104
of
China, or rather to the Nanking Viceroy, who so loyally withstood the temptation to yield to the pressure of his own reactionary countrymen in 1900. It is full time that the Powers now came to an understanding in the matter of Shanghai. As Admiral SEYMOUR says, keen international com- petition demands the evacuation Shanghai. Three of the four Powers involved are reasonable enough to see this. Whence this strange blindness on the part of Germany? The Germans have the reputation of being a highly intelligent people commercially, but by their clinging to the garrison at Shanghai they bely this reputation sadly. We more than suspect that some ideas about the "Yangtsze' Agreement (as Count VON BULow and his fellow ministers persistently miscall the Anglo-German Agreement about China) are perverting the brains of the authorities in Germany responsible for the foolish proceeding at Shanghai. The matter does not, however, concern Germany alone, and it is time that diplomatic representations to this effect were made. A simultaneous withdrawal of the international troops will relieve Shanghai aud promote the peace of the Far East.
THE EVACUATION OF MANCHURIA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
later, it still remains unfulfi fled. agents of the St. Petersburg government The have performed some notable fents in 'diplomacy," but this seems to surpass them all.
HEALTH REPORT FOR 1991.
by actions which the Colony's Principal
Civil Medical Officer declares will continue to nourish it in our midst. But the whole
idea is a fallacy, upset time after time. We do not advocate treating our Chinese fellow-residents altogether after the methods of their own country's administrators, but there are some points in which the latter show considerable wisdom. It is in accord- ance with Chinese views that a neighbour- hood should be held collectively responsible for outrages committed by any of its inhabitants if the offenders cannot be traced for certain. But the pseudo-humanitarians will of course listen to nothing of this, and we get plague-infected bodies thrown into the streets, the houses in which they had ing for five successive years, and the advice lived not disinfected, the epidemic flourish- of the Government's own medical advisers put in a Downing Street pigeonhole. If it there would be an element of comedy in were not for the deaths of the yearly victims,
the situation. But Governments are not humour than with commonsense. more necessarily endowed with a sense of
(August 11, 1902. occurs, so long will plague continue in our midst."
The dumping of plague-corpses this year has unfortunately prevailed to a greater extent than before, in proportion to the total number of deaths, and yet we have no evidence that the authorities are doing anything to prevent it beyond punishing (Daily Press, 5th August.)
the depositors when caught-that is, prac The bulk of Dr. J. M. ATKINSON's report inhabitants of the neighbourhood where the tically never. A proposal to fine the on the health and sanitary condition of the
is found was rejected early this year, corpse was placed before our Colony in 1901 readers yesterday, but it will not be unpro-
and dumping goes on merrily-if we can- fitable to consider some of the main points it could be shown that the Government is use such a qualification in this context. If again. The birth-rate, it will have been noticed, was higher than in 1900, while the right in treating the Chinese of Victoria deatli-rate lower—the latter in spite of the trians, etc., then the European resident entirely as if they were Londoners, Mances- fact that the non-Chinese death-rate in-here might also fold his hands and watch creased very slightly. But for plague, the plague being maintained in its virulence which accounted for 1,562 victims, the rate of mortality per 1,000 would have been only 19.03; it was actually 23.5 per 1,000. Turning to the principal discases which attacked the Colony, we find that small-pox and plague were much worse in 1901 than in 1903. Beri-beri showed a slight increase, while enteric and malarial fevers were less severe. A table of cases of infc.ious discase during each month of 1901 shows the usual climax in May and June. The totals for the twelve months were:-January 12, February 37, March 101, April 192 (160 plague), May 721 (701 plague), June 569 (551 plague), July 118 (109 plage), (Daily Press, 2nd August.)
August 30, September 34, October 8, It is more than a month now since Count November 14, December 11. The mortality- CASSINI On behalf of Russia formally notified table of the different seasons likewise shows the Home Department at Washington that his May and June the most fatal months, country had evacuated Manchuria and that though were it not for plague and small. the province was now ready for government pox September, October, and December by the Chinese. The Russian Ambassador would have been the most fatal. Taking also, the new mail papers inform us, the four quarters of the year separately authorised the publication of an interview we find the death-rates per 1,000 with him, in which he gave his views about Lord CRANBORNE's statement in the House Chinese 17.57; second quarter, non-Chinese first quarter, non-Chinese 16.92, of Commons on Manchuria. The Ambas-26.07, Chinese 34.06; third quarter, non- sador considered it hardly frauk to say that Chinese 20.13, Chinese negotiations are proceeding for the evacua- quarter, non Chinese 18.91, Chinese 21.27. tion of the province, since Manchuria had Plague and small-pox between then been returned to China, according to Russia's accounted for 1,728 deaths out of a total of original programme and promise. The 7,082. Cholera had fortunately not made whole world, Count CASSINI thought, must its appearance in Hongkong in 1901, the understand that Newchwang is only seventeen reported cases being all on one retained as a bostage for the evacuation of ship from Singapore. Teintsin; Newchwang and its railways would be returned to China whenever the corresponding obligations were fulfilled at Tientsin. Now with regard to Newchang there is nothing much to be said. Tientsin is to be hauded back to China on the 15th instant, if nothing untoward occurs, and Newchwang, according to Russia's engage- ment, will similarly be restored. But with regard to the evacuation of Mau- churia, we are entitled to ask what meaning Conut CASSINI attaches to the words. It is a perfectly well known fact. endorsed from all sources of informa- tion in the North, that Manchuria has not been evacuated by the Russian troops. At the time when Count CASSINI was making his assurance to Washington, advices were arriving from Manchuria that not the slightest indication of withdrawal Way given on the part of the Tsar's forces. Now we are perfectly aware that what is in other professions and branches of life looked upon as barefaced mendacity is not so regarded in diplomacy. Nevertheless, there are some limits to the license allowed to the representative of a great Power in the assuranc.s which he gives to other governments, and the Russian Ambassador at Washington has surely passed all limits in gravely assuring the United States Home Department that a promise had been ful filled when to this day, more than a month
were :
30.97; fourth
what gains for the Colony its unenviable It is easy to see from the figures above reputation in the second quarter of the year. The tale is one which has been repeated ever since plague took a strong hold upon the island. 1901 was the fourth year in succession that the disease has been epidemic here-unhappily we must add that 1902 is the fifth year-and it was remarkable from the number of Europeans attacked, 30 in all, the previous highest being the 28 of 1898. Everyone will endorse the remark of Dr. ATKINSON as to the presence of plague for four years running showing the necessity of more radical measures being taken to improve the sanitary state of the Colony; and the chief result of the visit of the two experts sent out from England is therefore awaited with auxiety. By the "chief | result," of course, we mean the
pro. posed new Bill which deals, with the whole question of sanitation and build- ing in Hongkong. But in the meantime there is one statement of the Principal Civil Medical Officer with reference to plague to which particular attention must be called. The number of dead bodies found lying in the streets, says Dr. ATKINSON, accounts for the annual recurrence of plague, as of necessity the houses from which they come are not disinfected. "As long as this deposition of dead bodies in the streets
"
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THE CORONATION.
TELEGRAM FROM THE KING. Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., the Colonial Secretary, kindly forwarded us on Fri- day the following cour of Д telegram from the Secretary of State, London, to the
Majesty the King has written to his people on Governor, Hongkong, dated 8th August:-
"Following is text of a letter which His the occasion of Their Majesties' Coronation :--
"To my people on the eve of my Coronation, au event which I look upon as one of the most solemn and important in my life.
I am anxious to express to my people at felt appreciation of the deep sympathy which home and in the Colonies and in India my heart- they have manifested towards me during the time that my life was in such imminent danger. The postponement of the ceremony owing to my illness caused, I fear, much inconvenience and trouble to those who intended to celebrate
it, but their disappointment was borne by them with admirable patience and temper. The heard, and I now offer up my deepest gratitude prayers of my people for my recovery were to Divice Providence for having preserved my life and given me strength to fulfil the import- aut duties which devolve upon me as the Sovereign of this great Empire Buckingham Palace,
16
་ ་་
(Sd.) EDWARD R. AND I,
8th August, 1902.
The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty:-Commander.-M. H. H. Nelson, to the Endymion, P. D'A. de Saumarez, to the Ocean; Lieutenants -H. D. Colville, to the Glory, to date June 26; J. Jones, to the Kinsha, H. Gratton, to the Alacrity, J. M. Maxwell-Scott, to the Talbot, W. T. R. Ford,
to the Rambler, G. G. P. Hewett, to the Vestal (N), U. Greenwood, to the Albion, and I. Mac. kenzie, to the Rambler, all reappointed on promotion, to date June 26.
1