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ITALY'S DEMANDS ON CHINA,
(Daily Press, 17th March.). The attempt by Italy to obtain a foothold in China is meeting with more opposition than at first seemed robable. The demand
1 made by the Italian Minister at Peking for
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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Government have so far resolved to put through this scheme that they have ordered out an expedition of six warships to China' under Admiral GRENET. The gallent officer was to sail in the cruiser Stromboli from Venice in a few days from the 8th inst. These vessels with the cruiser -Elba, now on
[March 18, 1899.
THE GOVERNOR AND QUESTIONS IN COUNCIL.
(Daily Press, 15th March.) People are beginning to uskwh at manner of man the Governor is. His Excellency has been with us four months, and the
the lease of Sanmiun Bay, on the coast of the China station, will constitute a force that community know ns much, or as little, of prese
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Chekinng, was not well received at the the Chinese at any rate would be unable to individuality now as they did the day outset, in spite of the complaisance with effectively oppose. Meantime, however, he landed. He came with a high reputa- which the British Government were disposed the Chinese Government are announced to tion, and expectations were entertained that to view it. Mr. BRODRICK, the Under have instructed His Excellency LUI KUN- the colony was about to enjoy the advantage Secretary of State, in the course of a dia-YI and other Chinese officials in the Central of having a strong Governor. So far, how- cussion on the question in the House of provinces to make preparations to resist any
ever, we have had no evidence of strength, Commons on the 12th inst., said that if attempt by the Italians to effect a landing and the proceedings at the last Council Italy cau secure the concession by di- at Sanmun Bay. The Austro-Hungarian meeting are calculated to engender sus- plomacy Great Britain would welcome her Government is further reported to have de-picions of weakness. Although the answers *p: earance in China, Great Britain, hemanded the lense of a locality in China, and given to the various questions that were put added in effect, had no desire to act the that the demand is being supported by Rus- bear the impress of the Colonial Secretary, part of the dog in the manger, and while sin and other Powers. Of course there is the actual responsibility for them rests afeguarding her own interests she was much speculation in all these reports, but upon the Governor, and it is a matter for willing to support Italy diplomatically. It the broad fact at any rate remains that Italy astonishment that His Excellency should would seem, however, that there is some desires a lease of Somun Bay, in Chekiang, have allowed replies of such a character doubt as to the attitude of some of the and that China strongly objects and flatly, to be returned, replies evidently drafted other Powers. It was stated in telegrams refuses to concede it. The Peking Authori- with the intention of insulting the in from Peking that France privately apprised ties, with their customary want of tact,telligence of the community in general the Chinese Government a few days pre- seem to have made the occasion one for and in particular that of the hon. mem vious to the event that Italy intended to trying to administer k new snub to
bers who asked the questions. The frie make such a demand with the consent of foreigners generally. They are credited tion that has prevailed in the past be Great Britain. Later it was stated in with having applied to the Russian Minister tween the official and unofficial elements telegraphic advices to a Kobe contemporary to assist in procuring the withdrawal of the has left in the minds of some of the officials that the French Minister at Peking had troops and marines of the various Powers
a good deal of bitterness, which is always directly advised the Chinese Government now retained in Peking for the protection to decline the demands of Italy. According of the Legations. Having regard to the to Reuter, however, in a telegram dated disturbed condition of Peking and of many the 8th inst., it was positively denied in parts of China, this would seem peculiarly Paris that the French Minister had advised ill timed, and it is not likely that the the Taungli Yamen to reject the Italian foreign Ministers will listen to such a pro- demands for a concession in Sanmun posal, even if recommended by the Russian Bay and stated that, on the contrary, Minister, which can hardly be expected. France approved of those demands. It is doubtful, however, think, whether the Italian project has found much favour in Tokyo, possibly on account of the vicinity of the proposed station to the island of Formosa. Should the Italians succeed in establishing a settlement at Banmun, it is not improbable the Japanese would formulate a demand for a coaling station in the province of Fokien, and in such event it is understood no opposition worl be d. the demand by the British Government. What attitude Russia and Germany have assumed towards Italy in this question is so far apparently unknown, but it would rather appear from the stand taken up by the Peking Government as though they had some support from out- side in the matter.
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However that may be, it is perfectly obvious that the Chinese Government do not intend to make any concession to Italy without very stong protest. Indeed, their action has all through been most uncon- promising on the subject. They appear to have at once and without qualification abso- lutely declined to accede to the demands of the Italian Minister, refusing to even dis cuss such an idea. How far they were influenced by the report that Austria was about to make a similar request is not known, but it is very probable that the prospect of several more concessions being demanded and a regular chain of foreign settle ments being established all along her seaboard has stiffened the Chinese Government into a determination to grant no
more leases of territory to European Powers. If Italy and Austria, why not Holland, Belgium, and the United States, they may ask, and be resolved to draw the line at once. But now that Italy has made the demand she has com- mitted herself to n forward policy in China, and it in far easier to set the ball rolling than to regulate its progress. The Italian
Tho DEL VITU Araku
It is, however, most improbable that the Italian demand will bring about any serious disturbance of the peace. The Italian Go- vernment clearly never had any such inten- tion, for they have already recalled Signor MARTINO, their Representative at Peking, for issuing a second note which smacked too much of an ultimatum. Italy desires a port in China, but she does not wish to cause any breach of the peace in securing it. Negotiations will therefore no doubt proceed when the Chinese blood has cooled down, and no doubt the demand will receive influential support from most of the Treaty Powers. The Chinese Government is still squeezable, so long as the Powers are not split up into opposing forces, and it now seems inevitable that the civilised nations of the West will soon be pressing hard on China in all directions. How under such circumstances a stendy and defined policy can be maintained by the Foreign Ministers st Peking it is difficult to understand; the ever changing conditions will necessitate a frequent modification of attitude towards the Chinese mandarins. The latter have shown recently that, whatever changes and reforms may be instituted, they have learned practically nothing and have forgotten none of their ancient prejudices against the for- eigner. They are and will remain impos- sible, and yet the march o: progress must roll on and include this most conservative of countries in its course.
The American transport Grant, Capt. Arey, arrived at Singapore from New York on the 4tb March and left for Manila on the 5th, after coaling. She had on board 106 passengers, including General Lawton, and 1,713 troops for Manila.
ready to vent itself at any opportunity, but that His Excellency, Lew to the colony and having no interest in the quarrels of the past, should sanction a continuance of the acrimony is not calculated to win the ap- probation of the community. Possibly probably indeed, His Excellency gave no attention to the drafting of the replies given by the Colonial Secretary on Monday, but it was his duty to give such attention.
Take the questions asked by the Hon. E. R. BELILIOS with reference to the Jubilee Road. The first question recited that the funds for the Jubilee Ronil" are now lying "in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank "untouched though nearly two years have ' elapsed since their subscription,” and the second question was, "Will the Govern- ment be good enough to state when it is 'proposed to commence work on the first "section of the Jubilee Rond?" The reply was that "The work will be commenced as
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soon as the money subscribed is available.” Well, the money subscribed is available at any time, or at least the public have been under that impression. If any bitch has occurred the Government might well have given some explanation of how it has arisen. Has the Government ever notified the trustees of the fund that it is ready to commence the work and made application for the money? In dealing with a fund subscribed by the public in honour of Her Majesty clear and straightforward statements on the part of the Government might reasonably be ex- pected. If a deadlock has arisen as to which section of the road shall be con- structed first it would have been a simple matter to say so, and the public are entitled to the information.
The most surprising of the answers, how- ever, was that given to the question put by the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD with reference to the slaughter-houses. The hon. gentleman asked: "Will the "Government inform the Council on what "grounds it has refused to put an end to The accounts of the Taku Tug and Lighter"the farming out of the slaughter-houses to Co., Limited, for 1898 show a net amount of $61,084 available for distribution. The Direc making 10 per cent. for the year, besides which tors propose to pay a final dividend of 6 per cent., a bonus of 14 per sent from the profit on the Sultan has been paid.
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In Chinese contractor as recommended by "the Sanitary Board in their re-olution of "201 February last, which_rends ; —- 1 hat "the Board recommend the Government to "transfer the management and control of
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