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THE BRITISH AND RUSSIAN SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
(Daily Press, 30th March.)
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
PARTITION OR REFORM.
In view of the recent telegram stating that Convention defining the respective spheres of Great Britain and Russia in China is about to be signed, Lord CHARLES BERES FORD's proposal of a quadruple alliance to hold Russia in check and guarantee the integrity of China loses most of its practical interest. The question now is, what is the character and extent of the influence that the Powers are to exercise in their respective spheres? What will happen in the Russian sphere it is not difficult to surmise. We do not think that any very material restrictions will be laid on foreign trade, for it is ob- viously to the interest of Russia to favour the commercial development of Siberia and of so much of China as may be included in her sphere of influence, and moreover the con- vention with England will no doubt contain binding stipulatious as regards the latter; and every if in the long run some means should be found of favouring Russian trade, foreign trade in general will nevertheless have a more open door than it has enjoyed under Chinese rule. From a commercial point of view therefore the change cannot fail to be for the better. But there is also the political point of view to be considered. The Russian sphere enjoys a climate more favourable for European settlement than the English sphere, and in a comparatively brief period Manchuria will become practically Russian- ised, with a considerable Russian population, Russian troops to protect the railway and other interests, and with Russian officials to control the administration. The Russian sphere will be something real and tangible and a factor to be reckoned with in Far Eastern politics.
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(Daily Press, 27th March.) A communicated article in the N. C. Daily News protests against the " loud China," which have been intensified by croakings predicting the partition of Italy's demand for Saumun Bay. Accord- ing to this writer, "while it is true that «Manchuria seems destined to fall under “Russian influence and perhaps to eventu- ally become part of the Russian Empire. so far there is little else to justify us in saying that the dissolution of the "Chinese Empire has commenced. Dots on the map like Kinochau, Weihaiwei, "and Sanmun somewhat resemble the "marks of vaccination. They may result "in diffusing a beneficent influence through- out the body; but they are protective, they do not break it up. One may fairly, argue that the more places are 'leased' "to different foreign Powers the safer "China will be. Mutual jealousies have "done much in the past to prevent pro-
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gress, and these jealousies will be ac- "centuated if the present development "continues." There would be something to be said for that contention if the acquisi- tions of foreign Powers were really re- presented by dots on the map like Kino chau, Weihaiwei, and Sanmun. The effect upon China of such dots might indeed be no greater than that of Hongkong has been. But what the various Powers want, and what Germany has obtained, is a large and well defined sphere of influence behind their several "dots." It is inevitable that in these spheres foreign influence must control and in the long run possibly oust the native administration. applied to any empire, and to China in particular, is perhaps used in a rather loose that the Chinese Government, if not ac- sense, but it sufficiently expresses the idea tually doomed to extinction in name, is as a matter of fact being reduced to a state of impotence and defencelessness. China has not so many provinces that she cau afford to part with one to this Power and another to that, and still not feel her vitality impaired.
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[April 1, 1899.
"of this talk about the breaking-up of China "is to be found in the Settlement Extension If Settlement extension has not as yet been "deadlock." But that is no example at all.
Municipal Council ordered out the Volunteer definitely said it must be granted. If the granted it is only because no one has
for the extension there would be no resistance Corps to-morrow to occupy the area desired and the Chinese would thereafter accept the accomplished fact. The writer, still referring to Settlement extension, says :--
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The point is, that if such obstruction is "what happens in the case of a demand "which is eminently reasonable, and where "Chinese will actually benefit from con- cession, what would be the course of Why, the course of events would be similar events if simple conquest were in view ?" to what it was at Kinochau. If Germany had asked for Kiaochau she night have been asking still, but instead of asking she took the place, and there was nothing more to be said about it. The writer goes on to say :— It would not pay any Power to conquer 'China. The job would be too big and 'take too long, even supposing no other Powers interfered." But the country in its present state hardly requires conqueri.gi it is open to any Power to take a piece here or there, as Germany took Kinochau, and although the piece so taken muy remain nominally Chinese the Peking Government will in course of time have as little to say in its administration as Turkey bus in the administration of Egypt. The mistake Italy unde in regard to Sanmun Bay was in aek- ing for it before her feet had arrived; it she really wanted the territory she shoul have kept her own counsel until her vessels were on the spot, then have taken posses- sion, and thereafter notified the fact at Peking.
It is possible, however, that the country will not remain in its present state, that there may be a radical reform of the ad- ministration, and that China may once more become able to hold her own. Having in the earlier part of his article contended that Western civilisation has no influence on the Chinese, in the latter part the writer in our northern contemporary gets on the right track and concludes as follows:-- Open the country up by moral persuasion, assisted now and again by some sharp physical compulsion, and the resulting "trade would show profits all the better fur "not being diminished by the expenses of a
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But what about the English sphere? Is it to be a merely nebulous sphere, a sphere without determined boundaries or specified rights, like the Yangtsze Valley; or are we to exercise an effective control within ‘an area capable of being clearly marked on the map? If we claim that within our sphere no alienation of territory shall take place, thereby preventing other Powers exacting "What is really happening in China," territorial satisfaction for outrage or insult, the writer in our Northern contemporary it follows that we must assume
goes on to say, is the commencement of a ibility for the maintenance of order.
vast change which will make the country cannot permit within our sphere outrages a serious factor in Eastern politics. Rail- such as that practised on the martyred
way and mining concessions, no doubt Father VICTORIN and at the same time cry
greatly the result of the late leases,' will #hands off" to France. It seems impossible immensely increase commerce and the wel- therefore to deny or escape fro.n the respon- "fare of the people; but China will not sibilities, or large and unwelcome as the
change much in internal politics. There order may be--to treat our sphere otherwise has been abundant pressure on Turkey than as a protected state, with equal privi-"and Persia: with what result?" With leges to all nationalities, but with the ad- the result, as regards Turkey, that the Tur-granted the people may begin to suspect ministration under British control. In this kish possessions are now much smaller on connection Lord CHARLES BERESFORD's the map than they used to be. And there proposal for the creation of an efficient is this distinction between Turkey and Chinese army assumes practical importance. China, that the Turks are a fighting race Light draught gunboats will be able to capable of opposing some resistance to ag- maintain order along the Yangtsze and the gression, whereas the Chinese are not. West River, but for the enforcement of performance of Germany at Kinochau could order at a distance from the river banks not be repeated so easily in Turkey. As troops will be required, and those troops regards Persia, she will sooner or later bave must necessarily be officered by Europeans to go into the melting pot. Neither of the if efficiency is to be maintained. A leaven illustrations employed by the writer seems of foreign troops, British or Indian, might very apt. also be expedient. And side by side with the creation of an efficient army will go the work of financial reform, by which the illegal
1 exactions and restrictions placed on foreign commerce will be removed and the course of trade facilitated. We hope the programme of the British Governmet may be found to run somewhat upon these lines, but we cannot profess to be altogether void
offear that it may be otherwise.
The
What impression, he asks, does Western civilisation make on the Asiatic, and he re- plies :- "The Chinese in California are still "Chinese, and so they are in the Straits. "What influence have well-ordered and cleanly settlements had upon the neigh- bouring cities? Has Shanghai city im proved since we showed how municipal "affairs are managed in the West? The most ridiculous example of the emptiness
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costly administration." China will hold "together for a long time yet. There are no caste or religious distinctions, us in "India, to keep the people apart, It is possible that if any more leases' are
"there is something rotten in the Central Government which had better be changed, "and if once the ball of progress be set rolling it will move pretty quickly. The "Chinese is not only a keen moneymaker but he is au inveterate gambler. Any "mine that pays, every railway that shows good profits, will start plenty of others "The ball is now oscillating. One or two more vigorous pushes and it will com- mence a career which will probably prove "exciting." These remarks will, we think, secure general endorsement. The question is, will the people change the "something rotten "in the Central Government? If not, other Powers will change it for them.
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F. A. Cope, a well-known resident at that port. Yokohama papers announce the death of Mr. Deceased had formerly been affluent circunis- tances, but the last years of his life were passed in poverty.
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