May 7, 1898.]
"
"6
359
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. improved prospects for the future. No ment of a special battalion to be called the colonies and India. In this latter document we doubt the opening up of railways and mines Hongkong Regiment, for the reinforce are informed that "the Oil and Colourman's in China, if carried out energetically, withment of the garrison in this Colony, was "Journal wrote for samples of tung-tree oil. foreign capital and under foreign supervi- the first step in this direction, and the idea "and information as to the source of supply. sion, would have a pronounced and bene- has since been extended by the creation of The samples and particulars were supplied. ficial effect even in this Colony, more es- the Hongkong aud Singapore Royal "Several other enquiries respecting the pecially if the right to make the line between Artillery, and the formation of the semi-mili- same material have been dealt with." Canton and Kowloon has been secured by tary force known as the Perak Sikhs. In Under the heading of Hongkong the follow- British capitalists. So far nothing has been Ceylon, too, a corps of Indian Artillery has ing entry is made:- Tung oil-Recom- announced to this effect, and in the absence been added to the garrison. In these cases, "mended as a substitute for Baltic linseed of definite information it would not be safe however, the troops have been specially "oil." This is an example of the way in to assume that a concession of the kind had raised; while in the case of Mauritius one which the Institute may prove of direct been granted. We can ouly hope that Sir of the regular Indian regiments of infantry utility to particular branches of trade. WILLIAM DES VEUX and Sir HENRY has been ordered abroad for service. Pre-Collections of the natural and manufactured BLAKE had something more solid than either sumably the step will not be unpalatable to products of India and the various colonies their wishes or convictions to go upon in the men, and the fact that Indian regiments are maintained and have been largely visited expressing the opinions with which they are can be moved out of their country to other and made use of, and subsidiary collections credited.
parts of Asia or Africa is something worth have been supplied to various technical So far we have received no information knowing. Of course it is possible that the and scientific schools and societies in the from a British or authoritative source indi- despatch of the 1st Bengal Infantry to provinces. In February, 1887, Mr. E. F. cating either that negotiations are actually Mauritius may be only a temporary measure Law, who had been recently appointed by in progress or that any promise has been necessitated by the present disturbed politi- the Foreign Office as the First Commercial made by the Chinese Government in cal situation. On the other hand, it may Attaché, and had been previously connected the matter of the rectification of the fron-have been thought necessary to permanently with the War Office Intelligence Depart- tier. The Japanese papers persist in assert- augment the Mauritius garrison owing to the meat, submitted to the organising committee ing that the cession of the territory at the presence of a large French force in Mada- the suggestion that most valuable assistance back of Kowloon has been agreed to by gascar. But whatever may be the reason for would be rendered to those interested in Ching, while a Tientsin native paper (the the movement, it is clear that, in the fature, the commerce and trade of the Empire by Kuo Wen Pao) asserts that the Chinese there will be no hesitation, in the event of the continuous and systematic supply of Government have replied to the British
the necessity arising, in drawing on India such varied and detailed information on Government to the effect that the matter for troops not only for special expeditions, commercial matters as was manifestly will be considerel so soon as the occupation such as the China war or the recent opera- beyond the reach of individual merchants of Kwongchauwan by the French is au ac-
tions in Uganda, but also for permancut gar- and manufacturers, and that the require- complished fact. It is hardly likely that rison duty abroad. It is reported that a regi- ments might be met by making a commercial the British Government have actually made ment of Indian troops will be employed to intelligence department the central feature a convention on this subject as yet, or the assist in forming the garrison for Weihaiwei. of the Imperial Institute. Lack of means main terms would have been sure to have This is doubtless mere speculation, but it is has operated against the carrying out of leaked out, but there may be an under-
a probable supposition. We may also, with the idea on the scale that is desirable, standing with the Tsungli Yamen, though equally good reason, suppose that, in the but the bureau has been made use of we cannot credit that it is coupled with any
event of an addition being made to the by persons in almost all parts of the such condition as that mentioned by the territory of this Colony, the garrison would Empire. The scientific and technical de- Tientsin paper. However that may be, we
be supplemented by troops from India. The partment not only carries out scientific in- sincerely trust that our new Governor has difficulty of maintaining the strength of the vestigations and analytical examinations of good and sound reus for the faith that is army in Great Britain by voluntary culist-products from all parts of the Colonial aud in him. It would certainly be a sad failure and though it is proposed to raise the rate ment grows greater every year apparently, to seize opportunty if Great Britain neglected of pay this measure will hardly do more at this juncture to press her claim for a necessary extension of her Kowloon frontier than keep up the recruiting at the former and the cession of the isles to the south of level. There is no reason why additional Hongkong.
regiments should not be raised in India. Good material abounds, and the service is popular with the fighting races of the north, Troops cannot well be spared from the re- gular Indian Army, and it would be wiser service thau to detach the regular forces. to enlist several battalions for colonial
Another battalion might be added to the Hongkong Regiment, and a third raised for garrisons of the coaling stations might be service at Weihaiwei. In this way the
brought up to something like an effective strength without causing too severe a drain ou the British Army.
The territory sought is of little real value, as it consists almost entirely of barren hills, but the Colony may before long require a further supply of fresh water, and she is certain to need a little room for reasonable expansion. It is not much to ask for, but it is worth an effort to obtain, because without it we are almost at the mercy of an invader and in case of attack would have to trust mainly to the Fleet for the protection of the port. INDIAN TROOPS AND THE GARRI-
SONING OF THE COALING STATIONS.
THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.
In an ac-
The statement contained in a telegram to the Times of Ceylon to the effect that the
The Imperial Institute has now been in 1st Bengal Infantry, now stationed at operation for five years. During that time Jhansi, has been ordered to embark at an it has rendered valuable service to the early date at Bombay for Mauritius for trade of the Empire, and a circular letter garrison duty in that colony is interesting has recently been issued to the various to all the Eastern Crown Colonies and Colonial Governments in which the opinion coaling stations. It is not stated whether is expressed that if its nature were better the regiment that is being sent is an addi- known the Institute might render still more tion to the garrison of Mauritius, or whether valuable service to the several countries it is in substitution of the half battalion of composing the British Empire. English infantry which, with a company of companying memorandum a concise account Royal Artillery and a detachment of Royal is given of the nature and operations of the Engineers, constitutes the existing force Commercial and Industrial Information maintained there. Probably the Indian Office and the Scientific and Technical, or regiment is an addition to the very slender Experimental, Department, which carry on garrison at present, responsible for the their operations hand in hand. In another defence of that considerable island. If so,
paper an epitome is given of illustrations of the utilisation of Indian troops to assist in the manifold character of the work which is garrisoning the coaling stations has ap continuously carried out by them in the in- parently been decided upon. The enrol-terests of the commerce and industries of the
connection with such investigations, com- Indian dominious, but also institutes, in parative examinations of products of re- cognised value and importance obtained from other sources, and it advises the Indian and Colonial Governments on scientific and technical questions relating to the manu- facture and commercial utilisation of pro- duets, and the development of manufactur- ing industries in the Colonies and India.
a proposal to organise a school for the study In 1888 the Organising Committee adopted
of modern Oriental languages, for the cultivation of which there have for some establishments in Russia, Germany, Austro- years past existed important Government
Hungary, aud France, but for which only some small pecuniary aid is furnished by the Foreign Office to Oxford and Cambridge. An arrangement was successfully brought about in 1890 between University College and King's College, by which a School of Modern Oriental Studies was organised, the courses of instruction being divided between University College and King's College, while the machinery of the school is worked by the Imperial Institute Au- thorities. The number of students entering is, however, small, and does not show any prospect of increase; this is mainly due to the circumstance that the chief Depart- ments of the. Government, the Foreign Office, the India Office, and the War Office, which are practically and directly interested in the existence of efficient organisations for promoting the cultivation of modern Oriental languages, declined to accede to applications made by the Executive Council that certificates of proficiency gained by students at the school might be officially recognised as evidence of qualification for official appointments under the Govern