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In
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
RUSSIAN OPERATIONS IN
MANCHURIA,
(From Our CORRESPONDENT.)
Shanghai, 18th December.
THE RUSSIAN OCCUPATION,
the Tsar are enabled to stand forth as the champions of the peaceable natives. fact, Russian diplomacy has shown its usual perspicacity. In the whole matter of Man- churia Russia has been able to profit by the action or inaction of others. It was the blow struck by Japan at China which first gave her the chance of securing a foothold at Port
News despondent in tone is reaching us here Arthur, after Germany had seized Kiao- from Newchwang. Outrages on Chinese, and chow. It was British official want of purpose when opportunity offers on foreigners as well, and ignorance of the facts which made that seem to be the order of the day in the country foothold permanent and exclusive. British lying round that port. Boxers and soldiers officialdom has assisted again, in the past alike unite in robbing and murdering all and f-year, in the extension of Russian control any they meet in their day's march. The Rus- over a great part of Southern Manchuria. sian forces have captured the town of Liao There seems no reason why Russia should Yang without encountering any or much re- sistance, It is reported that the Russian now take less than she can get. Our corres- general met with some mishap in the course pondent asks: "Is the importance of the of these operations, but of no serious nature, province (Manchuria) sufficient to justify us and is now in peaceable possession of the town. in taking steps to keep the trade open to all But news like this is, after all, but the counter- comers ?" This might be put another way. part of what might and does come from a hun- Are we to expect Russia, it might be asked, dred other places and districts in North China. to keep the pledges which she has given is to be noted is the tacit acceptance by England The point in connection with Manchuria that about the trade of China? One of the
of Russian occupation. On the other hand, objects of the Anglo-German Agreement there is the fact of the non-interference of concerned the maintenance of the integrity Russia with Shanghai and the Yangtze Valley of China. If our diplomatists are about generally. So that what has been rejected by to assent to the quibble that Manchuria both countries under the name of Spheres of is not part of China, are they also going Possession has been accepted under that of to agree to the shutting out of
our Spheres of Pacification. How long that paci- from the province? Every in. fication will last, whether it will be of such dividual out here has been considering to the former, depend on the countless threads indefinite extent as to merge the latter in-
these questions, as our correspondent says
that go to make up the web of diplomacy. that he should; but we very much doubt But to the ordinary observer the fact is whether the taxpayer at home is giv- patent, from the date of the withdrawal of ing even a moment's thought to them. If the British Fleet from Port Arthur down to he does, he probably soothes his feelings the present moment when Russian troops and with the idea that there is the open trade Russian troops alone are operating round and of the Yangtze Valley, not troubling to about Newchwang, that the British Govern- reflect that this was always open to us and place gone beyond their control; and that, no that of South Manchurian trade he is pro-matter under what name the nominal possessor posing to surrender his country's share in return for nothing at all. When the history of England's connection with the Chinese Empire comes to be written, the future historian will be able to point out one phrase which did incalculable harm to the interests of England in China, namely "our sphere of influence in the Yangtze Valley."
traders
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 21st December, 9.19 p.m., Sheng declares that the peace negotiations are making no progress.
A doubtful rumour at Shanghai states that a French force is preparing to make a descent on Hankow from the north.
The Universal Gazette states that forty thousand Mahommedans have raised a rebellion in Kansu against the Manchus.
SHANGHAI, 26th December, 7.40 p.m. Chinese officials report that preparations are being made at Wuchang and Siangyang, in Hupeh, to receive the Empress Dowager.
The news of the Kansu rebellion is con- firmed, but the Viceroy Wei Kang-tao re- mains at Lanchau with a large force of Hunan troops.
ment have determined to recognize that it is a
may appear, the actual infinence and power over Manchuria will remain in Russian hands; or at least until such time as that dream of Sir Robert Hart's is realized, and China's millions sweep Russian and English, Slav and Saxon, before them on their western march.
THE QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.
It is pleasant to be able to record that the most trustworthy accounts from Manchuria describe the Russian operations as being con- ducted on the lines of civilized warfare and that such scenes as accompanied the Russian con- quest of the country round Khiva are neither authorized nor enacted in Manchuria. Suppos- ing then the pacification carried out, restoration of order will bring renewal of trade, and with that renewal the certainty that British mer- chants will, as before, make strenuous efforts to obtain their share of it. Must it and does it of necessity follow that they will not sac- ceed in doing this? If not, is the importance of the province sufficient to justify us in taking steps to keep the trade open to all comers? Can any steps which England can take keep it from falling under the denomination of Russia? These are questions which not only every individual out here must consider and answer, but which every individual tax-payer at home must have plainly put before him and be called upon to decide.
MANCHURIA AND THE YANGTZE.
The situation may not inaptly be compared to the Fashoda incident. French trade is as welcome up the Nile as English, but if there is any pacification to be done we showed pretty plainly that it was we, not France, who would undertake it. So in Manchuria, who shall say Shanghai, 27th December, 10.14 p.m. that in avoiding the possibility of a similar A Hsianfu telegram announces that the situation our Government have not acted wise: Emperor has selected General Ma Yu-kany; or that the Russians in accepting the fact to command the advanced bodyguard when that the maintainance of order on the Yang tsze pertains to the functions of Great Britain he (the Emperor) returns to Peking.
rather than to Russian, have not done more to preserve the concord of the Powers than perhaps the more thoughtless amongst as would give
According to a Japanese paper, the Chilian Government has decided to reduce its navy, as a result of the recent conclusion of an arbitra. tion treaty among the South American republics. It is reported that a cruiser will be sold to Ecuador, another warship to Peru, and two torpedo-bost destroyers to Japan.
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either credit for?
The Government of Burma proposes starting shortly an extensive rubber plantation on King's Island, the principal island of the Mergui Archipelago.
[December 29, 1900..
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
LOCAL MOVEMENTS.
The British hospital ship Carthage returned from Calcutta on the 21st inst., and the German cruiser Kaiserin Augusta arrived from Tsing- tao.
The German transport Frankfurt arrived on the 23rd inst. from Tsingtao.
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inst. for Taku.
The U.S. transport Sumner left on the 22nd The British transport Ujina arrived from Shanghai on the 23rd inst.
On the 24th inst. H.M.S. Britomart arrived from Canton, H.M.S.Barfleur from Weihaiwei, and the storeship Humber from Weihaiwei.
The gunboat Lizard left for Canton.
The transport Peking arrived on Christmas Day from Manila.
The hospital-ship Carthage left on the 26th inst. for Weihaiwel, and the transport Ujina for Caloutta.
The Russian cruiser Razboynik arrived on Thursday from Nagasaki.
Thursday from Manila, with the U.S. transport
The U. S. monitor Monadnock arrived on
Solace.
NORTHERN NOTES. The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 8th inst.:-
The railway to Chingwantao is expected to be open about the 15th instant,
The natives in Peking are not a little aston- ished at the manoeuvres carried on by the foreign balloon corps.
We learn that Chang Yen-mao, who is still in Peking with Li Hung-chang, is in frequent communication with Tang and Tuan,
On dit that the Russians are really going to hand over the railway to the Germans on the lat of the Russian New Year.
The last river trip from Tangku to Tientsin lighters are now being docked for the season. with cargo was made on Thursday, and the
Jung Lu, on reaching the Court, although he strongly condemned the policy of having sup- ported the Boxers, urged the Court not to return to Peking while the foreign troops were there in such force.
The line to Peking may be open for limited traffic in a fow days. An engine is shortly to be sent over the line to test it. Trains will
probably not run with their former speed or frequency, but it will be a great thing to have the line open at all.
News is reported of a large Chinese force on the borders of southern Chihli. Some say the troops are Chang Chi-tung's, but for what pur- pose they appear here is unknown. Others affirm that they are Yuan Shih-kai's, commanded by himself and Gen. Ms.
Tientsin residents were startled about 4.30 on Monday morning by a loud explosion, ap- parently some three or four miles distant. Subsequent investigation showed that two coolies had somehow ignited a quantity of gun; powder at the East Arsenal, where the Russian camp is, and both were blown to pieces. By some it is thought to have been accidental; others think it was intentional, but if so, the effects must have been characterised by a touch of previousness.
From private Peking advices we learn the Mahommedans to the West and North are in open revolt against the Government. The Empress Dowager and her outfit were compelled to fall back towards Taiyuanfu, so she is now between two fires; the old lady will no doubt be in Taiyuanfu in a few days. Chinese rebellion in South is spreading, and the country, as I might say the people, are dividing up in three lots, Mahommedan, Cantonese, and the Dowager's bunch. According to Chinese reports here, the Dowager Empress, if not protected by foreign- ers, will soon be at the mercy of the Mahom- medans."
Er.-Taotai Tan Won-huan, who was among the officials seized and condemned by the mili- tary at Paotingfu, was brought in here under a strong German guard on the 3rd inst, and. marched through the Settlements. He was ezo- cuted outside the North Gate of Tientsin City at 11 o'clock on the 7th, having been previously paraded before his countrymen as a condemned man. He was jauntily indifferent up to the last, and made some offers of Tls. 50,000 if