October 27, 1900.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
will be consistent with our previous policy “for if its object is really to eject the Man- in the matter of Port Arthur; but such a “chaus and replace Kwang Hau on the consistency will only be an intolerable dis- throne with a reforming Chinese Cabinet, grace. Looking at the question from a purely we must all be in sympathy with it.” practical point of view, which the late Govern- Some immediate step of this nature is ment has never done, what is the advantage urgently called for. It is a question whe- of our playing Russia's game in North ther the rebellion is not already getting be- China? We are not afraid of the accusa-yond the power of the local Manchu and tion of Russophobia. The real Russophobes Chinese officials to cope with. No more are those who cannot make up their minds unfortunate event could be imagined than to protest against the invariable advantage that the rebels, or Reformers. as their leaders which falls to Russia's lot in each new claim that they are, should have to be Chinese complication and thereby leave their opposed by the armed strength of the country less able each time to make such a Powers, among whom there is not one but protest.
knows that the cause for which the rebels profess to fight is one which must ultimately prevail-the abolition of the corrupt and decadent clique of Manchus who prevent all progress for China. If the Kwangtung insurgents can prove their sincerity and the purity of their motives, justice and civilisation itself must prevent us from putting them once more under the feet of their oppressors. Unfortunately the name of Triad has evil associations, particularly to us in Hongkong, and the Reformers must prove that they are opposed to many of the methods of this Society before they can appeal successfully to the sympathies of the world.
THE KWANGTUNG REVOLT.
(Daily Press, 22nd October.) Our Canton correspondent's letter puts a more serious appearance on the state of affairs in Kwangtung province than it has yet worn. Since the recapture of Weichow by the Imperialists the rebels seem to have recovered the ground lost and to b⋅ gaining large accessions to their numbers. The Canton report makes them out to be about twenty thousand strong now, and among their ranks are many deserters from the Imperial arzy, who being members of the Triad Society turned their arms against their comrades on the battlefield and com- pleted the rout of the Goyernment troops: The rebels are mainly Hakkas and Tungkun men; their leader is SUN YAT-SEN, whose rescue in London some time ago from the hands of the agents of the Chinese Govern- ment created such a sensation, and they are reputed to have obtained their funds from the Chinese of Singapore and America, who form the backbone of the Triad Society. They would appear to be well-armed, to judge from the success with which they have met. Where their weapons
were obtained, we do not know; but it is highly probable that the extensive arms-smuggling before the outbreak of the present crisis in the north accounts for a great number. The objects of the rebels are very clearly defined. The principal end to. which their efforts are directed is the subversion of the Manchus. The officials who fall into their hands receive no mercy. With this attack on the ruling class or clique is coupled the protection of foreigners," who, it appears, have nothing to fear from the success of this party. This policy is in keeping with the placar is issued by them and extensively circulated, as we hear, in the neighbourhood of Capto, and also with the letter which we published on the 11th instant over the signature "Pyramid." It seems as plain as possible that the rebellion is in its ten- dencies, the very reverse of that which has received the name of the "Boxer rising" in
THE ANGLO-GERMAN AGREE- MENT.
THE ELECTIONS.
(Daily Press, 20th October.) Though the country has in an unmis- takeable manner endorsed the action of Lord SALISBURY's Government with regard to South Africa and the late republice the Ministerialist majority by latest advices is 133- Lord SALISBURY individually can take little personal glory to himself from the result. In fact the feeling is growing that the Prime Minister was rather a hin- drance than a help to the success of the Government measures, and that if colonial as foreign affairs had been left to his initiation the record would have been one of marked incapacity. And yet the nation at large is by no means disposed to fling a stone at his Foreign policy as a whole, while distinctly acknowledging that during the latter portion of his tenaucy it has been coupled with a decided retrogres- sion. In point of fact, while Lord SALIS- BURY has a knowledge of the external rela- tions of the Empire almost unique, he ment ally lacks the courage of his opinions, and is not sufficiently strong as a man to carry his views to their legitimate conclusion; nor is he of that type of men, who, possessed of the requisite knowledge, but knowing them- selves deficient in firmness, are willing to leave to their lieutenants the execution of works, the original germ of which emanated from themselves. Like many another able man, he has while exacting obedience from (Daily Fress. 23rd October.)
his lieutenants not taken care to fit them as The Anglo-German Agreement, which our his successors; so that it is necessary to. London correspondent's telegram in yester- look outside his entourage for a man to whom day's issue announced; and of which KEUTER'S can be entrusted the control of the foreign telegram published to-day gives fuller de- relations of an empire so complicated as that tails, if read in its most natural sense is a of Britain. Lord SALISBURY nominally most reassuring document and puts for the made his appeal to the country on the single first time in black and white the principles question of the settlement of the South which the two contracting parties are pre- „African affair. Were the blunders made by his pared to maintain. In both countries al-predecessors to be repeated, and were the late ready public declarations have been repeatedly free states, under a half-effected conquest, made which have set forth these principles, to be permitted to remain a source of weak. but the joint enunciation of them now gives ness to the Empire at large, on the one hand; an additional sense of security which is wel- or, on the other, were they to be in reality amal- come to all who have experienced the vanity gamated and made to feel that their interests of trusting to official pledges unfortified by and those of the other dependencies of the a sense of international obligation. Great Crown were really identical Instinctively Britain and Germany have bound them the country has declared for the latter view selves to "uphold the principle of keeping and the policy, which in the hands of Mr. the ports of China free and open to the CHAMBERLAIN and Sir ALFRED MILNER trade of all countries." This intention has been has already been so well commenced, "has very distinctly and solemnly stated by both been accepted by the nation at large. In Governments separately. Both countries this judgment the nation has given a distinct bind themselves" not to utilise the present expression of its confidence, but there has complicatious to obtain any territorial ad- been an unmistakeable undercurrent show- vantage and to direct their policy towards ing that the confidence was conditional only, maintaining the integrity of China." This and was by no means to be accepted as too has been the declared policy of both necessarily including the Prime Minister, Great Britain and Germany throughout. or the conduct of the Foreign Office gener- Should any Power utilise the complications ally. In fact there are two of the Govern to obtain such territorial advantage, under ment departments which have notoriously any form whatever, the two Governments broken down under the recent strain, and Such being the case, the position of Eug- reserve the right to come to a preliminary these are the two departments which, after land in the matter is difficult. The attempts understanding regarding the eventual steps the Colonial Office itself, are most immediate of the southern cfficials to keep faith with to be taken for the protection of their ly connected with the Empire at large, as us by the maintenance of order in the Liang own interests." This is the crue of the distinct from that portion of it lying within Kwang merits our consideration, and if whole Agreement. Undoubtedly one country the Four Seas. Neither the War nor the affairs get beyond their control intervention has already utilised the present complica Foreign Offices have exhibited the power of of some kind will be inevitable. But we have tions to obtain for herself distinct territorial adaptation required by the new conditions of seen enough of the results of the mistaken advantages. Russia has annexed the south the Empire. Of all countries China is that policy carried out through the instrumentality bank of the Amur River with every appear which most nearly approximates in its con of GORDON at the time of the Taiping revolt, ance of official sanction. The St. Peters-ditions to those coming under the ken of the to warn us of the folly, or rather the crime, burg Government, for all its previous Colonial Office, yet it is with regard to Chins of forcing the Chinese to continue against protestations of disinterestedness, has not that the Foreign Office, has shown the their will under the incompetent and bar-repudiated this act of violent rapacity: If greatest ineptitude-so great in fact that barous Manchu yoke. The North China the Anglo-German Agreement is not to be Lord BALISBURY'S mismanagement has Daily News in its issue of the 17th instant entirely nugatory a circumstance has arisen become a national blot. So of the War Office; makes a suggestion which deserves serious calling for the preliminary understanding as far as the Office can make
sit the army attention. The Allies" says our contem for the protection of British and German system remains amongst those of the other porary,
"should oren negotiations with the
the Agreement will be awaited with deep amongst the creations of the prepent ago. inception and before it gets out of hand, interest.
It broke down utterly the time of the
Ex
the north.
"leaders of the rebellion, while it is in its opests. The replies of the other Powers | nations very much as a mastodon or a dodo