May 7, 1896.]
the mistakes of gentlemen who, according to Mr. CURZON, are supposed to draw together the hearts of nations by invisible but golden cords. In China we have to deal with entirely different conditions, but even here much advantage would result, and many lamentable mistakes be avoided, if our diplomacy were subjected to the beneficial influence of a little wholesome daylight.
THE RESPONSIBIBITY OF THE MINISTER,
}
:
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HUSSIA, JAPAN, AND KOREA.
377
Saturday evening, however, the police force, in the person of P. C. HOGGARTH, happened to be on the spot when required, and we congratutate the constable on his plucky capture.
ARMED ROBBERY AND MULDER AT WANCHAI
A WATCHMAN. KILLED AND A POLICEMAN WOUNDED.
THE MURDERER CAUGHT AND OTHER
ARRESTS MADE.
On Saturday night (2nd May,) at 10.30, four men armed with revolvers entered an earthenware shop at No. 20, Cross Street, Wanchai. There was only one man in the shop at the time, and one of the robbers seized him by the throat and pointing a revolver at his head led him into the cookhouse, where he left him after making some show at tying him up and threatening The party
The conclusion of an agreement between Japan and Russia for the joint control of Korea is referred to as au accomplished fact by the Japan papers, both foreign and verna- cular. The agreement is not to take the form of a treaty or convention, but is to be recorded in diplomatic notes, which will probably never be published in full. The existence of a treaty might be denied with as much truth as the existence of a secret treaty between Russia and China-has been denied, but the name of the instrument re- The Japan Mail sneers at the encomiums cording the compact is immaterial so long as evoked in the Far East by the speeches of the compact itself exists. There can be little Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD in Hongkong and doubt that a secret compact exists between Shanghai. The new Minister, our conten- Russia and China, although it may not be porary in effect says, is a mere nobody, a man called a treaty; and the existence of a without power or influence of any kind; he compact between Russia and Japan in is simply the mouthpiece of the Foreign Office regar to the control of Korea is au in London and though he may delight the established fact, which the Japanese Gov. patriotic instincts of British residents in the crnment has made no attempt to deny or East by language stout enough to satisfy to prevent the discussion of in the vernacu- any Jingo, his impulses, whether they be, lar papers. It is suggested by one of our military or diplomatic, are absolutely ruled Yokohama contemporaries that Great Britain by the telegraph. This ridiculous view of has probably been consulted and has been the Minister's position cannot be too strong-satisfied with the assurances given. How ly or too frequently condemned. There are ever this may be, there can be little doubt men who might find it agreeable to as to how the system of dual control will enjoy official dignity and official emoluments end. The arrangement is evidently made without doing any work or incurring any ouly to facilitate Japan's withdrawal with responsibility, but Sir CLAUDE MAC as little loss of dignity as possible. The DONALD, if first impressions are correct, is dual control will exist in name for a time, not one of that kind; he is a man of action. but the actual control will be Russian and We have stigmatised the view of our con- in the course of years even the nominal temporary as ridiculous, and a moment's participation of Japan in the direction of consideration will show that it is so, be the aflairs of the Peninsular Kingdom will cause it places the representative of the cease to exist. Russian control, however, nation on a lower level than the repre- will be subject to limitations. Nominally sentative of, say, the Secretary of a Public Korea will remain a kingdom and its Company or the representative of an treaties with the various Powers will continue insurance or shipping concern at one. of in force, and as these treaties contain the its agencies. The Secretary of a Company favoured nation clause it will not be open is even more immediately under the directo Russia to establish hostile tariffs or to tion of his Board than the Minister is under secure for Russian merchants any exclusive that of the Foreign Office, yet he is endowed | advantages so far as ordinary tradal opera- with large power and care is taken to select tions are concerned. The out and out a man who is competent to exercise such annexation of the country by Russia and power. A man who could do nothing him- its conversion into a Russian province would self and had to consult his directors about be objected to by all the Powers having every trifle would be considered a nuisance substantial interests in the Far East, but and would soon be got rid of. So also with under the arrangement now made all the the men placed in charge of commercial incidental advantages appertaining to a pro- agencies; they are endowed with respon- tectorate will fall to the share of Russia and sibility and are expected to exercise it. A Russian subjects. Minister at a foreign court is also endowed with responsibility and on his zeal and ability depends to a great extent the promotion of his country's interests. Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD, if he turns out the man he is believed to be, may exercise as potent an influence in the promotion of British trade and British prestige in China as, for instance, a banker exercises on the in- terests of his bank. This idea of the irrespon sibility of Ministers has of late years been assiduously cultivated and has done in-position and argued against the measure calculable harın. It is time that it was with much vigour. In another eight years dropped, once for all. It was not by a perhaps our contemporary will lonverted system of irresponsibility that British great-
on the light and pass question. In them an- ness was built up; it is not by a system of time it may be pertinent to shark that the irresponsibility that it will be maintained. best way to stop robberies by armed gangs Never was the need of a strong man at the is to catch the perpetratons. In the case Legation at Peking greater than at the that occurred at Wanchai on Saturday present time. In Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD evening this appears to have been done and we believe we have got a strong man, and the probability is that we shall hear no more an able man; it remains to be seen whether of such crimes for a long time to come. that belief is well founded.
That the gang has been allowed to carry on its depredatious so long is 'ne, not to the non-enforcement of the light and pass regulations, but to the numerical weakness of the police force. Robberies by armed gangs have, indeed, been known to take place in the day time, though the robbers seem generally to prefer the evening. On
A Tokyo despatch, dated the 23rd April,
states that an arrangement has been come to between Japan and Russia with regard to Korea. It has been sent to the Korean Government for inspection and will be signed by the two prin- cipal powers concerned very shortly.
|
:
to shoot him if he moved. robbed the till of about $50 in small change and then left. An alarm was immed- iately raised and the robbers took to their heels and ran towards the Queen's Road. P.C. 70 Hoggarth, who was on duty near Cross Street at the time, joined in the pursuit. He caught one of the gang in the Queen's Road, near the large houses in course of erection on the west of Albany Street, and not being aware of what offence he had committed, or that he was armed, handed him over to District Watchman No. 38, Lau Fai, and started off after another of the thieves who was still in sight. He had only run a few paces when he heard two shots fired and, turning round, saw the District Watchman stagger and fall and the man he had had in custody run off. Hoggarth at once fol- ings and fired a shot from his revolver at him, and the bullet struck him in one of his feet. The robber ran on, however, into the building and Hoggarth firing again struck him in his other foot, and re-arrested him. Near where this second arrest took place he found the
lowed him into a lane between the new build-
revolver,
a five-chambered Belgian made had been shot. It contained three discharged British Bulldog," with which the watchman and two loaded cartridges. About the same time this happened Chinese Constable No. 223, Li Lin, caught another of the robbers, who at once fired, shot the lokung in the thigh, and escaped. On returning to the watchman Hoggarth found that the poor fellow had been shot in the chest and he expired before he could be removed for medical assistance. The Chinese Constable was at once removed to the Govern ment Civil Hospital. The man twice arrested by P.C. Hoggarth was charged with robbery, murdering the district watchman, and being concerned in shooting and wounding the
THE LIGHT AND PASS ORDINANCE lokung in the execution of his duty, and
46
AND CRIME.
The
then he was also sent to the Government Civil Hospital. Hoggarth showed great pluck and coolness throughout the affair.
We have to welcome a convert.
The shocking affair caused intense excite- China. Mail says the Government should ment in the town and there can be no doubt "adopt a system of registering the imports that this is the gang of desperadoes whom the and exports of the colony." When a Bill police have been so anxiously looking for for with that object was introduced eight years months past. The fact that the murderer was ago our contemporary represented the op-cool bravery of Constable Hoggarth and he caught practically red-handed is due to the cannot be too highly commended for his plucky behaviour. Early on Sunday morning a picked staff of detectives consisting of In- spectors Stanton and Quincey and Sergeants Holt and McIver, who were under Acting Chief Inspector Mackie, turned out to make all possible enquiries about the ghastly crimes, and detectives, went over to Yaumati and Honghom later in the day the officers, with several Chinese and arrested four
more men on a charge of being concerned in the robbery and murder. These four arrests were brought out in consequence of a statement made by the man who shot the watchman dead. He did not attempt to make any denial of his guilt and vo- luntarily gave the police the names of the mes who, he said, were his accomplices. When these men were arrested, owever, they stoutly denied being in the neighbourhood at the time and the only evidence against them at present is the statement of the murderer..