*
September 29, 1900.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE FIRST ENTRY INTO PEKING. | department or confidential adviser to the
66.
(Daily Press, 25th September.) Our contemporary, the North-China Daily News, comments on the story told to a re- presentative of this paper by a special cor- respondent of a London daily paper and published by us on the 13th inst., and says that we might have seen for ourselves the inconsistency of this account "-which was to the effect that the Russians had the honour of first entry into Peking. As a matter of fact, we gave the correspondent's statement entirely without comment. It agreed with some of the many contradictory stories which have been published about the capture of Peking, among which the task of discrimination is not even yet an easy one. It was therefore at least worthy of consi- deration, as we had no reason to doubt the bona fides of our informant (who, by the way, was not one of the special correspon- dents picked up on the spot, for he was on his first visit to China). The actual rescue of the Legations, the object of the relieving expedition, no one, as far as we know, has denied to have been effected by the British. The following summary of the attack on Peking, which our contemporary gives, will be found to corroborate all that our own correspondents told us of the affair :-
48
The fact of the case is, that in the matter of the entry into Peking, the Rus- "sians. overreached themselves. It was agreed among all the Commanders that Peking should not be attacked until the 15th of August, but the Russians, with the intention of stealing a march on their allies, started off on the 14th, followed by the Japanese, who stuck to them like "leeches. They attacked the east gate of the Tartar City with great vigour and deter- "mination, drawing all the Chinese troops "to its defence, the consequence of which was that the British, who had started off, "followed by the Americans, as soon as they "found what the Russians had done, and "to whom the attack on the north-east gate "of the Chinese City had been assigned, "met with practically no opposition at all, "and marched in quietly early on the after- noon of the 14th through the undefended "water-gate of the dry canal that runs past the British Legation, and were in Peking some hours before the Japanese and Russians."
菌落
44
44
We are glad to have our hopes and our impressions about the relief of Peking thus confirmed.
THE CHINA ASSOČIATION.
239
maintained the Navy at the point desired Foreign Office. This role was no doubt by the nation; he has not even spent originally accepted by the London Brauch the money voted for its augmentation; in good faith, believing that the representa- and justifies his inaction by asserting its tions they would be able to make would efficiency. Naturally this is a question always suffice to secure the support and of opinion, but naval experts do not agree action of the Foreign Office. The idea in- with the First Lord, and there is a suspicion spiring this arrangement probably was that that he could not divest himself of the per- the correct views of the mercantile com- haps natural reluctance of the ex-Chancellor munity in the Far East would be clearly of the Exchequer to be lavish with the sums laid before the Foreign Secretary, that in voted. He has been weighed by the Navy return the objections to their proposals League in the scales of prudence and found would be revealed to the Association, that wanting; the League declare the nation's some settlement, either by compromise or commerce is under-insured, and accuse the by persistent pressure in cases the justice
where First Lord of imperilling this great intérest. It is well, therefore, that Mr. GOSCHEN has seen fit to retire from office. He has there- by saved his colleagues much tribulation and greatly improved the prospects of his party at the general election. His action was no doubt dictated by a patriotic desire to secure unanimity in the Unionist ranks, and he will have his reward. Here then, we may urge, is a concrete instance of the wisdom of the Navy League's tactics. They have appealed not to Cæsar but to the people, and the voice of public opinion, echoed in the Press and on the Platform, has been in- strumental in bringing about a resignation which should pave the way for all-important reforms and extensions at the Admiralty. By all means, therefore, let the China Asso ciation follow the methods, where possible of the Navy League. They will, of course, find it more difficult to arouse the public interest in the affairs of a distant corner of the world than to kindle the British imagi- nation over the condition of England's first line of defence; but recent events have done much to lessen the task, for the Anglo- Saxon world are now to a great extent alive to the importance of their stake in Eastern Asia, the vast trade developed and the dangers DOW treachery and foreign rivalry.
developing from Chinese To keep the Press and public well informed on
industries in the Far East, and by their every question bearing on British trade and means to bring pressure to bear on the Foreign Office, seems to be the only certain Majesty's Government. way of securing the needful action by Her
of & claim or proposal was undeniable, could be reached without the endless negotiations which usually attend such questions. But the Association had reckoned without the host. The Foreign Office were willing enough to receive in- formation and to accept advice, but they were only prepared to act on the latter when it was quite convenient, Unfortunately delay is the favourite weapon of Chinese diplomacy, and the Foreign Office, always beset with intricate questions in all parts of the world, was only too ready to take a leaf out of the Celestial book, and hang up a troublesome or knotty question for con- sideration at a more convenient season, This course, while entirely consistent with the traditions of the Department, and eminently satisfactory to the permanent staff, is calculated to irritate and exasperate those suffering loss by needless delay and worried by the uncertainty attending long drawn-out negotiations. The Association, as we have said, in the innocence and con- fidingness of their hearts, had reposed ful- lest faith in the desire of the Foreign Office to uphold the national interests. But alas for this misplaced faith! Statesmen like Princes cannot be relied upon; the exigencies of the hour too often outweigh convictions of justice, sentiments of honour, and even considerations of patriotism. Such an ar- rangement as that tacitly agreed upon by the China Association and the Foreign Office could not, therefore, become permanent. The patience of members was sure to flicker and eventually die out under such conditions; and the Association now, at a rather late date, it is true, recognises that its me- thods have hitherto not been the soundest or the most expedient, however natural and reasonable they at first scemed to the inex- perienced mind.
THE P. W. D. AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS.
(Daily Press, 28th September.) Impatient with the adherence of the China The ways of officialdom in Hongkong are Association to its methods of dealing with devious and past finding out. They have the Foreign Office, a number of influential often formed a subject for serious medita- personages in London have formed the China tion, but having generally no relation to (Daily Press, 26th September.) League, which is apparently going to be cause or effect they go by unsolved. That At the annual meeting of the Hongkong worked on the lines of the Navy League. august and responsible body, the Sanitary branch of the China Association, held at The latter have long since recognised the Board, is generally, of the Government the City Hall on Monday, the great point futility of appealing to the Admiralty alone; institutions, the most amenable to reason, brought out in the Chairman's interesting they go straight to the British public, and but its capacity in this respect.is of course speech was the fact of that body's failure to their little organ is always filled with state-regulated by the size of the unofficial mem- carry out its programme. As Mr. FRANCIS ments, carefully backed up by statistics and bership present at its meetings. Yester- remarked, the principal object for which the facts, in which their case is convincingly day's meeting was a good example. Dr. Association was forme! is expressed in the put. It is not impossible that its persistent HARTIGAN, whose questions are always to first paragraph of the memorandum of as- attacks upon Mr. GoSCHEN's administration the point and for the public welfare, asked sociation—or what passes for such as fol- of the department have influenced that a question, which to a Board with anything lows:-"To represent, to express, and to eminent Minister to announce his intention less adamant than a Colonial official con- give effect to the opinion of the British not to seek re-election. If so, the Navy science, would be fraught with grave import- "mercantile community in their political League has not laboured in vain. Mr. ance. His question referred to the latest col- and commercial relations with the Chinese GoSCHEN, although one of the foremost lapse of houses, his object being to find if any- "and Japanese." He added, and with truth, statesmen of his time, an accomplished one was officially responsible. The answer that the Association had very fairly repre- scholar, a fine speaker, and probably the was of that evasive type which any conscien- sented and expressed that opinion on the greatest living financier, has not been a main topics that had agitated it, but had success at the Admiralty. It is almost ernment at heart is schooled to give. Prac- altogether failed to give effect thereto. This, ungracious to say so, baving regard to Mr.tically Dr HARTIGAN was snubbed for his in his opinion, and in that of the energetic GoSCHEN's splendid services to the nation, pains, not that the genial doctor is likely to Hon. Secretary to the London branch, Mr. his noble adherence to principles rather be effected by that, because any gentleman GUNDEY, was due to the Association having than to party, and his successful career with an epidermis of ordinary thicknes practically constituted itself, or suffered at the Exchequer. But the fact remains, could not long remain-unless as a silent itself to become, a sort of intelligence the right honourable gentleman has not member-on that Board. But the snubbing
tious officer with the interests of his Gov-