422
AFFAIRS IN CHINA.
(Daily Press, 18th June.)
•
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
By the events at Peking recorded in the telegram received in this colony on Saturday the Chinese Imperial Government stands now irretrievably compromised in the eyes of the world. Any lingering doubts which there may have been as to the attitude of the rulers of the empire have been removed by the unchecked rioting, incendiarism, and murder in the capital. The question whe- ther the Imperial troops have already come into conflict or not with Admiral SEYMOUR on the Tientsin-Peking railway has lost much of its importance. By the license al- lowed to the "Boxers the side taken by the Chinese army is sufficiently shown. But the news received yesterday, that Admiral SEYMOUR's force was practically cut off by the enemy and, even if not actu- ally fighting for its life, was at least without the much needed provisions, makes the situation very grave indeed. The dangers attending the despatch of a comparatively small vanguard into the heart of the hostile district seem to have been under- estimated. Possibly it was hoped that the train would get through to Peking before. serious opposition could be offered. Events have, however, turned out far otherwise. We are, it is to be feared, likely to receive seanty news for some time from the scene of opera- tions. Communication broke down on Sa- turday morning, and immediately after a crop of most alarming rumours began to be circulated. A report was current in the afternoon that the German Minister had been killed at Peking, but careful enquiries failed to discover the origin of the story, which may therefore apparently be dismissed as an effort of someone's imagination. The report of the bombarding of the Taku Forts by the fleets of the Powers hardly seeps to have a better foundation. In the mean- time we are glad to see that preparations | are being hastened on to put our forces in the north on a better footing. The Terrible and Undaunted have already left for Taku. The Rosario follows, and the Bonaventure immediately on her arrival here, which is expected to-day, will be got ready to start for the same destination. It seems, how ever, that any hope of getting vessels up to Tientsin must be abandoned, for according to a competent authority there were but a few days ago barely six feet of water in the upper reaches of the Peiho. In consequence, except in so far as they may be required against the Taku Forts, the warships will serve principally by supplying marines and guns for land service.
It may be noted that the Times a month ago, speaking in a leading article of the growth of the anti-foreign movement in China and the effect of the ascendancy of Russia at Peking on the internal politics of the empire, said that the situation was "the direct conse- quence of the coup d'Etat at Peking which
wrecked the party of reform, destroyed the liberalizing influence of the Japanese, and affirmed the ascendancy of Russia at the centre of Chinese Government." "All these results," the Times continue, "were opposed "to British interests, and ought to have "been foreseen by those entrusted with the "conduct of British policy. Nothing will "be done to improve the condition of Euro- "peans in China, to secure more efficient "protection for British enterprise and British "capital, and to make the policy of the 'open "door" really effective until our Foreign Office shows that this country, not less “than Russia, has a policy of its own, and "means to stand by it, for the protection of "British subjects. The danger to 'Christains and foreigners in China is
"
65
"
[June 23, 1900.
the direct consequences of the policy | Admiral SEYMOUR's 800 unprovisioned men which has allowed the reactionary party would scarcely make matters better. But "to become triumphant at Peking and if he is actually surrounded somewhere be "by which Russia has indirectly profited tween Tientsin and the capital, his situation
hitherto at the expense of Japan.” All must inspire still more anxiety. this unfortunately has been proved only too true by the events of this month. In the circumstances, all that can be done to remedy the ill effects of that British supine- ness to which all those interested in Anglo- Chinese affairs have so long and so vainly been calling attention is to act now with all possible promptitude. This seems to be realised at last by those in authority, and in spite of all annoying breakdowns, such as seem inseparable from military and naval preparations, there is cause for congratula- tion in the activity we see. We should like to hear that preparations were being made to turn part of the Indian Army to account in the crisis. With such excellent troops so near at hand there is no excuse for our run- ning short of men in an emergency like the present. As it is, we are denuding Hongkong of men and guns as though there were no such place as Canton within ninety miles from the island-to say nothing of unsettled and turbulent districts adjoining our own New Territory. This is not a wise policy. We trust that all possible precautions will be taken pending the arrival of fresh military forces.
(Daily Press, 20th June.)
Wisdom after the event is proverbially easy; but it certainly seems that the action of hurrying a body of less than a thousand men, provided only for a short journey, along a railway line whose security depended on the conduct of the admittedly wavering Chinese troops, is legitimately open to cri- ticism. It is customary to speak of the slow-moving Chinese Government, but when a crisis arises it does not seem to find other nations prompter to move, unless indeed Russia is an exception. Russia indeed has far vaster resources closer at hand, but we are not after all the other side of the world. The objection to the use of the Weihaiwei Chinese Regiment, to which we allude else- where, is perhaps a sound one, for their value has hardly been sufficiently tested at present. But it was possible to have applied to Hongkong much earlier than was actually done; this not having been done (let us grant, owing to the auth- orities in the north being taken by sur- prise), the remedy did not lie in proceeding with insufficient force to attempt a task which called for more men. If it is a fact that the Admiral was unwilling to apply for military assistance, he was not therefore justified in risking the lives of his marines in a task beyond their power. The British Government, we learn from Mr. BEODRICK'S statement in the House of Commons, is pre- pared to give the Admiral every assistance. Of course, had the urgency of the crisis been properly represented to it before, the Gov- ernment would perforce been made the same declaration a fortnight or more ago, should have had troops on the scene of action, and matters would not look so grave as they do now.
we
contemporary, which most clearly repre- sented our unpreparedness to meet an emergency in that part of China which Britain has long marked as peculiarly vital to her interests. Whatever pre- parations we can make for securing these interests are imperative now while it is still not too late. Now that at last public in- terest has been aroused in China and that the Government has some idea of what is at stake all possible influence should be used to prevent any catastrophe in central China. The task may be a hard one, but it is one which cannot be shirked, if we place any value on our position in the Far East.
It will have been gathered from the news which reached us late on Monday night that a state of war now exists between China and the European Powers who are repesented by war-vessels and troops at Taku and Tientsin. The formality of any declaration of war, however, seems to have been dispensed with by the Chinese, who as the brief despatches from the North an- nounce, opened fire without warning on the combined fleets. This fact accounts for the In another part of China it is perhaps numerous casualties, though to those ac- not yet too late to take precautions before, quainted with the strength of the Taku an outbreak occurs, and we trust that no Forts the number will cause no surprise. time will be lost in preventing a surprise From the losses which they suffered it would which will be humiliating to our reputation. appear that the Russians bore the brunt of We refer to the Yangtaze region. We the fight, or at least that they had more quoted yesterday a strong letter from Mr. vessels engaged. The absence of any Ja-W. V. DRUMMOND, appearing in a Shanghai panese among the killed and wounded may imply that no Japanese boats were engaged, though this seems curious; and there is no mention of the United States representatives eitlier. Certainly the States and Japan are as much concerned as any of the other Powers, which makes it improbable that they took no part in the proceedings. In view of the advantage accruing from open- ing fire on an unprepared fleet (which the French fleet experienced at Foochow in the Franco-Chinese war when they wiped out the Chinese vessels, whose commanders pro- tested that they had no reason to expect at- tak), the result of the fighting is eminently satisfactory to the combined forces, as in addition to the capture of the strong Peiho Forts a. number of Chinese torpedo-boats have fallen into their hands. The next action, it may be taken, will be on land; it is to be hoped, very soon. The absence of news about Admiral SEYMOUR begins to be alarming. The most sanguine are trusting that he has forced his way through to Peking, but even his arrival there would not be sufficient to allay all fears as long as he remains cut off from Tientsin. The Legation guards were in a perilous position when we last had authentic intelligence from Peking, and though no doubt was felt that they could hold out against the Boxers it was admitted that against a combination of the Imperial troops and the rebels. they would be in sore straits. The arrival of
It is stated that of 285 foreigners residing in the Yokohama Settlement and on the Bluff, under obligation to pay special house-tax, only 23 had paid the same to the City Office up to the 2nd inst. According to a Japanese native hesitation, final measures against the defaulters, paper, the City Office is ready to take, without
in accordance with the provisions of the Regula- tions, if they persist in their present attitude. The Kobe Chronicle remarks :-- “It seems to us very improbable that any action will be taken by the authorities until some arrangement is arrived at between the Treaty Powers concerned The Japan and the Japanese Government." Mail says that the objectors will, of course, be strengthened in their objection by the fact that the British Government has pronounced itself unable to endorse Japan's claim in respect of the house tax.