170
THE PEKING NEGOTIATIONS.
(Daily Press, 23rd February.) The Japanese native papers give some de- tails about the conferences between the re- presentatives of the Powers and the Chinese Plenipotentiaries at Peking during the early part of the current month, which are fuller than those which have yet reached us from other sources. A Peking telegrain of the 6th inst. to the Jiji states that on the pre- vious day the "second conference" between the international and the Chinese negotiators took place, when at the outset the question of inflicting punishment on members of the Imperial family was discussed. The Chi- nese Envoys asked the Ministers to be satis- fied with the decapitation of Prince CHUANG and Yu HSIEN, and pleaded for the life of Prince TUAN on the ground that he was a near relation of the Imperial Household. The foreign representatives made no reply, and closed the conference, stating that if that was the Chinese attitude the peace negotiations might have to be abandoned. However, says the Jiji correspondent, they promised to consider the matter before the next meeting. The Mainichi correspondent adds that the representatives of the Powers dictated the following terms:--- (1) Prince TUAN to be imprisoned until he is decapi- tated, instead of being imprisoned for life as suggested by the Chinese Government; and (2) eight others, Prince CHUANG, Yu HSIEN, LAN, TUNG FUHSIANG, YUNG LU, CHAO SHU-CHIAO, LIEN, and YING NIEN, to be decapitated. It seems, how ever, probable that there was no actual demand made at the conference, and the other Japanese native papers state that the foreign representatives delivered an official document to the Chinese envoys either on
the 7th or on the 8th inst. In this the Asahi says that they demanded the impri- sonment of Prince TUAN and LIEN for life in a remote district, the ordering of Prince CHUANG to commit suicide, the execution of
TUNG FUHSIANG, YU HSIEN, VING NIEN,
CHAO SHU-CHIAO, and two others, the can- cellation of honours bestowed during their Vifetime on KANG-YI and LI PING-HENG and the restoration to office of certain friendly officials who have been degraded. The Chinese Plenipotentiaries professed to be unable to reply to these demands and telegraphed to Hsianfu for instructions from the Imperial Court.
The tale of the negotiations is at best a tangled one, and there are various discre- pancies between our previous accounts re- ceived via Shanghai and the Japanese versions set forth above. Our own correspondent made the numbers of head's demanded eleven, including those of the authors of the Chuchou massacre, and this report is supported from many sources. But with all the differences in the accounts, the actual progress of negotiations remains sub stantially the same. The Chinese Plenipo- tentiaries were exercising all their subtlety to evade the carrying out of the penalties demanded, and only a very firm front on the part of the Allies could meet them satis factorily. The expedition which Count VON WALDERSBE projected was designed to hasten China'a compliance with the de- mands of the Powers, and if the Court remained recalcitrant it was only logical that hostile measures should be resumed. The expeditions, it was promised, were to cease on the acceptance by China of the proposed terms, and except for a few isolated affairs with brigands and pirates fighting has been discontinued during the present year. Count von Waldersee, no doubt, felt that the policy of the Powers would be absolutely stultified by inaction in face of the Chinese
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March 2, 1901.
Government's passive resistance. Nor can tion, and a slight extra demand unhinges. it be said that such an attitude on the part of the local markets. Still an enormous ex- the Commander-in-Chief was unreasonable. penditure has taken place on what may be But many of the Governments of Europe called the capital side of the account in and that of Washington have already shown bringing the occupying troops to the front, that they are heartily tired of the war. and another enormous expenditure has to The revelations as to the manner in which be faced in removing them. The cost and it has been carried on in Chihli have wear of keeping the force on the spot had some effect, and a revulsion has is only the additional expense of keep- been created since the state of indigna-ing it up in China as compared with tion which prevailed last summer toward India, and looking at the mere economics China. This is not unnatural, but never- of the situation, it would certainly be theless a most serious blunder would have a false economy to attempt to remove it been committed if the Powers had followed until the object of the occupation were divided counsels. At no time more than at indubitably attained. It would not be the present has unanimity been needed. the first time, even in China, that a too We brought the Chinese Government to hasty withdrawal has had to be supplement- a certain point, in spite of all the resources ed by the despatch of another force on an of diplomacy which none know better how increased scale; and at the very moment we to use. If we had begun to falter we were find, after prematurely withdrawing the mo- certain to lose all the results of our previous bile portion of our army of occupation from labours. Count voN WALDERSEE was acting South Africa, that we have had to send a in logical accordance with the plan to which still larger force to accomplish the tasks the Allies gave their support previously, which we had unwisely supposed were ended. and he therefore should be supported if a Now in China we have a precedent directly military demonstration unfortunately be to the point. In 1858, Lord ELGIN Conclud- came necessary. To show now that we are ed the treaty of Tientsin, so far as the signa- unwilling to back up our words with deedstures were concerned; but he omitted the would have been criminal, for it would only very important element of making it effic. prolong indefinitely & crisis which has tive, and took away the force in view of already inflicted incalculable wounds on which the Chinese Court had directed its China and exhausted the patience of the representative to sign. When the next year, foreign Powers who have relations with her.unbacked by any tangible means of enforc Fortunately, however, we learn by our Lon- ing the provisions of the treaty, the Minister don correspondent's telegram that China, elect presented himself at the entrance of or rather the Chinese Government, has the Peiho, he found the passage barred. yielded to the Powers' demand for the The Chinese had reasoned that the occupy- punishment of the officials. A report is ing force having been withdrawn before the also stated to exist that LAN, TUNG FUR-work in hand was accomplished, the reason STANG, and probably Prince TUAN (the name was that the occupation had proved too ex- is mutilated in the telegram), though they pensive, and the British Government feared are to be condemned, may be allowed to from economic reasons to continue it, much escape by a commutation of their sentences less to go to the expense of renewing it.. to banishment for life. The reason for this We know the result; a larger force had to special favour to LAN and General TUNG is be sent out to accomplish what the first zot obvious; in the case of Prince TUAN his should have done, but did not. Even this Imperial blood has saved him. In the other second force through the too easy acquies- cases it is to be presumed that the death cence of Lord ELGIN left the end of its task penalty will be carried out. That the Times incomplete, and we have had to seek the is correct in its surmise that Count von remedy by the despatch of our present army WALDERSEE's threat is responsible for the of occupation. As long as the means of sudden submission of China few, we think, enforcing them were in sight the Chinese can doubt. It is a most happy result from Government was no doubt perfectly sincere a move dictated by commonsense.
in its promises of abiding by its stipulations. Lord ELGIN, we know, as Sir JOHN DAVIS before him, was perfectly charmed by the ready acquiesceuce displayed. Nothing could (Daily Press, 28th February.)
have been nicer; the whole Government Our Tientsin correspondent warns us from the Emperor down had turned over a against the rumours current in that port new leaf, and all were devoted be ievers in about the rapid removal of the British troops, the new regime that had come to regenerate but nevertheless from private sources in the China. History tells us what happened; North we learn that preparations for the and how it required a new war and a new almost immediate departure of our forces treaty before the first stipulation in the pre- from North China were, more than a vious, that of residence in Peking, was pos- fortnight ago, far advanced, and the date sible. Ex uno disce omnes. The Chinese given for beginning the embarkation was on Government has at last consented to punish or about the 15th March. Doubtless every those chiefly responsible for the "Boxer" Englishman will breathe the freer when the enormities; but the sentences have not yet time comes that the troops, which were sent to been carried out, and much difficulty may China unwillingly, may be safely retired, and be experienced by Court before this the only question remaining is whether or can be crienced. The presence of foreign not there is any possiblity of the period troops in Peking and Tientsin is the best, being so near. 'There are many reasons why the only guarantee that justice will be done. our Government should desire to determine" Forewarned," we are told in the proverb, a foreign occupation; in the first place it is "is forearmed," or so it ought to be. But in most cases a sheer waste of force when is it? Let the revival of disaffection in the occupation is not intended to be per- manent, and in the second place it is enor- mously expensive keeping a force in a for- eign country where nearly everything has to be imported, and those supplies purchased on the spot have to be paid for at famine prices. Owing to centuries of misgovernment, the North of China has ceased to be a productive country; the population presses on the means of produc-
THE EVACUATION QUESTION.
South Africa, and the result of Lord ELGIN's fatuous retreat from Tientsin be in evidence, before our Government determines on a course which will entail not only dishonour, but even from the narrow economical field of view must result in disastrous loss.
The death is reported from Foochow of Dr. Underwood, a well-known medical practitioner at Pagoda Anchorage.