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THE NEW MINISTER.
(3rd April.)
By the incoming English mail Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD, the new British Minister to Peking, will arrive. His Excellency has been selected by Her Majesty's Govern- ment outside of the ordinary groove, pre- sumably on account of the belief that he possesses special qualifications for the dif ficult post to which he has been appointed at a peculiarly critical period. We trust he will not enter upon his new duties with the idea that his chief object is to be the evasion of responsibility. When complaints have been made during the last few years of the weakness of British policy in China and of the eclipse of British prestige by the growing influence of other powers it has been urged in reply that the responsibility did not rest with the Minister, whose hands were tied by the home Government. How far this may have been so the outside public, who have not access to the official instructions, have little oppor- tunity of judging, but the man wanted at Peking is one who will not allow his hands to be tied, or who will at least resist the operation as far as possible and use to the fullest extent whatever measure of freedom may be allowed him. It is said that adventures are to the adventurous and it may with equal truth be said that respon- sibility is to the responsible. The timorous man who plays for safety and is afraid to act on his own initiative is only too glad to believe that he has no real power and to evade the use of such as he may actually possess, but the man who is not afraid of responsibility will wield power in all positious and under all conditions. It is very essential that at the prescut time the British Minister at Peking should ex- ercise an active influence and not be a mere quiescent spectator of the trend of events, also that he should be the keeper of his own political judgment and conscience and not surrender himself to the guidance of Sir ROBERT HART or any other servant of the Chinese Government. Of the Inspector General we desire to speak with all respect and with a full recognition of the magnificent services he has rendered to the Chinese Government and to foreign trade in China; but his duty is to the Chinese, not to the British Government, and no man serve two masters. While Sir ROBERT may use his influence with the Chinese Government for the introduction of reforms he nuust naturally be expected to discoun- tenance strong measures on the part of Foreign Governments to compel the reforms he advocates. But strong measures are neces- sary and if real progress in the furtherance of British interests is to be made the Minister must keep himself free from the paralysing influence of men who are permeated with tenderness for Chinese pride and folly.
(6th April.)
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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专属
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wholly unsuited to the circumstances and unwarranted by any claim the Chinese Government can put forward. The bubble has been pricked and there will be no excuse for the new Minister if he fails to appreciate at their true importance the value of the lessons of the last two years. In proposing His Excellency's health Mr. JACKSON said that at the mention of the word China he was not disposed to exclaim "Ichabod." "On the contrary," continued the Chairman, "I am convinced that the Middle Kingdom is destined to play a great and important part in the history of the world. I know a good deal of China
and I am convinced that a nation of three hundred and fifty million intelligent and sober people isla factor that ever must be most important in the highest politics." The Minister, referring to this portion of the Chairman's speech, said that "China is a "great nation, but, so far as the possibilities of trade and commerce are concerned, it is still in its infancy. We must see that we make the most of these possibilities." Commercially China is great, and is destined apparently to play an important part in the history of the world; but as an empire she is almost a nonentity, she is powerless either for offence or defence, corruption prevails in all branches of her administration, and op- pression and injustice stalk through the land. Whether the Government is to be reformed or the country to be partitioned amongst other powers is now the question. The existing administration merits no real respect, and a policy of firm con- pulsion ou the part of the foreign powers is called for in the interests alike of China and of the great trade of which the country is capable. Here international jealousies come into play, and the new Minister will not find his task an easy one, but if he is to discharge it with honour and credit to himself and his country He will have to throw over the temporising policy of the past and show a firm front. The impression Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD created during his short stay in Hongkong was that he would not be found lacking in firmness or ability, that he would hot shirk responsibility, and that he is the man for the post to which he has been appointed.
LI HUNG-CHANG IN HONGKONG.
(1st April.)
The great LI HUNG-CHANG has not deigned to honour Hongkong with his presence on shore. There was no obligation upon His Excellency to land if he did not feel so disposed, but there seems to have been some lack of courtesy in the manner in which he declined the invitation which H.E. the Governor wired to him at Shanghai. If he had said definitely that he preferred: not to land no fault could have been found with his decision, but to leave the matter open There was the true ring about Sir CLAUDE and then to decline at the last moment, MACDONALD'S short speech at the lun- when all preparations had been made for cheon given in his honour by the China Asso-giving him an official reception and an en- ciation on Saturday. Politically the speech | tertainment at Government House, was not may be described as non-committal, but, if quite a dignified course to pursue. If he words mean anything, it conveys an as- was really afraid of the plague, which is surance that "the responsible, anxious, and "important duties" which lie before the new Minister will be discharged in a spirit of truc British energy and firmness. British diplomacy in China has long been con- ducted under the delusion that China was a great power, not to be kowtowed to. exactly, but to be conciliated and nanaged by a deferential and respectful treatment which every one sees now was
very difficult to believe, he had as full knowledge of the position before he left Shanghai as he had at the moment his steamer entered the harbour and could have formed his decision then as well as later; or, if he simply wanted an excuse to cover his disinclination to land, he might have pleaded that he wished to make his voyage a restful one and to avoid the fatigue of festivities en route. The real reason for his
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[April 9, 1896.
not landing may possibly have been au objection to appear as the guest of a foreign Government on territory that formerly belonged to China and where he could not receive that obeisance from the native population that he conceives to he his due. As things have turned out it was certainly unfortunate that any idea of according him an official reception was ever entertained, and even had they turned out differently the policy would still have been a question- able one. By the last homeward French mail there passed through Hongkong His Imperial Highness Prince FUSHIMI No MUJA, the Japanese Ambassador appointed to proceed to St. Petersburg to be present at the coronation of the Czar. No special honour was paid to him, although he is per- sonally of higher rank than Li, being a member of the Imperial Family of Japan, and his official position is the same. We believe His Excellency was asked if he would accept a guard of honour, but he declined, preferring to land privately and pay his respects to the Governor without ceremony. That is the correct position. An Ambassador, like a Governor, an Ad- miral, or a General, when he is travelling outside his sphere of office ranks only as a private individual, and it is a mistake, per- haps more especially in the case of a China- man, to attempt to force honours upon an official to which he is not officially entitled.
Some disappointment has no doubt been felt by the European community at being deprived of the opportunity of seeing LI, for His Excellency is a man of mark and of interesting personality, and there is a natural desire in most people to see the notabilities of history in the flesh when opportunity offers. But LI, although a great man, is not one whose career should inspire undiluted respect or call for marks of special honour from impartial and disinterested observers. Amongst his own countrymen in the South the sentiment entertained towards him is anything but favourable. Those who are progressive in their ideas look upon him as the man who has done more than any one else to prevent the opening up and improvement of China, while all alike, whether progressive or otherwise, regard him as primarily respon- sible for the deep humiliation his country has lately suffered at the hands of her In that opinion we smaller neighbour. share. We are aware that foreigners in the North, who have been brought into personal contact with him, have formed quite a dif- ferent estimate of His Excellency, and the Tientsin community the other day united almost as one man to do him honour.. He has been called the BISMARCK of China and he undoubtedly possesses a keen intellect and strong power of will, but BISMARCK'S name will live in history as that of a patriot, whereas Lr's great gifts, though they have enabled him, by the methods usual amongst Chinese officials, to amass one of the largest private fortunes in the world, have not been used altogether for the service of his country. It is one of the marks of his genius that while exercising a most obstructive influence upon the develop- ment of China he has succeeded in getting himself accepted by many foreigners as a friend of progress, simply because he had to appear nominally at the head of what little movement was imposed upon an effete and corrupt Government by the force of circumstances. What became of his Peiyang Squadron and his coast defences when they were put to the test is too well known to call for special mention. Vast sums had been expended upon them, but they were rendered useless by the dry