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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Titanic figure, which in reality the Secretary of State for the Colonies is not, great as are his abilities. Then M. JUDET has not forgotten Fashoda, sharing the length of memory on this point common to publicists of his nation. Passing over his reference at the time of the to French "meekness DREYFUS Affair, we may well ask him for a support to his theory of an anti-French entente between Britain and Germany. It hardly would seem worth the while of those who like the Emperor WILLIAM IL and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN aim at dividing the world (with the possible assistance MCKINLEY) to trouble so much about France. But the chimera of Gallic inven- tion is too absurd to call for further com- ment. It must be relegated to the same place as the Yellow Peril and other fictions of over-active brains. perialism by which so much danger to the world is threatened is admitted by the writer to
led to the suspicion that all the Powers were gradually weakening in determination, and, whether from sheer weariness or from other cause, were yielding to Chinese diplomacy another such victory as it has so often gained over Western nations. It looked as if the difficulties raised by the Chi- nese respecting the punishment of | Princes and other high officials were to carry the day; indeed, we cannot even now say that this pitiable result may not be arrived at. If this is to be the case, let us at least hope that it will not be accompanied by the old and vicious ex- pedient of exacting a large money indemnity from the Chinese people. It would be better to leave the outrages on missionaries and others unpunished than resort once more to this discreditable mockery of justice. But apart from our forebodings of what action the "Concert" is likely to take, on analogy with past history, divination of what demands will finally be presented by the Powers which will be accepted by China is impossible.
THE NIGHTMARE OF IMPERIALISM.
(Daily Press, 17th December.) In the Echo de Chine of the 12th instant appears a long article signed E. JUDET on "The Three Imperialisms," in which the writer looks very gloomily on the growth of imperialistic sentiment in Great Britain, Ger- many, and the United States of America. M. JUDET is convinced that the future of France is seriously threatened by the pro- spect of harmony between these three Powers.
He says indeed that France's only hope is that these three imperialisms, com- peting and conflicting, will limit and coun- teract one another, or will come into collision to their mutual destruction. Should unlucky chance or Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Succeed in uniting them to divide the world between them, unenviable will be the lot of France! The traditional object of French diplomacy, he says elsewhere, was to keep the balance between the two rival forces of Britain and Germany. The blow which this diplomacy has received by the drawing together of the two countries is the heaviest received for many long years; and, he continues in anticlimax, Fashoda is painfully aggravated by the tactics of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. What use was there, he asks, in showing such
meekness at the time of the DREYFUS case
in face of the Press across the Channel and across the Rhine, only to see the two countries unite so closely, and of course against France? The return of Pre- sident MCKINLEY to power means the addi- tion of a third imperial power, and M. JUDET shudders at the fate of the rest of the world if these great empires act in unison. Until the realisation of the magnificent dream of universal federation, the partial associa- tions which result from the growth of Im- perialism will develop such mighty strength, that at the side of these giants societies of the intermediate order will find no honour- able place left to them in the world, unless they redouble their own vigour and pugna- city. For this reason, concludes the writer, France defends so hotly the ideas of nation- ality and country; by these alone can she save herself from ruin and annihilation, for they are the only barriers against "Imperi- alism and anarchy, the invariable prelude of death.'
of Mr.
The Im-
It
|
[December 22, 1900.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 14th December, 8.37 p.m. An Imperial Decree authorises the Chi- nese plenipotentiaries, Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang, to place the Imperial seal on their credentials.
Tientsin telegraphs that the Germans have routed General Mei at Tsangeliou, looted the baggage, killed forty-three, and
have released some notorious Boxers whom
he imprisoned, which the British greatly regret, General Mei having steadily sup- pressed the Boxers and befriended missions. Chinese official telegrams report that a French force is marching on Taiyuanfu.
Li Hung-chang telegraphs to a prominent native banker here that the prospect of peace is nearing.
SHANGHAI, 18th December, 7.24 p.m. An Imperial Decree authorises the sale of official ranks for the relief of the famine in Shansi and Shensi.
Another decree appoints Sheng, late Taotai of Shanghai, with the Governor of Chekiang, to settle the questions connected with the Chuchou massacre.
be the natural external
SHANGHAI, 17th December, 10.25 p.m. outcome of internal prosperity, but he can
Ching Sing, the Manchu official who was see no prospect for the other nations except by the conflict, even the mutual destruction lately Treasurer of Honan, and who was of the imperialist Powers. If they work equally guilty of the outrages with the Gov- hand in hand, they must be aiming at dividernor, Yu Chang, assumes the seals to-mor-
row as Governor of Hupeh. ing the plunder of the rest of world. will be noted that Russia is left entirely out of the question by M. JUDET, presumably on the same grounds which always keep French writers silent on the subject of Rus sian expansion. And yet of the nations which may now be described as "imperia list" Russia is the one who can least ascribe her aggrandising tendencies to other than political reasons. Britain, Germany, and the United States, apart from any desire to expand their possessions, are forced to find gradually new fields for the growth of their commerce, or the source of their great wealth must fail. Russia's commercial designs are of the future. We need not therefore call her expansion less natural, but there is certainly no reason why it should be looked on with complacency, while the growth of the British, German, and BLAKE, G.C.M.G.). American empires are pictured as night-(Colonial Secretary). mares. The most dangerous and unpleasant| feature of imperialistic movements is the
Jingoism" which accompanies them. But Jingoism is very much in evidence in France, although (of course) there is no such thing as Imperialism there. The extremists it is not a mark of wisdom to take them as are always to the fore in any movement, but typical of the whole. One of the earliest acts of Imperialist England was to leave British interests to the care of Russian
troops in North Chihli and at Newchwang, Nor is it easy to see what the proposed dividers of the spoils of a world are planning to get for themselves out of the present crisis in China.
The U.S. Consul at Bangkok says of the recently established Japanese Museum of Com- merce there that it is proving an increasing success, The Oriental merchant, he says, has little use for catalogues, price lists, and pictorial advertisements. He objects to the commercial traveller for the reason that his samples go with him, and he leaves nothing to enable the purchaser to compare the goods delivered with At Bangkok, the samples can those ordered. be inspected and the goods compared with the samples; the merchant can deal with a firm that is established in his city, and the goods are not to be paid for until he is satisfied that they are what he ordered. The straightfor- ward manner of fixing the purchasing price appeals both to the Eastern and Western mind. The patrons of the museum are by no means confined to the mercantile class, and the Euro- pean population of the city are availing them- selves in no small degree of this opportunity of doing business with a splendidly stocked
Whatever be the merits of his case, the French writer spoils it by his exaggerations and his unwarrantable interpretations of events. He makes of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN & Japanese bazaar.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
On Monday, the 17th inst., a meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:
PRE
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.
Hon. W. MEIGH Goodman, Q.C. (Attorney- General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Publio Works).
Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G. (Captain Supɔr- intendent of Police).
Hon. BASIL TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Master).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. J. J. Keswick,
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI. Hon. JOHN THURDURN,
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Acting Clerk of Coun- cils).
FINANCIAL
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minute No. 70 and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table
the report of the Finance Committee (No. 19), and moved its adoption.
The COLONIal Treasurer seconded and the motion was carried.
THE REGULATION OF THE POLIOB FORCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Law for the establish- ment and regulation of the Police Force of the Colony. He said-The Law at present in force is Ordinance No. 14 of 1887. That Ordinance has been amended on two occasions-firstly, by Ordinance 20 of 1890, secondly, by Ordinance 22 of 1895–and further amendments have be-. come necessary, owing to the increase in the force caused by the soquisition of the New Territory, and by the fact that the present Ordinance makes no provision for the appoint- ment of assistant superintendents. The old