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RUSSIA'S DEMANDS.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mr. KINDER and his staff from the Chinese railway service at the instance of a foreign Power would also be resisted. While China and Korea must, so long as their independence is recognised, be accorded some freedom in the engagement and dismissal of their foreign servants, it is not to be tolerated that British subjects should be dismissed at the dictation of any rival Power. The British Govern- ment has unmistakeably declared its inten- tion not to allow British interests to be dis- criminated against, and if Russia has demanded the dismissal of British subjects and China has agreed thereto they will find they have reckoned without the third party in the case.
RUSSIAN AND FRENCH DESIGNS IN CHINA.
China is now reported to have agreed to all the demands of Russia. These include a lease of Port Arthur and Talienwan and the right to construct the railway through Manchuria. During the last day or two alarming rumours have been in circulation in connection with the order received by the vessels of the British fleet in Hongkong to proceed to the North. There is little like- lihood, however, of the fleet being called upon to engage in hostilities. Practically Great Britain has already assented to the Russian occupation of a Chinese port or ports on condition that they were opened to trade, and Russia has given an assurance upon that point. It may be taken for granted, therefore, that the mission upon which the fleet is proceeding is not to turn Russia out of the places she has
Once more there is an agitation of the occupied. What its mission really is, however, it is not easy
to surmise.political waters in the Far East. What is Presumably Great Britain has preferred transpiring and wherefore the orders for the British ships to proceed North can only some demand, or has some interest
be guessed at. Those who might be ex- protect, in connection with which is considered her diplomacy requires to be pected to know will not say, and it is strengthened by a display of force. It doubtful whether even they fully under- would be good news to hear that the stand the meaning of the orders given. It demand covered the re-occupation of Chusan,
was long ago kuown that Russia was seek- for with the establishment of other Powers ing to negotiate a lease of Port Arthur. It in the North it becomes more than ever appeared that the British Government essential that Great Britain should possess thereupon bungled and suggested the open- a naval base further North than Hongkong. ing of Talienwan as a treaty port with a Russia has now obtained the ice-free port view to neutralise the great strategic ad- for which she has so long been manoeuvring, vantage that the possession of Port Arthur but she has obtained it coupled with the would confer on any Power securing it as a naval base. But although Russia was condition that the port shall be open to the trade of all nations, and she has`moreover willing to place Port Arthur on equal terms withdrawn from Korea. There seemed at with the Treaty ports of China so far as tariff is concerned, she was not willing one time some danger of Korea becoming a
either to withdraw the demand for its Russian province, and a few months ago a Russian financial adviser was appointed cession or to have Talienwan opened as a over the head of Mr. McLEAVY BROWN, Treaty port. The British Government, we who received notice of dismissal. But Mr. imagined, had by silence given its con- MCLEAVY BROWN is still in office, whereas sent to this occupation of Manchuria by M. ALEXIEFF has returned his portfolio Russia, but according to all appearances it and the Russian military instructors who seems doubtful whether this was exactly were engaged by Korea are preparing what Lord SALISBURY's silence meant. to leave Seoul for Port Arthur. Russia's Possibly, however, as already suggested, the withdrawal from Korea is presumed to have Fleet have been ordered North for the been dictated by a desire to placate Japan purpose of backing up some new demand by as well as by the wish to avoid complica- Great Britain rendered necessary by the tions with England. Whether the with- evolution of events. However this may be, we hope that there is no serious intention drawal is intended to be permanent or not time alone can show, but the Peninsular of opposing Russia's occupation of Port Kingdom will probably be undisturbed by Arthur. Provided that we occupy Chusan as a point d'appui in Central China from Russian intrigues for at least some years to come. It is reported to be Korea's inten- which to protect British interests in Shang- tion to dispense with foreign assistance al-hai and on the Yangtsze, it is immaterial together, a policy which if adopted would whether Russia or China controls the Yellow
Sea. materially retard the progress of the coun- try, but whatever decision may be arrived at on that point it appears to be settled that the country is not to be absorbed by Russia, at least not just yet. It is said, how- ever, that the offer to withdraw the Russian officers was a piece of bluff on the part of M. DE SPEYER, the intention being to frighten Korea, but the latter, instead of being frightened promptly accepted the offer: The recall of M. DE SPEYER lends colour to this view, though on the other hand it is difficult to believe that he could have acted as he did without intructions.
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verge of weakness, because he does not desire to stand in the way of legitimate aspirations. Thus he has recognised the reasonableness of Germany's desire for a naval station in Eastern Asia; he has not actively opposed the wish of Russia for an unfrozen port for the shoreward terminus of her great Trans- Siberian Railway, nor would he intervene to prevent France gaining any needful con- cession near her Tonkin frontier, or seek to baulk her in obtaining Hainan. But it is quite another thing when she openly en- deavours to poach on the British manor, We have no desire to administer the neigh- bouring provinces, but we do intend that
our commercial interests in them shall be duly conserved, and we shall be greatly sur- prised if these are not maintained even In at the cost of war if necessary. view, however, of this position, why are the vessels of our fleet all despatched North? The greatest danger lies near est to our doors. Presumably our careful consideration, and are of opinion
authorities have
taken all matters into
that a naval demonstration in North China
the proper card to play just now. But, with all due respect for the British Govern- ment, we think the time has gone by for merely making demonstrations, and that what is necessary now is either to acquiesce in the policy of partition and taking a sharë in the plunder, or to head a league of Powers opposed to any further aggression in the Far East, and to take concerted measures to prevent the spoliation of China, Mere protests, empty threats, or half measures are useless to stem the tide, and only expose Great Britain to contempt.
THE UNWISDOM OF BRITISH OP- POSITION TO RUSSIA IN MANCHURIA
In Mr. W. E. TAYLOR's report on the trade of China for 1897 will be found a reference to a new route adopted for the tea trade to Central Sibèria. The tea is shipped from Hankow to London and thence to the Yenesei River, whence it reaches the Siberian Railway. A glance at the map will shew the circuitous nature of this route. It is much the same as if in order to reach the Hongkong Club from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank one had to go along Queen's Road to the Sailors' Home and back by the Praya. It was Lord SALISBURY, if our memory serves us aright, who recommended to young poli
A study ticians the study of large maps. of the map of Asia will show the Far different, however, is the position uselessness of any attempt to exclude from Manchuria, possession of which France seeks to create in South China. Russia With cool audacity she seeks at one and the which will give her a short cut from into Siberia. We may go to same time to procure from China a pledge the sen that she will not cede to any other Powerany-war with her about the matter, destroy her port in the southern provinces and ask: that fleet, and delay the formal occupation of the one important strategic port in Kwangtung province for a few years, but in the long ruu Russia is bound to get there all shall be ceded to herself. The demand is
The only possible way of one that Great Britain should oppose to the the same, bitter end. If there is any province in excluding her would be to occupy the which is out of China more than another that is legitimately province ourselves,
of Man- and specially within the sphere of British the question. The possession of
an absolute necessity to influence it is Kwangtung, and it would be churia is. Russia's demands on China included simple madness for the British Government Russia, and to attain it she will work in- not only the lease of Port Arthur and to admit the right of France or any cessantly, openly or secretly as circumstances Talienwan and the right to construct other Power to establish a lien upon the may dictate, but never for a moment will If France wants Hainan let her vigilance relax, and each little on- the Manchurian railway, but also the territory.
her take it, but she must keep her croachment will pave the way for the next. dismissal of the British engineers en< gaged on the existing Chinese railways. hands off the Two Kwang. The proposal The opposition of Great Britain, if there is If this demand has been acceded to it may may have been made as a feeler, to see how to be opposition, can only be fitful and "explain the renewed activity of the British far British complacency will extend. It spasmodic, and must in the end yield to the fleet. The dismissal of Mr. McLEAVY has certainly gone very far. As a matter steady and continuous pressure of Russin. BROWN from the Korean service was of fact Lord SALISBURY is not at all disposed In Siberia Russin possesses a domain strongly and successfully resisted by the to play the part of the dog in the manger. greater in extent and possibly British Government, and the dismissal of He has been complaceat perhaps to the natural wealth to Canada. That magnificent
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