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THE UNITED STATES AND THE CHINA QUESTION,
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE.
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[December 17, 1898
THE RACE OF ARMAMEN IS IN THE FAR EAST.
(Daily Press 15th December).
In an article on the defences of Saigon the Courrier de Saigon of the 3rd December says:-"Not three weeks ago thirteen vessels of the Anglo-Japanese fleets were awaiting orders from London to make descent upon the colony of Cochin-China, during the Fashoda affair. In less time "than it takes to write it the enemy's squadron would have carried all the posi- tions, and we would have seen with dismay, "notwithstan ling the guus mounted at Cape St James, the Anglo-Japanese fleet un- “chored off Nha Bê threatening Saigon "with a terrible bombardment." An An- glo-Japanese combination in reference to the Fashoda affair is a figment of our con- temporary's imagination, but the suggesteil
happen in the event of hostilities breaking out between Great Britain and France. is the necessity of increasing and streng The moral, from the French point of view, thening the defences, and to drive it home the wr ter in our contemporary draws a hair-raising picture of the vulnerability of Saigon. While our wearisome politicians.
(Daily Press, 13th December.) (Daily Press, 10th December).
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, speaking at Wakefield According to Reuter's brief summary of and referring to China, said he believed an President MOKINLEY'S message the United agreement with Russia was desirable and States is not concerned to preserve the in- even necessary, if very serious complications tegrity of China, but " claims friendly and were to be avoided. So
brief undiscriminating treatment for American Reuter's message. The regret is that an 'commerce from new occupants of China | agreement with the Power nained was not ports." The full text of the message may arrived at years ago, in which case the put a different complexion on it, but if the recent friction and war alarms might have summary may be taken as correct it reads been avoided. Such an agreement, how- almost like a declaration that the United ever, is only possible on the basis of States will raise no objection to the spheres of influence or joint control, and of occupation of Chinese territory by the two alteruntives the former seems the other Powers so long AS American preferable. In the popular mind the ex- commerce is assured of fair and equal treat-pressions spheres of influence and ment. In Mr. McKINLEY's view, ap- "the open door were at first accepted parently, the maintenance of the rotten as autithetical, whereas in truth they and corrupt Government of China are perfectly reconcilable, a fact which is not essential to the maintenance of is now securing tardy recognition? For the open door. Lord CHARLES BERES instance, Mr. YERBURGH, M.P., address FORD in his Shanghai speech told using the Liverpool Chamber of Com-descent on Saigon is very likely what would that "the idea that the door is kept open | merce, said "he could see "because there are uo hostile tariffs or why the open door should not be main- "preferential rates is absolutely incorrect,'
"tained in the various spheres by arrange but that seems to be America's conception ment between the Powers."
It is pro of the open door and all that she asks or bably the distrust of foreign Powers that desires. What bearing this may have on has obscured this elementary truth, and in the suggested alliance between Great view of the policy of most of them being Britain, the United States, Germany, directed as a rule to securing special advan- and Japan remains to be
seeu, but tages for themselves rather than to the pro- it is to be inferred that in motion of trade in general the distrust may any arrangement that may be arrived be considered not altogether unjustified. at America will prefer to occupy the But this is a case in which it would be pos- position of a sleeping partner and leave the sible to arrive at an agreement which would active work of opening up China to others. preclude the closing of the door. Au essential condition of the opening up is Hongkong we
door keep the the establishment of a firm and just Govern- enough open in all conscience, not because ment, and to Great Britain, as the Power
we are under any obligation to others so most vitally and directly interested, that to do, but simply as a matter of sound task, it seems to us, must necessarily policy. Germany has recognised the wis- fall. The order is a rather large one, per-dom of that policy and in Shantung haps, but it is not beyond the country's ability to execute, nor is it one that we ought to shrink from. With incidents such as the murder of Mr. FLEMING and the abduction of Father FLEURY being cou- stantly repeated before our eyes it seems idle to talk of preserving China as it is. Our efforts must be directed rather to the effecting of a thorough reformation. In order that we may proceed quietly and uninterruptedly with that work it seeins advisable to refrain from unnecessarily irritating Russia or attempting to deprive her of the legitimate fruits of that great enter prise the Siberian Railway. If Russia wishes
In wide
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ure discussing in sonorous phrases colonial loans and the DREYFUS affair," he writes, I close my eyes and see Saigon ju flames, I see the ruins covered with piles of the slain and the channels ruining with "blood.
I see, in short, a second edition of Cavite and the final chapter of the "uiserable work of au atrociously de- testable Government which leads-us "like veritable sheep of Panurge to final "and irreparable perdition." According St. James forts are, in the opinion of navil to this somewhat sensational writer the Cape she is, as a contemporary puts it, inaugurat men, utterly useless inview of the formid- ing an era of prosnerity by which all comer, able means now available in sen warfare. to whatever nationality they belong who care to put their shoulder to the wheel will And has one ever seen, he asks, forts at benefit alike. Russia, we doubt not, would
river mouths prevent a determined and onmerous fleet forcing the passes? It is be willing to accept the same policy with reference to Manchuria if the other Powers also urged that there are other chan. would recognise that Chinese dependency
nels than that past Cape St. James as within her sphere of political influence, available, that of Soriap for instance. The But whatever may be the decision with writer therefore urges that the only hope of regard to Russia and Manchuria it is be-safety is in a fleet of torpedo boats and coming increasingly evident that Britain judiciously placed mines. This question of cannot long delay the active assertion of the defence of Indo-China has for some her influence in the Yangtsze region, which in the local press and is, apparently,
little time past been warmly agitate has been spoken of as her special sphere, engaging the serious attention of the to establish her influence in Manchuria we The rumoured intention of France to send authorities. Within the next few years we fail to see why Great Britain should object, an expedition to Szechuen to effect the in the Far East are likely to see a good provided the open door be guaranteed, that release of Father FLEURY if he be still deal of the fierce race of armament which is is, freedom from hostile tariffs and pre-alive or to avenge his death as the case may proving so trying to the nations or Europe ferential rates; and from President - be, and the demands so ostentatiously pre- and which the Czar benignly seeks to mole- KINLEY'S message it would seem that he ferred by the same Power at Shanghai, rate by a peaceful congress. Whatever niny sees no reason why America should object. render it necessary for Britain to assert It may be urged that the open door_might her -laims in the region in question and to be promised and the promise mot be ful accept the responsibilities attaching thereto. filled. Difficulties of that kind may be left But while attention is devoted to the Yang
dealt with when they arise, but in the taze Valley it is to be hoped the West River | accumulate n'force in Far Eastern territory
to be
meantime it may be useful to bear in mind that not England alone but all the great trading Power would ha interested in see- ing the agreement faithfully carried out. With the open door mutually guaranteed and the Peking Government placed under the direction of British advisers we might regard with equanimity the ascendancy of Russia in Manchuria.
A Nanking dispatch states that Count de Bezaure has left Nanking for Wuhu instead of coming back to Shanghai as was at first surmised, and that Viceroy Liu has, in conse- quence, sent a Taotai named Tao to Wubu apparently to report upon the movements of the French cruiser Descartes in that vicinity.— N. C. Daily News.
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Valley will not be overlooked, for that also were justified in claiming as a sphere
of British influence.
be the oute me of the deliberations of that
entering
congress, however, we may be well assured render Port Arthur impregnable and to that Russia will not slacken her efforts to
of sufficient strength to be uvailable for offensive operations against her neigh- bours should occasion aris France The N. C. Daily News of the 9th December the south of us appears
to Ou a similar course and it will be in- says:Yesterday afternoon the First Lieuten- ant of H.M.S. Phæniz and about twenty of her cumbent on our Government to see that complement did the French town, Sicawei, and the British frees
waters and the Jessfield circuit, starting from the Race course
defences of Hongkong and Weihaiwei are on bicycles shortly after 3 o'clock. The bicycle sufficient to cope with any hostile combina is now officially recognised in Her Majesty's. Navy, every encouragement being given to the tion that may be formed against us. men to excel in the manipulation of the wheel. The idea is two-fold : namely, on account of the healthy exercise and also with a view to active service. As yet, the machines found on board are the property of the officers, but there is little doubt that they will shortly be included in the naval outfit.
Few people are aware that the Illis Monument. on the Shanghai Bund is made from the bronza of French guns carried off from the fortifica- tions of Paris by the victorious Germans in 1870-71.—China Gazette.