262
LORD CHARLES BERESFORDİS
MISSION,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 30th September.) To-day Hongkong will have the pleasure of welcoming Lord CHARLES BERESFORD as a transient visitor, and, it is hoped, of listening to an address from him. His Lordship is visiting China on behalf of the home Chambers of Commerce to report on the security that exists for British capital and to study the situation generally. Speaking at Singapore his Lordship said his mission aimed at focusing the views of Britishers on the spot in order to impress the people at home. Substantial re- sults may therefore be expected to result from the mission, for Lord CHARLES BERESFORD'S utterances always command attention, and more than ordinary importance will be attached by the people at home to what he may have to say on the China question after having made a special study of it on the spot
As regards security for British capital invested in China, in SO far as rail- ways are concerned it is to be hoped that Lord CHARLES on his return to England may be able to induce the Go- vernment to take a more advanced view than they have hitherto done and give direct Government support to undertakings that are admittedly desirable but which in- volve too large responsibilities for private! As to: capital without official backing. trade in general Lord CHARLES will nave; no difficulty in focusing the views of Britishers on the spot to the effect that
46
timid of mandarins. It is addressed to the and
Ministers of the Tsung-li Yamen,
reads:-
14
[October 1, 1898. -
interview with the Tsungli Yamen on the MACDONALD. The British Government 9th February he produced a draft of the would no doubt quote the assurance, but note he intended addressing to them with the annexing Power would plead that China regard to non-alienation of the Yangtze gave that assurance in the belief that she region. This," he adds “ was accepted could always retain her hold on the Yang "with little demur, with the insertion of the tsze provinces, but the arbitrament of the "words now entirely hers,' which, as re-sword had decided otherwise, and if Great cording an undeniable fact, I agreed to Britain objected to the cession she would put in." The note itself is very brief and have to make such objection good by a suspicions or excite the alarm of the most certainly not of a character to rouse the fresh appeal to the same arbiter. In short, we are unable to see what substantial good can be hoped for from this note of the Tsungli Yamen. That Board gave it- such as it is knowing that it is only worth anything so long as China is in a posi- tion to say nay to the demands of hostile neighbours. On the other hand, no doubt, they immagined that its concession, couched in the vague terms given, might possibly lead to Great Britain some day being, "for the protection of her own in- terests, obliged to fight China's battles. In the south they have given assurances modelled on the Yangtsze 1.ote both to France and Great Britain, and in respect of the same provinces, and thus have secured a double string to their bow for the preservation of Chinese territory while 111 return giving nothing substantial to either of the Powers. Lord CHARLES
the BERESFOrd
may perhaps arrive at conclusion that our interests re- quire something more substantial than mere negative assurances, and that Great Britain has before her in China a task similar to that which she has so successfully accomplished in Egypt.
Your Highness and your Excellencies "have more than once intimated to me that "the Chinese Government were aware of "the great importance that has always been "attached by Great Britain to the reten- "tion in Chinese possession of the Yangtsze region, now entirely hers, as providing security for the free course and develop- "ment of trade.
เ
"I shall be glad to be in a position to communicate to Her Majesty's Govern- ment a definite assurance that China will never alienate any territory in the pro- "vinces adjoining the Yangtsze to any other Power, whether under lease, mortgage, or other designation. Such an assurance any made to nie by your Highness and your "is in full harmony with the observations
"
"Excellencies.'
The reply of the Tsungli Yamen is rather evasive than otherwise. After the substance of Sir recapitulating CLAUDE MACDONALD'S note, it proceeds as
follows:-"The Yamen have to observe
"
"[
that the Yangtsze region is of the greatest importance as concerning the whole posi- tion (or interests) of China, and it is out "of the question that territory (in it) should "he mortgaged, leased, or ceded to another "Power. Since Her Britannic Majesty's Government has expressed its interest (or 'anxiety), it is the duty of the Yamen to "address this note to the British Minister "for communication to his Government."
the door my t be kept open to British goods throughout the whole extent of the empire and that no differential treatment prejudicial to British trade can be tolerated. That is a principle which all parties are agreed should, be supported, if necessary at the risk of war. But when we come to the question of spheres of influence and concessions for public works we find ourselves on more uncertain ground, and Lord CHARLES will have an opportunity of clarifying local as well as home opinion in connection with these matters. If Great Britain is not to claim a monopoly of rail-as he appeared to be with this delightfully way construction in China is she to be driven to scramble and haggle for the con- tract for every individual line that may be decided upon, or would it be wiser to arrive at some general arrangement with her competitors?
Then there is the question of political spheres of influence, with which that of tradal spheres is indirectly connected. It will be remembered that the noble Lurd the Secretary of State for For eign Affairs laid great emphasis upon the notes exchanged with the Chinese Government respecting the non-alienation of the Yougtsze region 18 A most important concession and in the way of a pledge for the conservation of British trade interests in Central China. A perusal of the very brief correspondence on the subject hardly seems to warrant any great confidence being placed in the so-called concession, and rather inclines us to doubt the wisdom of asking for such an assurance at all. The manner in which Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD'S request was received and answered leaves a good deal to be desired. It savours far too much of the haughty superciliousness with which the Chinese Government were wont to address the outer barbarians" in the early years of the present century and there is a thinly veiled note of sarcasm which suggests that the Tsungli Yamen are laughing at the childishness of the British Government, The British Minister in his covering des patch to Lord SALISBURY says that at his
If LORD SALISBURY was really as pleased
THE BRITISH AND ELENCH CON-
CESSIONS AT SHANGHAI.
!
(Daily Press, 29th September.) The international co-operative policy-in China is now totally discredited and thrown over, but its evil effects on British interests is likely to be long continued. On of these evil effects is the loss of exclusively British influence over what was, nod ought to have continued, the British concession at Shanghai. Great Britain, in the absurdly vague and general assurance, then he is very unselfish policy she pursued after she had easily satisfied. The Taungli Yamen not by her first war secured the opening of unnaturally rather resent the supposition certain Chinese ports to the trade of the world, abandoned her rights over the Settle- that they would be likely to cede or lease a
ment she had acquired at Shanghai in favour portion of Chinese territory so vitally neces sary to the maintenance of the independence of a co-operative arrangement under which The of the Empire as are the central provinces all the Powers enjoy equal rights.
remains still distinctive- watered by the Yangtszc. It is true that Settlement
as judged by the charac they had just afforded most lamentableproofs ly British of their weakness, in yielding to all kinds of ter of its population and the pre- demands, but people do not relish being reponderance of its commercial interests, minded of their weakness, and are often even but politically it is cosmopolitan. One disposed to look askance at any offers of of the consequences of this is that the support or assistance in view of prospective Municipal Council, to all intents and pur- difficulties. The Tsungli Yamen practically poses a British body, when it has occasion and in effect scout the idea of China to address the local Chinese authorities or ever ceding or leasing any portion of the the Foreign Ministers at Peking has to do so through the Senior Consul, whatever his | Central_provinces to any Power, either to
Do not be nationality may be and however small his Great Britain or anyone else.
At present the Senior anxious, they intimate, about us; we can country's interests. take care of our own affairs. It was one Consul is the Portuguese representative, and thing to lease outlying portions of territory it appears probable that before very long to the north and to the south, but they are the Russian representative may occupy that only leased, and we intend to have them position. This state of affairs causes con- back; but the great rice lands of the siderable irritation amongst the British Yangtsze Valley, certainly not, under any residents at Shanghai. To Senhor VALDEZ no personal objection is raized, but it is held consideration. Yet it is quite within pos-
to be absurd that the representative of a sibility, if China became involved in a
Power having such slender interests in quarrel with a great Power, she might, as the price of peace, be compelled to cede China should be constituted the mouth- territory even in that cherished regiou, piece of a body like the Shanghai Municipal where stands the ancient capital of the Council. As we read our Shanghai contém- Ming Emperors. If that were the case it poraries, an American or a German, for is difficult to see how Great Britain would | instance, would be held unobjectionable, for gain any solid advantage from the assurance they represent substantial interests, but it is given by the Tsungli Yamen to Sir CLAUDE | beld that the smaller Powers should remain
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