ww of the development ❤er her large
Crritories. England, in fact, v
May 5, 1900]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. intention not to throw any obstacles in the "the task of the latesman la to to
́ ́lá ́to so quide these great" them that there will be neither unneces- sary friction nor an open conflict, but the "welfare of all concerned promoted."
This is a wise utterance, and we hope to see before long that the fact that the interests of Russia are in the long run rather comple mentary than in their nature opposed may in time begin to bear good fruit in a better understanding between two Powers, who, with all their traditional differences, have really more in common than any other nations, except ourselves and the United States."
In the Pacific, was in a position to addition to her commerce, and dly left the road open. That a large the rising statesmen of the Empire both hides" say that each country had lo gain by a better understanding is Then the case, but yet it is undeniable that the old leaven is still working, and rumciently so to hurt the best interests of both nations.
Having said so much we can the better what Russia has been doing in those regions, and see how much w
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1899.
(Daily Press, 30th April.)
the
307
The tale is taken up by a despatch received by Lord SALISBURY on August 7cb from Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE, mentioning the Wo-on case (which we reported in our fasue of June 3rd last year) and relating that Mr. MANSFIELD had been authorised to claim for the losses of the launch-owners employés only. The receipt is announ a telegram from the Consul at pointing out that piracy was flourishing that no serious attempts by the Chinese to stop
were being ma
consider, therefore," concludes Mr.“Bax- IRONSIDE that the time has come when it is my duty to submit, for your Lord ship's consideration, the advisability Her Majesty's Government taking o
steps to protect British lives and property in the Canton waterways, of the nature "dicated in the warnings addressed by Sir. The Blue Book in China which arrived by "CLAUDE MACDONALD to the Chinese the English Mail on Friday contains among "Government on the 18th February last.” other correspondence a number of des On August 15th Mr.-Bax-IRONSIDE S'le ter patches relating to the state of affairs on the was forwarded by the Foreign Office to the West River, commencing with the com- Admiralty and a request was made that the munication from the Colonial to the Foreign Commander-in-Chief on the China Station Office, enclosing Sir HENRY A. BLAKE's should make suggestions as to what he could despatch of March 2nd reporting the in- do in the matter. The letter was also for oreased frequency of piratical outrages in warded to the Colonial Office. The next Chinese waters adjacent to Hongkong communication is one to Lord SALISBURY Next we have a letter from Sir CLAUDE from the London Chamber of Commerce on MACDONALD to Lord SALISBURY, in which August 16th, in which the telegram from our he points out that "the Governor of Canton Chamber of Commerce is quoted to show that is singularly helpless in the matter," and no reliance could be placed on 'he Viceroy of says that he has thought it his duty to ad- Canton, that piracy interfered very seriously dress the Tsungli Yamén in strong terms; with trade, and that more gunboats were he encloses two letters, dated November necessary to protect British interests on the 22nd, 1898, and February 18th, 1899, in West River. The despatch expresses the the latter of which he announces that unless hope that serious attention will be given to immediate steps are taken by the Chinese these representations. On August 21st Lord Government he will have to report for the SALISBURY received a further despatch Hom consideration of the British Government Mr. BAX-IRONBIDE relating to the Wo-on the advisability of either having the river case, and endorsing Mr. Mansfield's report patrolled or placing guards on the steamers, on his notion in this case, in which the Consul the expense of which would be made the sub-protested that he was not
ot exaggerating in saying that “a reign of terror exists whic is seriously injuring trade.
On August 22nd the Commander-in-Chief telegraphed that, the Tweed had been sent to join the Sandpiper in patrolling the river and that a torpedo-boat could be sent në tender to the Tweed. At this the Colonial Office expresses. its antisfaction, and telegrams passed between Lord SALISBURY aud Mr. BAX-IRONBIDE ON the subject. On September 3rd Lord SALIS- BURY received the petition from British and Foreign merchants in Hongkong to the Governor, relating to the serious losses sustained through piracy. On the same day Mr. BAXIRONSIDE forwarded an ex- tract from the Canton Intelligence Röport for the June quarterlowing that the Provincial Governor was contemplat- ing steps for suppressing piratical outrages. scheme suggested by Mr WATEES, Instructor at the Whampoa Naval and Minitary School, for the formation of a flotilla of five torpedo-bonts under joint command of himself and a Chinese military official, was said to have been taken up with considerable interest by the Viceroy, but to “ run some risk of falling through, ówing w some jealousy which exists against Mr. Wa- TERS. TERA,” Another letter from Mr. Bax Inon- SIDE relates that, as the Viceroy refuses to discuss the demand for compensation in the Wo
have in common. When in 1860 THE WEST RIVER QUESTION IN
obtained the sanction of Chian to her entering the uninhabited plains between the Usuri and the Ocean, she had half un- consciously taken a step which made her potentially great Pacific power, She probably did not understand the wealth of the new land that had fallen to her, but she had acted in accordance with her tradi- tional policy of extension along the lines of déast resistance. No other Power at the time was in touch with this district, nor did Rusia herself for many years try to ¿developɑit. -- Twenty years ago the land { was a wilderness, "Our people," said the Governor toan Englishman, speaking of the fertility of the land, "are not as your Pagriculturists, and have no disposition to emigrate; if you only had it, your people would not permit it to remain unoccupied." But the awakening took place, and, restered to freedom, the Russian pensant showed himself equal to the task. Under the old régime Sibérin was a source of terror to the Russian peasant, and the Government found that compulsory banishment could never be made a nieans of developing these regions, however wealthy they might #prove; but when it turned it to the
wisef system of encouraging emigration,ject of a claim on the Chinese Government. results happened similar to what have On 27th April Lord SALISBURY wrote to escurred with ourselves in Australia. As Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE, approving Sir CLAUDE long as we made our colonies the dumping- MACDONALD'S representation to the Taungli *ground for our criminal population, no ad Yamen; the Colonial Office also expressed vañoe was pomible ; but the result of put its satisfaction at the course taken. Copies ting an end to enforced smigration was to of the despatches relating to the increase of máké a new nation, already strong enough piracy were meanwhile sent to the Comman materially to aid the mother country. Bo der-in-Chief on the China Station. When Russin began to look upon Biberia a something better than a receptacle for her unruly spirits, the Russian agriculturist commenced to avail himself of the opportu ✨nitlin offered by the new country. Suffice 19 to say that the districts which were left only twenty years ago to the wild beasts, or still wilder mon, are now becoming the homes of a settled and advancing civilima tion, Such has been the outcome of Russia's new policy, and it is one in welcoming which → England can well join. Speaking of the #revolution brought about, Engineering in its ishie of the 9th March remarked: "We * have from time to time brought the Trans- Siberian Railway before the notice of our renders and indicated some of the probable results from a commercial point of view. We have also shown that many of the political problems which have recently in the Far East have been brought by that great undertaking, and in short, the engineer is the real volutionist, We have pointed out the necessity of looking at the various aspects subject, as there is danger if attention frested too exclusively to one that it meaning and importance in overlook
* Still, Unspowe have more han once indicated, so far as we can see Intereste of Britian and Russia are antagonistic, but complementary, and
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The next letter on the subject is one from Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE to Lord SALISBURY, en- closing a translation of a despatch from the Viceroy and Governor at Canton to Acting Consul Fox at Samshui, dated March, 10th 1899, in which they protest against the pre- sence of H.M.S, Sandpiper on the West River and claim that prompt action has always been taken by the Chinese authorities to protect British and other traders. “Now that the Admiral has sent up a man-of-war to afford, protection to British interests," continues this remarkable document," this ressel will doubtless be quite capable of coping with the robbers" But the Viceroy and Governor deny China's responsibility "if, owing to remissness, the British war- ship is not able to protect itself.” China's protection to traders will be resumed if British men-of-war cease to come up the West River. Mr. Fox replied, pointing out that the sending of a gunboat up the West River differed in no respect from the custom prevailing for many years on the Yangtze, though thero pence prevailed. As to the safety of the gunbont, he assured the Viceroy and Governor they nee have na anxiety. The statement as to the prompt notion of the Chinese Government in cases of piracy" does not seem,"¡Mr. Fox said, at the present time to be borne out by facts:"
To-on case, he is therefore addressing the Taungli Yamden. This he accordingly did, and his setion was approved by the Govern- ment, On 6th October the Foreign Office re- ceived through the Admiralty Vice Ailaiiral Sir E. H. BEY MOUE memorandum and a letter from Commodore PowELL,NTI agree in maintaining thint the duty bit p58+ ing the river belongs pressure must be brought to bear at Poking,