i
January 27, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
regard for public opinion. Whilst formerly she studiously sought to conceal the hand of steel by a silken glove, she is now careless of consequences, insolent in the consciousness of strength. But once more she may find she has made a mistake. Much more could be accomplished by working with than against England. A straight forward policy will also serve better in the end than a crooked one, and is not so apt to recoil on the promoters.
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1
secure
a
imposition of heavy duties in order to give home products an advantage. It is to be hoped the advantages reaped by German manufacturers and merchants from free trade in Hongkong will have impressed even the German Government with the wisdom of following so good an example, and that they will avoid the mistakes made by France in choking trade in Saigon and the ports of Tonkin, in order to monopoly there for goods of French origin. A good deal may rest on the course of action pursued by the German Government in this respect. If they follow the protec tionist policy to which France and Russia cleave so persistently,. Great Britain will naturally be confirmed in her determination to uphold the integrity of China, however badly indisposed the Far Eastern Sick Man may seem to be.
THE OPENING OF HUNAN. When the province of Hunan is thrown
51
should take place voluntarily rather than under compulsion. CHANG CHIH-TUNG is reported to have said in his communication "I am to Governor CHEN PAO-OHEN :—“
never far wrong in my political forecasts "and I can assure you that the time has "arrived when neither your people nor the "Central Government will be able to pre-
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vent Hunan province from being opened "to international commerce." This is supposed to have been included in a con- fidential telegraphic despatch, and possibly the whole story may be apochryphal, but if it is true it forms another instance of CHANG's intelligent foresight.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber on the 25th January. Present :-
His EXCELLENOY the GOVERNOR, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
Hie EXCELLENCY Major-General BLACK, C.B. (Officer Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General). Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master.) Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super- intendent of Police.)
Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Trea surer).
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. Ho KA.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.Q. Hon. J. J. BELL-IRYING. Hon. WEI A YUK,
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils). *MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were
PAPERS.
:
aries. As for Great Britain, she has | and played her cards with haughty dis- | other provinces still closed to foreign trade throughout maintained a benevolent neutra lity, Germany had undoubtedly suffered wrongs from China. Her missionaries bad been murdered in cold blood and German officers had been insulted. The British Government were therefore not at all likely to intervene on behalf of a Power that has Again and again permitted, if not actually incited, the savage murder of unoffending British missionaries, and for which crimes no reparation beyond the punishment of the immediate instruments has ever been Meantime the experiment now being exacted. If Germany does not choose to tried by Germany at Kiaochau will be tamely submit to such contumelious treat- watched with great interest, and we are ment, and insists upon the condign punish- curious to see whether she has learned from ment of the instigators (which England has the achievements of Great Britain the im- never done), with at the same time substan-policy of fettering trade at a new port by the tial-' compensation, we can at least admire ber determination and throw no obstacle in the way of her demands being satisfied,
Of course there are some dissenters from this view, both in the Press and elsewhere, and io sono quarters ridiculous alarm at 80-called German designs has been ex. pressed: Amongst others Sir GEORGE BADEN POWELL has been giving the world the benefit of his ideas. Speaking on the 18th ult., at Kirkdale, Liverpool, he referred to the German movement in China, and after telling his audience that he had had some experience in China and the Far East, he said that in a short time they would find that the great question of Europe would be the partition of China, "He knew as a fact that there was a large and influential set of men in the German Empire, who had the ear of the German Emperor, whose one ambition in life was to make of China what they called a “German. India. But, whenever China was opened up to commerce, the Britisher "would certainly come in for a large slice open to foreign trade we may possibly see read and confirmed.
a considerable acceleration of the. forward "of the trade.' It is to be regretted that movement in China. Hunan has given a public man and member of Parliament, many great men to the Empire, it is a professing to understand what he was talk-well-to-do province, and the people, their ing about, should give utterance to state- anti-foreign proclivities notwithstanding, are ments calculated to arouse jealousy and supposed to possess more than the average mistrust. The partition of China, if it does of intellectual vigour to be found in China. come, will be the work of Russia and When once these people have been brought France, not of Germany, and it is likely to into more intimate relations with foreigners be delayed by the mutual jealousies of the and have seen for themselves the advantages Great Powers and the distaste of Great of Western methods and appliances in re- Britain for such a policy. The British lation to transport, manufactures, and the Government has, indeed, through the mouth general improvement of the conditions of of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, very life, they may be led to fall in with the plainly expressed its opposition to a policy forward movement heartily and become the of dismemberment of the Chinese Empire, leaders of the Empire in the path of modern not so much from any sympathy with the progress, for it is often the case that those utterly corrupt Government of the Man who most violently oppose a cause become chus, as from a fear that portions of the upon conversion its most ardent supporters Emperor KWANG Su's dominions which are and advocates. And the opening of Hunan now markets for British goods would cease is probably now not far off. CHANG CHIH- to be open to those manufactures if annexed TUNG is said to have warned the Governor by these protectionist countries. Moreover, of the province that he must be prepared Great Britain is not anxious to increase her for its opening to international trade, and territorial responsibilities, which are already to have advised him to encourage the so vast. Her trade, however, she means to Hunanese to be ready to compete in trade protect, at whatever cost, and is prepared with foreigners by having their own to do so at the risk of a great war if steamers and cargo transporting facilities. necessary. This is the position taken up The people, however, seem scarcely to have by Lord SALISBURY, and it has unquestion-needed such direct encouragement, for at ably been provoked by the arbitrary and the same time that the report of CHANG aggressive attitude of the Russian repre- CHIH-TUNG's expression of opinion on the sentatives at Peking and Seoul. There is no subject reaches us we also read that note of aggression or defiance in the British the gentry and merchants of Hupeh intend ultimatum, but its tone is decided, and may to run a line of steamers between Hanko, be unwelcome at St. Petersburg. For our own Shasi, Wuchang, Ichang, and points in part we are not without strong sympathy Lake Tungting as far as Changsha, the with Muscovite aspirations for an outlet on capital of Hunan. The steamers of the new the Pacific which shall remain unfrozen company will be allowed to carry cargo in throughout the year, but Russian diplomacy addition to passengers and tow junks in the has been at once too tortuous and too rude waters not yet opened by treaty to foreign to attain itsends. Presuming on the willing vessels. This, if true, is distinctly encourag docility with which her ally follows her ing, for it would be in every respect pre- lead, Russia has latterly cast off the mask,ferable that the opening of Hunan and the
"
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table. the report of the Head Master of Queen'■
College for 1895, further. papers respecting the. proposed new Government offices, and the Supreme Court revenue returns for 1897.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS moved
the adoption of the minutes of a meeting of the Public Works Committee held on the 11th January.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Carried.
HIS EXCELLENCY BIDS THE COUNCIL FAREWELL. His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-Gentle- men of the Legislative Council, my principal object in calling a meeting of Council this afternoon WBU that I might have an opportunity of announcing to you officially a fact with which you are already acquainted privately, that I am leaving this colony on the 1st of February and that my successor will be Sir Henry Blake. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, to whom I telegraphed a few days ago, is unable to inform me of the exact date upon which my successor will arrive in Hongkong, but I assume that after eight or nine years' hard work in Jamaica he will probably apply for several months' leave of absence. In the meantime, His Ex- cellency General Black will administer the affairs of this Government, a duty for which he is eminently qualified. (Applause.) I have to thank you all, gentlemen, for the kindness and consideration which you have extended to me during the past six years and two months-a term. of office which, uninterrupted by any leave of absence, I do not think has ever been exceeded by a Governor of any one of Her To Mr. Chater, the Majesty's Colonies. senior unofficial member, my thanks are especi ally due. From you, gentlemen, I have received valuable advice, and I think, I may fairly say
on some occasions even unanimous support. I can assure you that I shall always look back with great pleasure upon our meetings here and if I should ever recall any serious differ ence of opinion which may have occurred be-