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GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY,
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[February 1, 1902.
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We should like to think that the reported | was not satisfied that the medical inspection view of part of the German Press, that of people (arriving by boat) was useless, for differences between England and Germany he thought it had never a fair chance. resemble a family squabble," is correct, Moreover, he expressed his opinion that two but we fear that the analogy is unconvine- men were competent to examine the 2,000 ing. As for the immediate result of the people who, roughly speaking, come to present disagreement, it is most probable Hongkong from the mainland daily. In that German trade with Great Britain will the face of Professor SIMPSON's and Dr. suffer a severe blow. We cannot but CLARK's opinion the Board decided not to suspect the correspondent of exaggeration attempt any such examination. Mr. FUNG who tells us that "everything German is WA CHUN, who strongly supported the now cordially hated" in England. The Register-General's side of the question,
so afraid' time is doubtless favourable for English remarked that the Chinese are manufacturers to carry on a vigorous of the sanitary measures of the Colony campaign against the purchase of articles that Hongkong is the last place they will made in Germany," and a corresponding come to. The obvious answer to this is encouragement to home industries may be that if they know that they will be inspected looked for. The effect of this may indeed before landing they are still less likely to be permanent, but Count VON BULow imperil Hongkong by trying to come here was perfectly right when he insisted when ailing, and that the inspection is an the weighty interests connecting additional protection. From this point of Britain and Germany and the ne essity view, even if the inspection only revealed of peaceful and friendly relations. The two cases as in 1894, it would serve its pur- Inaterial loss to Germany occasioned by the pose. The Sanitary Board, however, allowed official toleration of atrocious calumnies, itself to be persuaded out of adopting the disproved again and again but as often opinion of the expert who has been procured maliciously revived, will afford the German from home at no sall cost and of the Chancellor excellent food for reflection in Medical Officer of Health for the Port. the future and provide him with potent We do not think we are alone in consider- arguments to address to future Reichstags.ing that a grave mistake has been made at In the meantime, the best course for those the outset of the campaign against our who have the cause of international concord | greatest scourge. sincerely at heart is to use their efforts in behalf of the suppression of viclent spee-hes. A SCHOOL FOR EUROPEAN An embargo on public speaking in Britain
CHILDREN IN HONGKONG. and Germany for the next six months, coupled with a censorship of the Press, would clear the situation of difficulties. We are not, however, in Utopia, and we must rely on commonsense to check the abuse of language which has produced so strained a situation.
THE SANITARY BOARD AND
PROFESSOR SIMPSON'S
(Dai'y Press, 27th January.) Probably in no quarter of the world is the present state of feelings between Great Britain and Germany more regretted than in this Colony of Hongkong, where for so long Britons and Germans have lived and worked side by side in the fullest accord and friendship. The temporary discords which have hitherto disturbed Arglo-Ger- man barmony never found an echo here. For this reason we have been loth in the past to discuss the new anti-British agitation in Germany and the resulting attitude toward Germany in England. It is neces- sary, however, to face the situation, un- pleasant as it may be, and the telegrams which we publish to-day in another column from the Ceylon papers call for our atten- tion. REUTER has already given us the main outlines of the situation, but up to now we have had no precise details. We knew of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN'S speech, of Count VON BULow's "rebuke," some were pleased to call it, and of the farther reply of the Secretary for the Colonies. We also learnt that the Britisli and Continental Press was greatly stirred by this verbal passage of arms. We are now in possession of some fresh details, which show the state of feeling to be worse than was feared. Much, no doubt, is due to the oratorical indiscretion of the two Ministers who play the leading parts in the quarrel. As for Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's original speech at Edinburgh, it is difficult to see what real ground of offence toward Germany there was therein.
The German critics whose anger was roused by it relied on translations for the text of it, and were accordingly misled, as has been acknowledged by. the more honest of them. Count VON BULOW, however, in his speech on the 8th instant, took upon himself to lecture Mr. CHAM- BERLAIN on his lack of caution, which, he said, was "more regretable in the case of a Minister referring to a country which had always entertained friendly relations, the continuance whereof was of equal interest to both parties." The German Chancellor further implied that some sort of apology had been made in the explanations furnished of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's words. The effect of this on the latter was to draw from him a defiant speech at Birmingham on the 11th instant, in which he repudiated the idea of an apology being called for, adding that he "would not follow the example set him, did not want to give lessons to a Foreign Minister, and would not accept any; he was responsible only to his Sover- eign and his countrymen." To make sary.
Now the five who are to be engaged make matters worse, he aflirmed the from India are to be allotted between them hostility toward England to be of a the ten health-districts of the city, and the century's duration and always ready to two who have been dropped are those who break out in our times of difficulty. Viewed were to have examined pe sous going to and simply as a fighting speech, this no doubt arriving from Canton and the Chinese was excellent, but it did not tend to mainland. Professor SIMPSON's thirteenth render Anglo-German relations easier, and recommendation, in the report published a more tactiul statesman would have avoided by us yesterday, reads as follows: "In still further embittering feelings. Mr. Hongkong, with its proximity and daily CHAMBERLAIN, no doubt, had been stung intercommunications with Canton and by the mild attitude taken up by the Macao, which appear not to be free of Chancellor over the gross insult levelled at plague, it is necessary to prevent as far as the British Minister by a member of the possible the importation of plague, because Reichstag who proclaimed him to be "the every such importation is likely to add to most accursed scoundrel on God's earth." "the number of infected centres. This re- The same gentleman stated that the British quires arrangements and medical officers Army was composed of thieves and brigands. for the inspection of incoming passengers Tha such language should be passed over "from these places. Possibly in the even with what REUTER describes as a "Port as in the districts assistant sur- severe censure is of littl's credit to Count
geous from India trained in plague work VON BULow or to the dignity of the Ger- "could be employed under supervision.' man Reichstag, and it is hardly therefore This deliberate expression of opinion is to be wondered at that the lead of the therefore be set aside. In addition to Times has been followed widely in England.' this, Dr. CLARK stated on Thursday that he
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REPORT.
(Daily Press, 30th January.) We do not think that the Sanitary Board is to be congratulated on its decision to cut down the number of assistant surgeons to be engaged for the investigation of suspicious deaths and actual cases of plague, house-to- house visiting, etc., from seven (as proposed by the Medical Officer of Health) to five. Before the termination of the discussion the President of the Board insisted on the advisability of nn unanimous vote, and in accordance with this the strong stand made by the Hon. A. W. BREWIN was sufficient to secure a reduction, on the understanding that more should be got later on, if neces-
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(Daily Press, 31st January.) The welcome news which reached the Colony at the beginning of last week that the Colonial Office was prepared to accede to Hongkong's request for a school, aided by Government, for European children exclusively, does not of course imply int henceforward all is plain sailing and that no difficulties remain in the way. The home authorities have recognised the reason- ableness of the petition from Hongkong residents, strongly backed by official support, that a system of education should be attainable by children of European parents, of a better character than is as yet provided ; and they have promised their support to the scheme. The details, however, remain to be settled, and upon their satisfactory settlement depends the success of the boon for which European parents here have At the present up to now striven hard. moment there is sitting in the Colony an Education Commission, appointed by H.E. the Governor, which has under its considera- tion the general question of schools and teaching in Hongkong. Among the matters before the members of this Commission the subject of the now promised European school will naturally take an important place. We do not, however, think that they alone are concerned in the affair from this time forward. We may feel certain that the learning of the wishes of the European parents here will occupy some of their time. Nevertheless, it seems to us that the parents would do well for them- selves and their children if they were to take a certain initintive themselves. The relations between the European community and the Government have been so cordial over the educational question that a coa- tinuance of the co-operation seems natural. If it be possible, we would suggest that the excellent organisation of the committee which drew up the petition to Sir HENRY RLAKE be revived, either formally or infor- mally. That committee sug.ested three main points in the petition, but naturally shrank at the early stage in the movement from entering minutely into particulars. -(1) that the The points suggested were :—