October 24, 1903.]
for Moukden, Tatungkou, and Changsha, then we should have had a substantial set-off against these privileges-for such they are, though nominally free to all the
world.
C4
(0
"
+$
44
46
"
41
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
*
8
299
be no
nations to run the risk of losing their | RYDER seemed, from his paper before the capital, forgetting the danger of preferential Geographical Society, to think one route tariffs being set up against us, and even at least feasible for a line of rails. Colonel permanent protectorates being established. MANIFOLD similarly says that there is no The iteration of such remarks is perhaps a doubt of the advantages of such a railway But, it may be said, the opening of little wearisome; but it seems to produce if it could be constructed at reasonable Moukden, Antung, and Tatungkou is small or no effect, though the arguments are cost, but great natural difficulties exist in farcical; Russia has dropped her bluff of both strong and true. With regard to the the formation of the country, and the cost evacuating Manchuria, and China has not question of preferential rates, as the Times would be enormous. Even the supporters the power to open any town in the pro- points out in noticing Colonel MANIFOLD'S of the scheme, he adds, admit that the most vince. The Japan Mail last week discussed address, while it is a fact that all the Great carefully chosen line must be expensive. this question.
It cannot be denied," said Powers have renounced preferential rates There is one question which we should like the Yokohama journal, "that the siguing within their spheres, the value of such
of such treaties constitutes an
to put in connection with this, namely, inter- renunciation to each of the signatories will would the cost be so enormous that it "national recognition of China's sovereignty depend upon the vigilance and energy with would be better to resign ourselves to the "in Manchuria. O the other hand, it can1- which it is enforced, and precedent seems to loss of the Upper Yangtze and the entire "not be denied that the pres ut condition justify the lecturer's scepticism as to British cutting up by French and other lines of of that sovereignty is altogether illusory. prospects nader it. It is true that the what was once called the British sphere The Kokumin Shimbun writes as though British Government some five years ago of influence in China? The alternative "the duty of seeing that the treaties deprecated British opposition to railway- seems certain. France has started some
are carried into practical effect de-construction by foreigners in "volved on the United States and Japan. maintaining, with the superb ingenuousness Yunnanfa, and however much the Chinese China, time ago to build a line from Hanoi to "It appears to is that such a use of which the Government always has shown section of it may lag there can "terms is somewhat erroneous. The right with regard to affairs in China, that such doubt it will one day be completed. If "to insist on the effective operation of building of r..ilways would not confer France is to be allowed to have the
the treaties certainly belongs to America political power on the builders. and Japan, but the duty of giving effect Timex sare stically remarks, in its article what figure shall we estimate British trade The entire monopoly of railways in Yunnan, at "to them rests wholly with China. Neither to which we have alluded: "Not only have with the province in the future? It is the Government of Tokyo nor that of "these imprudent foreigners rushed in not hard to guess the answer. The French Washington has incurred any new "where the sagacious Briton, under the Government is wisely guaranteeing the responsibility by siguing these covenants. 'advice of his still more sagacious rulers, construction of the railway, without any The two Powers bave obtained new feared to tread, but they are recklessly hope of a speedy repayinent, but seeing privileges. That is all. Should China" contemplating fresh enterprises.
that the Yunnan railway means the pre- show herself unable to carry out the "The Government will hardly care to repeat dominance of promises she has now made, the United "in these days the contestion that railway Yunnan, and that Yunnan is the key to the railway-builders in States and Japan will not be bound to "concessi ns in China do not confer political Szechuen, and Szechuen to the whole of furnish her with ability. Their natural power, which Lord SALISBURY advanced the Upper Yangtsze. Truly the cost of (6 course in such circumstances will be to "in the House of Lords two months after he a Burma-Yunnan line must be stupendous, "exact from her reparation for a violated "had instructed Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD if, the task being at least possible, Britain is pledge." But the Mail thinks that Russia "thut the Peking-Hankow concession, if still forced to sit still and watch her access to will offer no opposition to the opening the Russians had anything to say to it, the Upper Yangtsze being slowly but surely of the new marts. Her armed presence in "would become a political movement cut off. The days seem indeed remote when Manchuria need not interfere with trade. against British interests in the region of Britons in the Far East used to dream of a But, our contemporary continues, uuless "the Yangtsze.' The success with which railway from India through Burma and her designs in the Yalu Valley be of a the concessions for the Manchuria railway South China to Kowloon. That was long much more innocent character than appear- have been utilisel to effect the practical before Russia evolved her magnificent ances indicate, the opening of two new ports "annexation of three large provinces of project of a Trans-Siberian line, or the near the mouth of the river, especially when "the Chinese Empire has demonstrated French and Belgians ever imagined that one of them (Antung) constitutes her basis once for all the absurdity of that Parlia- they would have a Peking-Hankow (and, of operations in the Valley, cannot fail to mentary fiction." But, as the Times according to rumour, Hankow-Canton) line, affect the situation materially. The Mail remarks later on, there is little trace to be holds that the opening of such Manchurian seen, either in the Foreign Secretary's with Yunuan, Szechuan, and the Upper or France thought of connecting Hanoi towns as will place between Russia and Corea recent sprech or in the action of the Foreign Yangtsze. One of these lines is completed, a barrier of neutral settlements and Office, of any real grasp of the Chinese the second is well under way, and the third the acquisition of such concessions in Corea railway question. Yet this question, to the itself as would effectually Japanese influence
is commencing. In the meantime we most thoughtful observer, is that on which in the peninsula are Japan's best policy. the future of foreign influence in China The British Government will no doubt cannot even get a Kowloon-Canton railway. Things look at present as though both depends. If it is to be Russian railways, solace itself and the credulous electors at these consummations were in sight, con. French railways, German ailways which home, when a sea-board terminus in other cludes the Mail. We must confess that are to penetrate into the interior and open hands completes the line from Peking near to us the Mail seems extremely sanguine, up China, then it will be Russian, French, Canton, and the Upper Yangtze products though we should like to think its hopes German influence which will mould China's are being carried down by rail to Indo- justifiable.
ideas as to foreign affairs and the relative China, by exclaiming: "Well, anyhow it importance of nations. The policy of cost them a lot!" Great Britain which is still being pursued in China is simply suicidal. To repeat this, as we have said, is wearisome; but it only becomes more true with the lapse of time.
64
4K
BRITISH RAILWAY ENTERPRISE IN CHINA.
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4
44
"
(Daily Press, 20th October.) Lieutenant-Colonel MANIFOLD, I.M.S., As Colonel MANIFOLD's first journey was in his address to the Geographical section from Bhamo, in North Burma, and pro of the British Association at Southport ceeded through Yunnan and Szechuen and last month made one Inore attempt to so down the Yangisze, it was naturally to interest people at home in the subject of be expected that he would have something British railway enterprise (though the latter to say about the prospects of a Burma- word is a misnomer) in China. We repro-Yunnan railway. Aud so he had. His duced his paper our issue of the 16th remarks have been somewhat anticipated instant. It was mainly taken up with an by those of Captain RYDER before the account of two journeys in the Upper Yangtsze region just before and after the Boxer outbreak, with running comments on the various railway undertakings and projects, which the traveller came across. Lolonel MANIFOLD confirmed what he and other observers have frequently said before. British over-caution and foreign activity were the general notes. Many persons, be remarked, were in favour of leaving foreign
Royal Geographical Society in London at the end of last year, for Captain RYDER
was one of Colonel MANIFOLD's two com.
panions for the greater part of the journey. Captain RYDER expressed un doubts ns to the great future of the province o Yunnan. With a railway running into it a large trade with Burma would soon arise. But the question of the possibility of a railway could not be settled yet, though Captain
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BRITISH NAVAL REINFORCE- MENTS.
(Daily Press, 19th October.) The conference of the three Admirals at Singapore has not been slow in producing its result, if we make take it, as presumably we may, that the approaching detachment of a battleship from the Mediterranean squadron and the commissioning of H.M.S. Europa for this station are due to advice. from the Admirals. The battleship to be sent out here has not yet been decided apon. The Europa, which paid us a flying visit last spring, is a first-class sheathed cruiser, of 11,000 tons and 16,500 i.h.p.. She was completed at Clydebank in 1899 at a cost of £589,835. Her armour is 4-24 inches, deck, and 41-2 inches, gun- position. She carries sixteen 6-in., fourteen 12-pr., four 3-pr. and eight machine guns ;