September 27, 1902. j
experiments or of offending factions. Hence there is little likelihood, during the life of tle BALFOUR Cabinet, of any great change in policy either at home or abroad, espe- cially in a direction that might affect votes, For the present, therefore, the missionary, in China will enjoy all his ancient privileges and liberties, and may wander into its remotest corners, heat on teaching the doctrines of Christianity to the material istic followers of Confucius and the degenes rate professors of Buddhism. We do not, for a moment assert that there would be no ¡ loss if the missionaries were precluded from teaching in districts where no efficient protection can be given to them. No doubt they do some good, if their converts are few, and genuine native Christians fewer still. Moreover, the missionaries have done good service in making the country, its .productions, and its inhabitants known, and they must be regarded as the first pioneers of Western civilisation. But if these benefits are only to be secured at the price of frequent and heartrending mas- sacres, then we think the cost is too great, and we are inclined to advise waiting until the wants of China necessitate the opening up of these remoter districts of the interior
to trade and residence.
THE SIAMESE QUESTION.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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234
that such short-sightedness does not prevail. and Vancouver to ten days. In view of The Rangoon Gazette recently had a well these facts, the Hongkong General Cham- reasoned article on the subject of the ber of Commerce, which in April, 1900, Siamese crisis, in which it was pointed out endorsed the renewal of the mail contract } that the conditions which obtained at the between the British Government and the date of the Convention of 1896 have been. P. R. Co.. passed the following re- cutirely altered by the completion last year solution :-
:-"That this Chamber strongly of the Bangkok-Korat line of railway, the endorses the necessity for a fast and terminus of which is now only eight "hours “reliable Atlantic service being inaugurated distant from Bangkok and is situated in “in connection with the present excellent the heart of one of the eastern provincés service between China, Japan, and Canada, the integrity of which has leen explicitly and being of opinion, judging by the left unguaranteed by the 1896 Convention. regularity, despatch, and reliability of the The alteration made by the construction of "Canadian Pacific Railway Company's this line in the political situation, says our present Pacific service, that an equally contemporary, is such that, in the opinion satisfactory Atlantic service would be of competent observers, if no steps be now provided on the improved conditions taken to counteract its effects, the valley of "stated above ' [which we have just the Menam will fall into the possession of the summarised], “hereby recommends that the French, and thus the South-eastern frontier "contract for such a mail and passenger of om Indian Empire will be exposed "service he accordingly entrusted to the to langers which will be best appreciated Canadian Pacific Railway Company, and by those who have to guard against them. that a copy of this resolution be mailed No argument is directed against such con- "to the Postmasters-General at London,
the advocates of British England, and Ottawa, Canada." expansion in Malaya, who content them- selves with talking about Siamese injustice to t is or that pity prince and the anxiety of the people of Kelantan, etc.. to come under British rule. Such an agitation is calculated to counteract the good effects of British aid to Siam in the past as well as to encourage the followers of M. Dormer. We trust that it will find no supporters in the negotiations which the Siamese Vice- Minister of the Iu erior is said to be con ducting with Britain, France, and Germany,
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tentions
THE C. P. R. AND STEAMSHIP
SERVICES.
(Daily Press, 22nd September.)
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The recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce will meet with the approval of the whole mercantile and general community in Hongkong, and the prospect held ont of so rapid a passage between Britain and the Far East ria Canada is most alluring. It is to be hoped that the advice of the Globe will be followed and that the Canadiau Pacific Railway Company will reap the fruit of its past services by securing this new contract, which promises great things for British interests in the Far East at a time when they are threatened by most determined rivals.
UNRULY RICKSHA-COOLIES.
(Daily Press, 25th September) It will have been seen that certain French organs have assumed the British occupa- tion of Kelantan, one of the Siamese Malay States, so groundlessly predicted in a Singapore paper, to be an accomplished fact and that they regard the supposed aggression with indifference. This is not surprising. Such a foolish and wanton piece of land-grabbing would exactly suit
(Daily Press, 21th September.) the book of the French Colonial extremists. In our issue of Saturday we published a We have received a letter from a corres- They would delight to sec Britain trking telegram from our London correspondent in pondent with reference to unruly ricksha over Siamese Malaya, for they could then which it was stated that the London even- coolies, for which unfortunately we cannot with reason urge the seizure by France of ing paper the Globe had commented to-day find space. The writer alludes to the the rest of Siam outside the Meuam Valley, favourably on a resolution of the Hongkong case in which Mr. J. H. KEMP, Acting Police and their misinterpretation of the first General Chamber of Commerce in support Magistrate, inflicted the full penalty of teu clause of the Anglo-French declaration of of au accelerated steamship service ria dollars on a ricksha-coolie for refusing hire 1898 concerning SiaLi would have been Canada and had suggested that steps should and congratulates him on the firmness justified. For some reason, which we have be taken to ascertain what the increased shown. Nevertheless he points out that been unable to discover, irresponsible cost will Le and then whether it is possible such fines being paid by the guild to which politicians at Singapore have been working to increase the present subsidies. As the these coolies belong cannot really have hard to bring about this solution (F) of the resolution of the Chamber of Commerce had much effect and that a few days' imprison. Siamese question. Elsewhere in the Brit sb not uceu published in Hongkong, the exact ment without the option of a fine would do Our Empire, wherever the matter receives any reference of the telegram was rather obscure, more to bring them to their senses. study, the effacement of Siam, which would the expression accelerated steamship correspondent goes on to mention his own follow the absorption of Siamese Malaya service ria Canada in particular being experiences (which will be corroborated by and Eastern Stain as a matter of course, is ambiguous. As a matter of fact the real almost any resident) of ricksha-coolies pre- regarded as a calamity against which Great words of the Chamber's resolution, which tending to be engaged when an attempt is Britain must guard to the best of her was passed by its emmittee on the 16th made to hire them, if they anticipate the ability. But not only do the annexa instant, were quite clear. The subject dealt opportunity of a more lucrative fire. This tionists propose to reduce to practical non- with was that of a fast Atlantic service is confirmed by Inspector WARNOCK'S existence the present buffer-state between between Canada and Great Britain, to be statement to the Magistrate on Monday. British and French possessions in South- undertaken by the Canadian Pacific Railway when he said that it was impossible for a Eastern Asia, but they are apparently Company. Negotiations, as has already civilian to get a ricksha where there was a willing in exchange for the not over-valuable | been announ ed, are going on between the prospect of the coolie picking up a drunken Malay possessions of Siam to hand to
British and Canadian Governments and the sailor. As a means of telling whether a France the key to Bangkok aud the control C P. R. Co. for the establishment of a coolie is really waiting for his fare when be thereby of the Menam river. Such a policy fast passenger and mail service between claims to be, our correspondent suggests is one not only of unrighteous aggression Canada and Great Britain. This scheme that the Government should issue cards against Siam Lut also of foolish improvi-vas unanimously endorsed by the Montreal with the word "Engaged
upou them to dence with regard to the interests of Great Board of Trade last July. The C. P. R. all pullers of public rickshas, who should would Britain. It is in this way that the matter Co., which has for twelve years successfully be warned beforehand that they. affects Hongkong. The growth of a foreign | operated a fast line of steamers across the be severely dealt with if caught using This scheue is, Power's strent in this part of the world Pacific in connection with its railway system, the card wrongfully. cannot be regarded with indifference in this now offers to put into service ships of the fear, impracticable, for the coolie Colony, the great British. outpost in South most modern type, in no way inferior to the who offends now by verbal misrepre China, Singapore of course is, through its best ves els running to and from New York,sentation would continue to rely on grenter nearness to Baugkok, still more with a sen-speed of not less than twenty the aversion of the general public to attend- affected than Hongkong by the possibility knots, so as, in conjunction with an acceler- ing the Police Court to pr secute. It is some of Sam becoming alienated to a strongated train service, to reduce the journey times complained that the police are remiss Colonial nation. Yet apparently the idea
in their control of ricksha aud chair-coolies, of gaining a few more Malay States blinds
but we have not heard of cases, under the a section of the public there to the dangers
present régime, in which a constable has threatened. In Rangoon it is good to see
refused to interfere when appealed to by a
from London to Vancouver to nine days, instead of the present fourteen; while the Pacific service will probably be improved by shortening the time between Yokohama
we
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