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RUSSIA AND CHINA,
(Daily Press, 4th February.) Most of us were inclined to believe that the acceptance by the Chinese Emperor of the preliminary points demanded by the Powers marked the first stage in the wearisome negotiations with the truculent Court at Hsianfu, and that henceforth it would be easier to arrange the outstanding differences between China and the Western nations. Reasoning, however, from what has since taken place, it daily looks more as if the nominal acceptance of the terms was but yet another shifty device to throw dust in the eyes of the Powers, and gain time pending the eventualities of "something turning up." The underhand dealings of China with Russia, of whatever nature they be, seem in some way connected with the policy of delay. It is suggested that Corea is involved in the deal. According to Japa- nese reports Russia has recently been re- commencing in Corea a policy of interfer- ence, and though in regard to Corea the peculiar sensitiveness of the Japanese as nation on all topics concerning that peninsula, might lead us to lay the less stress on state- ments coming from Japanese sources, there is, we believe, too much evidence that the communications between the Russian representative and the Corean Court have been unfriendly. It is true that Russia from St. Petersburg has given a specific denial to all these reports; and we seem to be placed in the dilemma of either accepting her word, or of judging her by her acts rather than her promises. Now, while we have no reason whatever to doubt the sincerity of Russia's assurances that she is anxious to consolidate rather than to advance, we cannot afford to ignore the fact that she is still at that stage which has ever in the past proved itself fraught with danger for every nation which has assumed the part of military conquest. It was this identical cause that led to the sudden fall of the ancient Assyrian Empire at the height of its power. Assyria had spent her ener. gies in strengthening her front, and had neglected to keep her centre in touch with her extremities. When the time came for an attack on her communications, she was found helpless, and succumbed to the first serious blow. Russia has in like manner ever kept her strength in front, while at the same time taking care to present a formid- able armament in Europe. There is, bow- ever, little real sympathy between the ex- tremities; Russia in Europe and Russia in Siberia are, in fact, rapidly becoming sepa- rate entities; and the two heads of the hydra, though nourished by the same heart's blood, do not always, nor perhaps often, beat together in unison. This is the opportunity offered to a statesman of the temperament of LI HUNG-CHANG, of which all through his long life he has ever taken advantage of. In this he acts ou au instinct common to all delaying nations, and the only peculiarity is that he has for so long worked on the principle, and has done so in so astute a manner, that those on whom he has exercised his peculiar talent have been the last to recognise the fact. That Russia is perfectly cognisant of this source of weakness there is no doubt; and St. Petersburg would gladly pause, but her men of action are in front, and are impatient to take advantage of the opportunities offered from day to day. Over such men the central government has ever lacked con- trol. It was in vain that men like CHER- NAIEFF and KAUSMANN were placed under the ban, or even disgraced, the work went on. Some local officer became engaged in an intrigue, which seemed to his chief to
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND compromise his relations with his neigh- bours; these in the heat of passion were followed by hectoring demands, till at last the heated passions on both sides broke out in open violence. Such a position opens a world of possibilities to a man of Lr HUNG- CHANG's antecedents; Corea, flanked on either side by Russia and Japan, offers an ideal opportunity; and no one knows better than the old tempter that if he blows the flame up to a certain height, the old leaven will become too powerful for the Court at St. Petersburg to restrain the ferment, Meanwhile the teachings of history are all being cast to the winds by the factors in this tragic comedy. The calm student re- calls in vain to the heated actors the lessons of the past; and it has become useless to point out to Russia or China the inevitable dangers of the course on which both are Deut.
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THE PAOTINGFU FIASCO.
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[February 9, 1901.
but it would have more fitly preluded by something other than the amenities which marked the entrance of the allied troops into Paotingfu. It is to be suspected that the other commanders were as much in doubt as General GASELEE about the course to be adopted. The reason for this is not apparent; but no more plain are the reasous for many other acts in the campaign in North China.
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YUNNAN, AND BRITISH ENTER- PRISE IN WESTERN CHINA.
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Mr.
He
Daily Press, 6th February.) The Diplomatic and Consular Reports is- sued by the Foreign Office continue to come out. The latest to hand, a very interest- ing report, is that of Mr. Acting-Consul LITTON on the trade of Ssumao (Sze- mao) and Mengtse for the year 1899. Though we have heard 'little of late about Yunnan, apart from the troubles (Daily Press, 5th February.) last year between M. FRANCOIS and the Our Tientsin correspondent's letter, dated Chinese officials, and the withdrawal of 11th November, which has reached us thus foreigners from the province, there can be late no doubt owing to delay in transmission
no doubt that in the future the question of by overland courier, gives a striking picture Yunnan will assume much greater import- of the Paotinglu fiasco, in which, as has auce, even if Yunnan is only to be consider- been usual in the past year's events in Northed as the threshold of Szechuen and the China, the British authorities have come in Upper Yangtsze region. It is nearly two for the greatest amount of blame. Nor years ago now since we had before us the can it be said that the blame has usually report of Mr. J. W. JAMIESON, Acting been undeserved. In the case under con- British Consul at Ssumao, on the “
Prospects sideration, a strong initiative was expected of development of commercial intercourse from them," our correspondent says, as with South-western Yunnan and a short British subjects had been the chief vic-account of the trade of Ssumao." tims of local atrocity. In the result the JAMIESON in that report found it difficult foreign critics put down Sir ARTHUR to understand on what grounds sanguine GASELEE's timidity to the pressuce of a hopes of Yunnan's future prosperity were political officer, who would do nothing based, seeing what little support such hopes. that was not in strict accord with the jots received from competent observers. and tittles of official procedure." On the said: " Apart from minerals, the province very rare occasions where our naval or possesses few other resources, and the military authorities have taken the initia- inhabitants are unenterprising and lazy to tive, the diplomatists have taken care to "a degree. So long as they can grow give away any advantages gained. Possibly enough rice to feed themselves and procure this may account for the almost absolute enough cotton wherewith to make the lack of any vigour displayed by British
few articles of clothing necessary in this officers in the North; otherwise it can only equable climate, they are content." As for be attributed to mere incompetence, which we
as Ssumao is concerned Mr. LITTON's report are loth to believe, though that our Contin- is no more hopeful than was Mr. JAMIESON'S. ental critics hold this opinion cannot be denied. He is of opinion that there is little For all the voice that we have had of late in chance that the foreign trade of the town North-China in matters where our interests will ever assume considerable proportions ; are vitally concerned, it must be confessed the importance of the place has been grossly that we might well be a third-rate Power. exaggerated, he says, and its opening to The total result of the Paotingfu expedi- trade has resulted in no benefit to British tion, however, can have been satisfactory to interests. In itself a town of 1,800 houses, very few. The French can congratulate chiefly mud-built, with a population of 9,000, themselves on their superior smartness, but in Kwangtung it would only be regarded as they seem to have reached their objective a large village. It is in a mountainous and rst by a disregard of the general plan poor region, and the population consists similar to that displayed by the Russians largely of Shans, Lolos, etc. Communica- outside Peking in August last. The tions are exe rable. There are no important general action of the Allies toward the local products, except the tea industry cen- Chinese and Manchu officials can only tred at Ipang and the salt industry near be characterised as extraordinary. It can- Pu-erh. Tropical rains and malaria cut not be held that, guilty as the majority off trade with the Shan States to the almost entirely were of the atrocities against Europeans south and south-west perpetrated at Paotingfu earlier in the year, the fate which befell them was undeserved when they were beheaded for this was the punishment inflicted, as was seen from the report which we reproduced On the 21st ult. from the Ostasiatische Lloyd. But their reception in the first instance as "honourable men," 08 our correspondent describes (and his account is substantially the same as others already received), marks a lack of decision in the conduct of the Allies which is discreditable, The last scene, in which TING YUNG, the Tartar General, and the cavalry colonel who suffered decapitation with them were executed, may have been impressive to the onlookers.
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for the four months from June September. Thus,' says Mr. LITTON, all the conditions necessary for a flourish. ing British commerce are conspicuous by their absence, and it is so remote (eigh "teen stages) from Yunan-fu, the provincial capital, and news percolates so slowly, that "the officer stationed at Ssumao can only be very imperfectly informed of what is “going on in Chinese official circles." Mr. LITTON substantiates his remarks. Ssumao's trade with figures which bear out his conclusions, and certainly cannot be said to fail to establish his case.
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Of Mengtse, the other open mart of the Yunnan southern frontier, Mr. LITTON
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