THE RECORD OF THE YEAR.
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January 2, 1904,
Fur-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
tainly has not strengthened the bonds Government having at last taken steps to between the Dominion and the Mother put an end to the evasions of Tibetans and (Daily Press, 1st January.)
Country. This question of Anglo-Colonial Chinese alike and to force the encourage- ment of Indo-Tibetan trans-frontier “trade, In the year which has just passed us, as in relations has grown in 1903 to assume a many of its near prede: ssors, the attention larger place than ever in British politics, so many years ago promised by Tibet and of the world-by which phrase is meant larger even than during the South African its suzerain. Turning to Central China, that of the newspaper-reading public-has War. The mover in the matter is of course we find that the Yangtsze region has passed been called frequently backward and for- Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, who after returning in through a less eventful year than usual, ward to the Far East and elsewhither. The March to the Colonial Secretaryship began though riots, floods and other catastrophes beginning of 1908 found it turned in other very soon to point out the weaknesses have not been wanting. With the year at -directions; as 1904 opeus, it is intently fixed of our present fiscal position, and a Shanghai we shall not attempt to deal, but on the North-eastern corner of Asia, and speech at Birmingham on the 15th May, will only mention that the Supao case, which the chief speculation, rightly or wrongly, is not according to the home Press, marked an divided the Consuls, the community, and whether war is on the point of breaking out, epoch in the commercial relations between the Press, has at length been settled, and, but on what day it will break out. Yet a year England and the Colonies. After his resigna- strange to say, no dissatisfaction is now ago, though Russia's presence in Manchuria tion on the 16th September the question heard at the verdict. The cause of justice was not forgotten what people were mainly became even more burning, and though he and humanity combined triumphed; in his thinking of in politics was the rebellion it has not converted perhaps with the Premier heart no one in Shanghai hoped for anything Morocco, the growing anarchy in the Bal- the majority of the more prominent Minis- else, but national jealousies played a dis kans, the difficulties with Venezuela, terialists, he has succeeded in forcing the proportionate part in the argument. Britain's entanglement in Somaliland, and issue on the country, and appears to appeal ther south, 1903 has brought many changes Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's tour in South Africa, to a general election not without hopes. with it to that most important part of the then in full progress. Moreover, the Delhi From fiscal matters to finance is not a long Chinese Empire, the Two Kwang provinces. Darbar was just finished, and the guests step, and in 1903 we find a most important The outlook was gloomy when the year were thinking of departure. Another year matter of the world's finance prominent. opened; the rebels in Kwangsi, though their finds Morocco still all unsettled, but the During the year both the Straits Settlements successes were much exaggerated in the question is now rather whether France will and the Philippines adopted a gold standard, | North and in the Anglo-American and absorb the country or not than whether any and the subject of the remaining silver coun- French Press, were seriously threatening pretender is to oust the Sultan. The Balkan tries "going gold' was eagerly canvassed. the continuance of government in the Kwang troubles still drag wearily on. It was An United States and a Mexican commission and neighbouring provinces. But the ad- about the beginning of April last that the visited Europe and discussed the question vent of Viceroy SHUM in June was soon acute stage of insurrection began, and the at the leading capitals. There can be no followed by a collapse of the insurrection, series of massacres by the various parties doubt that the conferences will not be chiefly owing to tha Viceroy's, removal of in the struggle soon made it seem im- ultimately fruitless. It is China that blocks corrupt and incompetent officials and the sub- possible for such an atrocious situation to the way; and on China we are told in stitution of European-drilled troops for the last. The Austrians and Russians were Hongkong that we must wait. Before cowardly "braves," etc., who had previously urging their reform schemes at the begin- leaving general matters we must not forget played into the hands of their opponents. ning of the year; but those schemes have the obituary of 1903, which, even if we limit it H.E. SHUм was also confronted by a terri- not even commenced to come into effect. to the smallest possible extent, is one inflict- ble famine in the disaffected province, lead- Meanwhile what certain papers like to call ing a heavy loss on the world, including as ing even to cannibalism in some districts, a carnival of bloodshed has been con- it does Pope Leo XIII., Lord SALISBURY, but here European help, from Hongkong stantly raging. Yet one deed, also in the Professor MOMMSEN and HERBERT SPENCER. and from the United States, stepped in and Balkans, almost stands out in infamous There are many lesser names deserving of reinforced the benevolent societies of Canton relief amid the disgraces of the Near East mention, but these alone perhaps were world- to such an extent as to save thousands of -the Servian regicide on the 11th June. famous memorials of the Nineteenth Century lives. The Chinese of the Two Kwang have Nothing has inspired such universal horror who have survived to the third year of this. good reason to thank the foreigners' for very many years as the Belgrade In the Far East the year has been one of humanity and, in the majority of cases, murders. The Venezuelan difficulty has outward peace, except in parts of the Philip entirely unselfish labour in the famine- Evidence, indeed, is not happily been got over without endangering pines and in Kwangsi province, but during stricken region. international relations which Anglo-German its latter half the condition has resembled lacking that a more tolerant-perhaps we action run, a slight risk of doing. The that of a volcano suspected as being on the can hardly say more friendly attitude pre- place of Venezuela as the storm-spot in point of eruption. Even in the spring it vails now in the Canton neighbourhood, for South America has been taken by Colombia, was obvious that the question of Russia's have we not seen on the 15th November or rather by Panama, whose break-away policy in the North was going to cause last the Canton-Fatshan railway line opened," from Colombia, and the protection of the serious difficulties. There were some who and since then its reception into favour by United States, may yet cause a war. inpned their faith to the Port Arthur con- the natives of the affected districts? Somaliland still continues to defy het ference as likely to ease the situation, but has been a year of great talk about railway British forces, and the Italians and Abys- the next decided step of Russia was the concessions in China, even in the British sians as well, at the present moment; the creation of a Viceroyalty of the Far East House of Commons. No enterprise of the country fights well for the Mullah's followers. early in August, with Admiral ALEXIEFF, kind promises greater results than the great In another part of Africa the 14th March certainly not a man of peace, at its bead. Canton-Hankow trunk line, in connection saw Britain finally overthrow the powerful S. Petersburg continued, nevertheless, to with which is the little branch to Fatshan. empire of Sokoto and restore peace to that preach peace; but in October war-scares For Hongkong a momentous question is region. Lower down the Germans have began and have been frequent ever since. involved in this railway to Hankow, for, as more recently had troubles in the South-west In the same month of October the aggression we have over and over again stated in these African possessions and have not disposed at Yong-ampho was witnessed, and it columns, if a deep-sea terminus for this line of them yet. Of the South African War seemed remarkable that matters were not is not found in Kowloon, it will be found the only echo was the trial of "Colonel" thereby precipitated. At the end of Novem elsewhere, and then will depart a great part LYNCH, who was sentenced to death in ber a really grave alarm was given, and few of Hongkong's prosperity. From this evil January, his sentence being soon commuted. would have surprised it an accidental colli- fate there is a remedy. Will the British It is pleasanter to turn to affairs of peace, sion had produced war. But the end of Government refuse to use it and see ruin among which in 1903 the first place must be December has been reached and armed brought on its most valuable possession in assigned to the tour of King EDWARD VII. peace still prevails. The outcome no pru- the Far East? in April, and onward to Lisbon, Rome, dent man cares to prophecy. All through In the Colony of Hongkong the year 1903 Paris, and later to Vienna. A notable the year Russia has been hurrying men, must certainly be counted as one of more result of this tour was the return visit of arms, provisions, and the bulk of her Navy than usual interest. Unhappily it has been President LOUBET last July and the conclu. Far Eastwards. Japan is fully prepared, cursed with plague (totalling 1,000 cases by sion in October of an Anglo-French arbitra- and it may be added that Britain is not a the 4th June, and 1,415 cases, with 1,250 tion treaty. Perhaps, too, King EDWARD'S disinterested spectator of the situation, deaths, in the whole year) and with the trip to Ireland may be also looked ou as a Between China and Russin the non-evacua- | annual water-famine. But the plague has visit of peace. In connection with arbitration of Manchuria has at length succeeded been fought with resolution, the late Governor tion one very important happening has to in producing a definite estrangement, and leading the way, and the drought bore be recorded, namely the Alaska boundary the Cuinese are more bitter than the Man- with resignation, the Government having award, the outcome of our negotiations with chus at Russia's high-handed proceedings resolved to introduce a system which has the United States. Unhappily the decision toward the end of the year, In the been advised by some experts and which has given great offence in Canada, and other extreme of the Chinese Empire certainly gratifies the Chinese. The Pub- though it may not really have weakened cer-Tibet is occupying attention, the Indian lic Health and Buildings Bill, which makes
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