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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 7, 1900.
THE EUROPEAN RESERVATION IN | It is much too late to preserve as such what | duce Corea to discriminate in favour of
THE CITY OF VICTORIA.
(Daily Press, 3rd April.)
i.
was originally intended as the European Russian imports, quarter, namely, from Gough street east- ward. It is not so many years since the Oriental and Chartered Banks were west of Pottinger street, Gibb's John- son's and other big hongs in Gough Street, and Blac head's store opposite the Fire "The Stag" Brigade station, and since was a first class hotel. But it is not too late to pass an amending. Ordinance, drawing the line down the centre of lower Wyn ham street and Pedder street, and making the harbour as far as the Naval Yard the northern boundary. This would include any future reclamation, a point worthy of consideration, seeing that the
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None of these incidents alone, it is true, would furnish a reasonable =* that disturbance of the peace of the Far Enst which has been discussed already, it is to be feared, ad nauseam by the papers: The Governments of both Russia and Japan, have done their utmost to check such. talk, both by semi-fficial denials of the various rumours and by studious reticence on all points of intended policy. It is only natural that neither Russia nor Japan should wish to show her hand. But in the question of Corea, Japan is moved as much by sentiment as by motives of terest, and a national sentiment cannot be
."
แ
wrote recently, "considering that, only eix
years ago, Japan went to war with China, principally over that Empire's inter- "ference in the peninsula, it is not likely that this nation, whose cradle," it may "almost be said, was Corea, and whose "earliest traditions are indissolubly mixed
up with that little Kingdom, will allow "Russia to continue much longer in the path of establishing what is practically a "protectorate over the whole of Coren."
**
feet beyond the new Praya, and that, in consequence, a bay will be formed in front of the very best part of the city. This bay will in course of time silt up, and a new reclamation from the outermost point" of the Naval Yard to about the Central Market will become necessary. It will be seen that no time ought to be lost, and we commend the subject to all those interested in the welfare of the Colony and in the health of the European work ers therein, including the officials, be it noted, We recommend it especially to the unofficial members of Council, who will, we trust, move in the matter. That more per foot may be got for land on which Chinese houses can be built is probable, but the in the immediate Colony is not to be " interests of property-owners alone. Even they will not gain in the end if the city is rendered unhealthy for Europeans and if tents are raised to such an extent as to affect it prosperity, a point which, indeed, we have already reached.
run
A JAPANESE VIEW,
Much depends on the exact facts of the Russian demand whether the Jimmin's re- marks should be called unduly optimistic. That journal very rightly points out that the interests of the two nations are not necessarily antagonistic to each other; but, on the con- trary, Japan and Russia are mutually in- terested in the development of the Pacific trade, and the opening up of the vast re- sources of Siberia and other Russian domi- nions in Eastern Asia will be materially facilitated by the friendly co-operation of Japan.
If we are correctly informed, Government has given its sanction to the erection of Chinese houses on the very best portion of the Reclamation, between Pedder street and Icehouse Isne. A reference to the Ordin- ance, No. 16 of 1888, shows that this is with- in the letter of the law, but not even the late Sir POPE HENNESSEY would have con- tended that it is in accordance with its spirit. The Preamble to the Ordinance reads :-- "Whereas the health and comfort of Europe ans in a tropical climate demand condi- "tions which are inconsistent with the Naval Yard is to be extended six hundred]] lightly disregarded. As The Japan Gazette
neighbourhood of houses crowded with occupants and otherwise used after the manner customary with the Chinese in- habitants, and whereas the infux of "Chinese into the Colony tends constantly "to narrow the area of the City of Victoria “where such conditions are attainable, and "it is desirable to reserve by law a district "wherein such conditions may be secured." Now, if there is one district above all others where it is desirable that such condi- tions may be secured for all time, it is that occupied by the banks, principal foreign hongs, the leading hotel, clubs, etc., a dis- trict up till now exclusively occupied by Europeans, and in which our successors, although we fear not the present generation of residents, may hope to see at some far dis- tant date the principal Government Offices, Supreme Court, Post Office, etc., located; a district which may be described as the hub around which Hongkong revolves, and Hong- kong, if its progress continues as it has been
The sole obstacle to this is doing of late years, is destined to be perhaps
the Corean problem, and to this the the mightiest city in Asia. Shanghai may
only solution which, in the Jimmin's demur to this remark, and Shanghai, which
opinion, will satisfy Japan will be the com- may justifiably be proud of its progress, has
(Darly Press, 4th April.) undoubtedly a great future before it; yet
What may be looked on as an interesting plete withdrawal of Russian political in we cannot but believe that when the inland waters are really opened to trade-and Mr. declaration of attitude was set forth recently Bluence from the peninsula, in return for BRODRICK'S Speech in reply to Mr. WAL- by a Japanese Liberal organ, the Jimmin, Japan's entire abstinence from interference in an article dealing with the steady in with Russian activity in Northern China. TON, just telegraphed by Reuter, gives us some hope that this may yet be accomplished crease of Russian forces in the Far East. The Japanese attitude in the matter may when the railway from Kowloon, connect- The Jimmin is disposed to believe that Rus-be summed up in the following words, which ing with the central and eastern trunk sia's activity is the outcome of a misconcep-appeared in the Japan Times:-" In claim- 'influence and interest, we are only obeying lines from south to north of China, and tion on her part about Japan's expansion of "ing the Corean peninsula for our sphere of when the line along the course of the West armament since the war, the object of which strictly defensive"; and regrets that River, connecting with Burmah and the In-is" dian system, are made, Hongkong will stand the tuilitary activity of both Japan and Russia has produced a deep-seated imprese the better chance of winning in its race with the northern city. Shanghai was for- sion in the minds of other nations that a merly greatly helped by the Japan trade and conflict between the two powers is inevitable -an impression which predisposes the out- is still by that with Tientsin, but the former
even in connec- is now mostly done direct, and Tientsin will side world to talk of a war
tion with trifling causes like the Masainpo soon declare its independence and carry on its import and export trade with Europe and incident" These words were written of America direct. Shanghai will never get course, before the announcement that Russia was pressing for a concession at this place. over the fact that to reach it you have to go up a river and a branch river, while Hong: It may well turn out that Japan will not kong is on the seaboard and has no look upon the Masampo incident as so tri- "heaven-sent barrier," although if the fing. And it must be remembered that dumping of refuse in the harbour is not there has been a succession of incidents effectively prevented it soon will have one. during the last few months, all tending to increase that bitter feeling between the two To return to the European reservation in the city of Victoria, we believe there is a countries which was one of Japan's chief vague impression generally held by Euro inheritances from the war with China. peans that the district from Wyndham and Lately we have seen the Siberian and Sag Pedder streets eastward as far as the Naval halian fishery question, and the threatened Yard, from the south to the harbour, is within Japanese reprisals in the shape of a heavy the reserved area. A reference to the Or-duty on all Russian fish; the Russian tax of dinance will show that this is not correct; 1,000 yen per annum on all godowns used for nothing north of Icehouse lane and Battery storing imported tea, a measure aimed at path is within it, and there is nothing to Japanese firms mainly, and numerous little prevent the cricket ground (unless an Ordin- acts in Coren, such as the appointment of a Russian successor to Mr. GREATHOUSE, ance specially exempta it) being built over with
Chinese houses, or the Queen's statue the retiring adviser, the Russian loan, the several occasions acted as Assistant Resident and the Club being surrounded by coolie 'first Masampo affair, coupled with the visit in the old days, as Secretary to Government of the Russian Naval Commander-in-Chief latterly, and as Acting Resident of Selangor without a day's delay, to be made impossible. to Seoul, and the reported attempts to in- quite recently.
domiciles. This is improbable, but it ought: 4
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the irresistible impulse of self-preservation. as well as following the obvious logic of "facts and history. It cannot be insisted on too strongly or too frequently that our aspirations in that quarter are strictly de- "fensive and peaceful; nothing is further "from our idea than to employ Corea as a "stepping-stone for checking the natural "and legitimate growth of Russian influence. "to the north and west of it.” -
Until we hear details of Russian communi- cation to Corea in the matter of Masampo, about which we have at present nothing beyond the bare fact announced by Reuter's message, speculation on the course of future events can hardly serve any useful end. The question to which we await the answer". is, Has Russia shown her baud ?
The Corean Government is said to have number of post-offices in Cores. Probably, requested the Japanese not to increase the says the Japan Mail, our readers remember that the post-office service of Cores is under Japanese management. Corea, apparently, does Col. Walker, C.M.G., the Perak Pioneer Lot desire progress under such circumstances. hears, will act as Resident, Perak, when Rodger goes on leave and Mr. Treacher becomes Acting Resident-General, Col. Walker has on