her help to China before "In the foremost rank of powers destined amounts toj no more than an absence of "other Powers, thereby binding firmly the "to change the face of the world stand active hostility. Non-appreciation of mis "alliance between the two countries." China Christian Missions." This sentence, quoted sionary work is a characteristic of the com- also grants Russian officers freedom of movo by the Chief Justice in his speech at the munities of the Far East. Diverse reasons ment on the eastern frontiers of her posses meeting held on Wednesday to celebrate the might be adduced in explanation of this sions of Fêngtien and Kirin, and permission contenary of the London Missionary Society, fact. To begin with, the communities in to navigate the Yalu river, with its several will command the assent of all thoughtful question are not animated by any great affluents, along these provinces, either for men. Christian Missions have already ac- amount of religious enthusiasm, but are for the purpose of trade or to assist China to complished much and by their work they the most part either indifferent or pro- police the frontiers of the respective countries. must be judged. One of the most unpronouncedly agnostio. Even of the small When the Siberian Railway is completed mising fields, however, is China, and here proportion who attend public worship the Russia is to be permitted to build a branch in Hongkong we are naturally inclined majority appear to do so with large mental line to Talienwan or any other point that to pay more particular regard to the reservations and rather for the sake of may be chosen by Russia, and for the pro- local aspects of the question than to old associations and the encouragement of tection of the line against attack by other its more general aspects. In a beaflet what in a vague way they think tends to Powers an island is to be ceded to Russia on the work of the London Missionary righteousness than with any firm belief in which she is to be at liberty to fortify. For Society in different parts of the world religious dogmas. In communities such as the protection of Vladivostock and the we find it stated that in Polynesia many these the missionary spirit necessarily burns Siberian railway some points to the islands and even entire groups of islands feebly. Some interest, however, might be south are to be ceded to Russia. If hostili have been won from cannibalism and savage aroused if there was anything tangible to show ties break out between Russia and Japan heathenism to Christian civilization, but for the work, but in practical everyday life a over Korea Russia is to be at liberty to when we come to China we are told that in native Christian is indistinguishable from the attack the western frontiers of Korea by the the district of Amoy there are now over heathen. We do not speak of the spiritual Yalu River. China is to open markets sixty churches and preaching stations and results, which, with all reverence, we pass for Russian trade, so that Russian manufac a Christian community of about three by, for we are discussing the subject now tures may come into China in a ceaseless thousand souls, and in Hankow and its from quite a worldly point of view. Then, stream. Lastly, Russia is to supply officers | out-stations there are upwards of thir again, it is felt that missionaries often to drill the Chinese troops.
cause unnecessary trouble. Especially is the wisdom of sending female missionaries into the interior called in question. When harm comes to them we have naval demonstrations and demands for compensation and though,
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It is said that the mission of LI HUNG CHANG to Russia is not only for the purpose of attending the Czar's coronation, but is also in connection with the ratification of
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teen hundred church members. These are selected presumably as the most flourish ing of the Society's missions in China and as representative of its chief successes. The results are not inconsiderable, but at the