"
AS
*
*
November 9, 1901.]·
I
says: "I am decidedly of opinion, in view of the deficit with which we are confronted, that the immediate necessity of these lines should be seriously reconsidered by the Cabinet and as many as possible postponed to a more favourable occasion. "would take the present opportunity for 'suggesting for the sideration of the "Government the desirableness of appoint- ing a small committe to consider the "whole question of thxtension of the telegraph system of Siam and to draw up a scheme for the gradual execution of "their proposals." Similarly, with regar to railways, Mr. RIVETT-CARNAC says:-- The railways of Siam are, in accordance with the present policy, being constructel directly by the Government and the necessary funds are being provide out of Revenue. Up to the end of December last the Government had spent out of Revenue no less than, in round figures. “21,000,0000 ticals on the construction of Add railways during the last ten years. to this the expenditure betweeen the 1st January and 31st March of the year 119 (1901); the Railway Arbitration Award, 2,800,000 ticals, and the provision for the "construction of railways during the year 120, viz., 2,000,000 ticals, and it will le seen that current Revenue will have provided, by the end of the year 120, the enormous total of close on 27,000,000 ticals for the construction of railways. My opinion is that the time has come for the Government to discontinue the present
44
CE
*K
64
66
46
44
•
•
36
system.
of The administration
the
country is being rapidly developed and "more money must be spent year by year on Justice, Police, Education, Ordinary Public Works, and Administration gener- “ally, and the country should not be called upon to defray out of Revenue the cost of
as rail productive public works such "ways and irrigation which should, in course of time, not only pay their way but "also provide a profit for the Government. The time cannot be far distant, therefore, when Siam will have to follow the example "of every other prosperous nation and borrow money for the development of the country by a judicious and well considered system of productive public works.” The report goes on, a few lines later, to say that unless railways can be constructed very much more economically than has been
46
M
|
W
+
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
377
country is in no danger of financial to the competition becoming if possible more shipwreck. Mr. RIVETT-ÜARNAC concludes determined than before, and certainly under his report with the following words, an the new Government's influence nothing will be done to make the struggle less in- echo of what he states at the beginning :-
All this means that Mr. Roosevelt It will easily he seen that the Government tense. "is inaremarkably strong financial position. is an American of the Americans, and that, The Revenues are showing themselves to as he stated himself, he did not intend his "be elastic and they are being rapidly got oath of office, wherein he swore to uphold the under better control. The expenditure constitution of the United States and do also is being more and more devoted to his utmost "improvements in the administration of the Government with a view to the safety, convenience, and happiness of the people, while the audit and control of the dis- bursements by the Financial Department "is becoming real and effective."
+
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT,
means
Mr.
to ndvance their interests, should be in any sense a dead letter. On the other hand, what he can do in conson- ance with his oath of office to maintain friendly relations not only with England but with the rest of the world, he has given his word he is prepared to do. ROOSEVELT has shown himself in a character which is sure to make himself respected amongst all true Englishmen. He is above every other consideration a man of his word. Privately and commercially he has ever had the courage of his convictions; and placed above the wiles of the mere wirepuller he has always been sufficiently strong to carry While there- his private views into action. fore there is nothing that the new President would scorn more than being labelled as a
+
On
(Daily Press, 7th November.) With the incident of the Honourable SACKVILLE SACKVILLE-WEST before them it is curious that the home papers should peculate on the probabilities as to whether Mr. THEODORE ROOSEVELT, the new Presi-
friend" to England, there is nothing to dent of the United States, is or is not friendly to Great Britain. So far as Mr. ROOSE show that he would willingly inflict any VELT's antecedents go, they are such as will unjustifiable wrong on this country, or particularly recommend him to the sympathy would ever from mere caprice be led to take of the English as a nation. Mr. RoOSEVELT an unfriendly or indifferent attitude when had not, like most of his predecessors, to any accidental friction should intervene to begin his political career on the lowest step cause a revival of less cordial feelings than of fortune's ladder. Independent both have of late marked the political relations and character, he like certain of the two countries. It is not the practice Pomeranian families in the kingdom of of England or Englishmen to bear malice Prussia bears a name in itself suggestive of for wholesome rivalry. Competition we nobility: he comes, in fact, on one side from may rest assured will be none the less keen the old Dutch settlers who founded New that a new leader presides at the White Amsterdam, and who amid all the changes House, but we can assure the new occupant, of the century still claim the preeminence. that as long as the game is played fair, he Greatness in fact came to Mr. ROOSEVELT will meet with nothing but respect from without the necessity of wooing with every-every Englishman worthy of the name. thing in his favour, he soon acquired a re- the other hand, there is not unlikely to come putation for judgment in his native country, about a considerable change in the mercan- Even before he accompanied his celebrated tile relations of the States and Europe. Roughriders to Cuba he was already a man Mr. MCKINLEY in his tour in spring through of ark: his pluck and resourcefulness the western States gave some indications made him quickly the darling of the people. that the time had come for some tariff On his return he interested himself in the amelioration. Mr. ROOSEVELT has stated same in even more decided tones. affairs of his native State, and set his face the against the corruption that was sapping it. The ultra-protectionist duties at present Incommercial affairs he was for extending its levied have served their purpose, but communication with the rest of the world: begin to be burdensome to the people at more especially did he set himself to im- large. One of the new President's an- the case with the Korat Railway, and fur-prove the inland communications of the nouncements on various subjects communi- State. A gigantic ship-canal to take the cated to his Cabinet states this very clearly. ther, can be very much more economically managed, it would be far preferable for the place of the present Erie Canal has long His policy is the abolition of tariffs no Government to find some other means, such been one of his dreams, and he has not longer needed for revenue, provided that the as irrigation, for the development of Siam. concealed the fact that his intention is to abolition be not attended with injury to divert the entire of the enormous Lake American industries. This is dangerously near It has indeed been decided to frame and traffic of America from Canadian to United to Free Trade. But England, it has been carry out a regular scheme for the construc- States bottoms. More than any President long ago pointed out, has more to fear from tion and upkeep of irrigation-canals in the
that has gone before is he a supporter of the United States Free Trade, than from United interior.
MONROE Doctrine, and going beyond the States protection. That the States were in others he makes no secret of his view that the long run bound to lose from protective Canada should of right form part of the tariffs, was the growing opinion of Mr. States. His arguments have not succeeded MCKINLEY himself. In Mr. ROOSEVELT'S in persuading many Canadians nor indeed hauds it will probably be made a strong many of his own country; but the fact weapon in the coming industrial war. remains that it will not proceed from any lack of energy on the part of the new Pre- sident should the recent development of the foreign trade of the States undergo a check. Knowing the past of the new President there is no reason to fear any diminution of energy in the carrying out of the Trans- Isthmian Canal. Whatever may be the terns of the new agreement, we may rest assured that, once the work is begun under Mr. ROOSEVELT's administration, no time will be lost in pushing it to a successful issue. So far then we may rest assured that there will be no recession in the mercantile strife between England and the United States. On the contrary, everything points
To one ether point on the expenditure sirle we wish to refer, and that is to the Education Department. The report shows the estimates for the years 119 and 120 as 656,389 and 954,760 Ticals respectively, the increase thus being 298,371 Ticals. Yet the actual figures for 118 were only 261,148 Ticals. The enormous rise manifests the strenuous efforts of the Siamese Govern- ment to spread education among the people. It may be noted that Mr. RIVETT-CARNAC recommends a postponement in the con- struction of a new building for the King's College, Bangkok, for which the Estimates for 120 contain a provision of 200,000 Ticals. His advice here as in other departments is go slow." Siam does not seem to require stirring up to hasten the rate of her progress. Her danger is in the opposite extreme. Yet in spite of very large expenditure on the instruments of modern civilisation, the
24
H.E. Sheng. Director-General of Railways,
recently visited Hangchow to consult with Governor Jen Tao-yung about a proposed railway between Hangchow and Ch'ap'u, the former city. natural seaport town of the Indeed, Ch'ap'u did perform that function previous to the time of the entrance of the Manchu dynasty until about a hundred years afterwards, and was an important base for the Manchu naval operations for the conquest of Fohkien and Formosa in the latter part of the 17th century. H.E. Sheng subsequently visited Ch'ap'u also. It is further stated that H.E.'s visit to Chekiang also had reference to the Italian desire to construct this railway.