November 16, 1903}]
sdggested, as to the correctness of the estimated costs (about which Mr. SHEWAN is not explicit), and as to strategic consider ations. If these doubts can be laid to rest satisiactorily, then Mr. SHEWAN's proposal must commend itself to all who have the advancement of Hongkong at beart.
ANGLO-FRENCH
24
ARBITRATION
↓
Say
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
847
circumstances of late years have emphasised
England has, however, always beld, and | rank in the meantime. He left Australiso the contention, that the construction placed Vice-Admiral, and in the following year was waters in 1898, the year of his becoming. contrary to the plain intent of the instru- | He came out here two years ago, in succes- ou certain of the clauses by France is really made a Knight Commander of the Bath. ment, and is becoming increasingly jujur sion to Admiral SEYMOUR, and in August ious to the British Imperial interests. On last reached the rank of full Admiral. His the other hand, except as offering a possible career, it will be seen, except for its earliest source of embarrassment to England, the days, has been rather of an indoor nature importance to France of the immunities and it is his head which has won him the claimed has been, it is allowed, steadily well-earned honour of G.C.B. diminishing. From motives supposed to Of the four new Knight Commanders, concern the honour of France, ali approaches | Admiral ALBERT Hastings MarkhÂM was with the object of reviewing the treaty or formerly a very active member of the Royal the interpretation placed on it have up Navy out here. Born in 1841, he entered to the present been met with a persistent the Navy fifteen years later and served for cry of non possumus", while at the same eight years on the China Station, being a time even the French Foreign Office has member of the expedition which captured acknowledged that possible hardships | Peking in 1860, and sharing in the might exist. It will thus be seen, not sion of the Taiping rebellion. On leaving
suppres only that there do exist grounds for arbi- China he went to the Mediterranean and tration between the two countries on points Australian stations, but his most noted feat essentially juridical, but that those points was when he took command of the Alert on though in the absence of a regular under- the Arctic Expedition of 1875-76, and standing barrel from discussion between succeeded in planting the British flag in the the two countries as approaching the point highest northern position reached up to of national "bonour" may very well, under then. This gained him promotion to cap- the acknowledgment of a hardship continu-taincy, as well as the gift of a gold watch ing to exist, be held to come into the from the Royal Geographical Society. He permissible conditions of arbitration. subsequently paid various visits to the Arctic seas, and his books on the subject are widely known. Professionally he became Commodore of the Training Squadron in 1886, Rear-Admiral in 1891, Vice-Admiral in 1897, and Admiral in January last. He is now commander-in-chief at the Nore.
(Daily Press 7th November.) There is a story told of an Irishman who went to his spiritual adviser to take the pledge, but with certain re-crvations:
Barr- ing, your Reverence one is ill” “Certainly, Pa" was the reply] whiskey betimes is necessary for the "bolly, and, if the Detor orllers it, who is the man who would
"And barring one were to meet a friend?" "Well, of parse, Pat, it would not be right to treat a fifend so meanly as not to take a glass for good company.
"And, your Kever noe, just suppose one felt in clined:" "Well, Pat, that is a different thing, but supposing one did really feel disposed it would be hardship to interfere between a man and is inclination." So the pledge was duly made out and signed, to the mutual satisfaction of Pat and his Rev. 6erence, aud probably no one was the worse,
The main point, then, of the new treaty is The recent Arbition Treaty between not what it actually grants, but that it France and Englan agreeing to refer to permits certain points to enter into a calm arbitration all matters in dispute bet veen
field of discussion, free from what may be the two countries, providing that they are
looked upon as merely sentimental con- merely "juridical" and do not affect the siderations. The grievance of having no interests nor the hour" of either country method of discussing differences of opinion, is, on the face of it, not very dissimilar from however trivial, without recourse to the the Irishman's pledge to abstain from supremne arbitration of the sword, is one whiskey unless he felt so disposed.
We from which both countries have suffered should, however, gratly err, were
detriment during the two centuries, and the assume that the treat in consequence stands merit of the new treaty is that, while it self-condemned, or is in any way likely to enables both countries to take advantage of prove ineffectual in promoting the best in the new facilities where it offers, it com- terests of both countries. To understand pels ueither to place its national honour in the position it is necessary to go back nearly the scale. It will thus be seen that the two centuries. In the year 1713 was cou-
permanent relations of the two countries are luded the Treaty of Utrecht, by which in
for the future placed on a more satisfactory consideration of certain reservations, France basis, and that henceforth it will be possible ceded to England important territories into discuss cally many subjects which false America and elsewhere. For several years England bad carried on a long continental war with France, with honour and success, hut she had to bear a heavy burden and to find means not only to pay her own expenses, but to subsidise largely those allies in whose interest the war had een undertaken. The main objects of the war having been gained, the peace party in England clamoured for a cessation of the strip, and, France being willing to come to terms, a peace was patched up. That an honourble peace could have been obtained was notorious, but party politics ran high, with the result that the treaty finally entered into was felt to be au ignoble surrender of the main points at
issue.
we lu
or overstrained ideas of honour or inere sentiment have hitherto barred, to the
mutual embarrassment of both countries.
NAVAL BIRTHDAY HONOURS.
|
CHARLES WILLIAM DELAPOER BERESFORD Of so popular a figure as Admiral Lord it hardly seems necessary to say much. He was born in Ireland in 1846, and entered the Britannia in 1859. At the bombard- ment of Alexandria he came to the front as commander of H.M.S. Condor, gaining a medal and being specially mentioned in despatches for gailantry. He served on the staff of Lord WOLSELEY in the Nile Expedi tion in 1884-85, and commanded the naval brigade at Abu Klea and Metemneh, being again mentioned. On his return home he was made a commissioner to the Admiralty, but resigned two years later on a question about the strength of the fleet. It was after be reached the rank of Rear-Admiral at the end of 1897 that he paid a visit to China, at the request of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Great Britain, The result
was his famous book The Break-up of China. In 1902 he be-
He is a Knight Commander of the Royal Officer in Command of the Channel Fleet. came Vice-Admiral, and he is now Senior
Victorian Order. It must also be mentioned 1874-80, and for East Marylebone in 1885- that he sat for Parliament for Waterford in 89. No British Admiral of the present day
is better known.
(Daily Press. 10th November.) The Naval Birthday Honours telegraphed read with interest here. Three at least of out by our London correspondent will be the recipients have names very well known in China, though there may be few who re- member at once that Admiral MARKHAM Lord CHARLES BERESFORD's Connection with was actively engagel in Chinese affairs. this part of the world was brief, but very im- The treaty, drawn up almost under French dictation, was not only badly con- Admiral Sir CYPRIAN ARTHUR GEORGE Born in 1843, his first service was on the Vice-Admiral JOHN FELLOWEs, like Ad- portaut. Our present Admiral makes the third.
miral BERESFORD, saw fighting in Egypt. ceived, but was carelessly worded, so that BRIDGE, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief on the East African coast. from the beginning there was considerable China Station since 1901, was born in 1839, Egyptian War, and in 1885 on the Suakin In 1882 he was in the ambiguity in the interpretation; and this the son of the Ven. Archdeacon Bridge. ambiguity was in many cases taken advant- He entered the Navy in 1853, serving next Superintendent of the Shee ness Dockyard, age of to the detriment of British interests. year in the White Sea. The year of the and next year he became Rear-Admiral, Expedition. In 1894 he was appointed Withal, it is characteristic of the general In.lian Mutiny found him in a very diffe-ising to Vice-Admiral in 1901. Admiral desire of England to remain on good terms with her neighbour that in no case were
rent clime, that of the Bay of Bengal, and Algernon FREDERICK ROUS DE HORSEY these attempts to strain the meaning of the gade to Burma.
he proceeded after that with the Naval Bri- is the least known name out here now. treaty permitted to become the occasion of captaincy, and in the next two years he was
In 1877 he gained his is on the retired list, having become Rear- He war between the two countries; nor, what is appointe1 member of the Heary Guns Com- and Admiral in 1885. Alone of the five Admirai ia 1875, Vice-Admiral in 1879, more remarkable, notwithstanding themittee and the War Office Committee on numerous opportunities offered during the Machine Guns respectively wars of the eighteenth and nineteenth
singled out for honour, Admiral DE HORSEY In 1881 be is not still on active service. centuries, did England ever attempt to. 1889 he was made Director of Naval Intel- was on the Ordnance Committee, and in denounce or modify if her own immediate ligence, a post which he held until 1895, interests the injurious or ambiguous clauses when he was given command on the Austra of the treaty.
lian Station, having attained Rear-Admiral's'
30th ult, the Sherwood Foresters and Tientain A sham fight took place at Peitang on the Volunteers turning out against the 21st Punjab Infantry,