С
July 30, 1904.]
Suakin is feasible, so that apparently the Empire must wait for some very decided change in the political position before Eng- land will be able to acquire for herself a practical land communication with her greatest dependency.
Recent improvements in land locomotion have thus not been altogether in favour of England, and she has had perforce to stand by while other nations, by nature more favourably situated, have been enabled to take advantage of those opportunities. It was, of course, by taking timely advantage of the ocean that Great Britain was able to consolidate her great possessions in the East; she has momentarily found the record for speedy delivery of the mails in the Far East passed out of her hands, and this, though as long as she possesses in her own hands the telegraphs and the command of the sea, is of secondary importance, yet is not con- sonant with the position she holds amongst nations. Naturally, then, as the present contract for carrying the Eastern Mails is on the verge of expiry the British Govern- ment had hesitated in renewing it on pre- sent lines, although for the moment it has insisted on shortening the time for delivery in the East by some twenty-four hours. Iu view of the changes made elsewhere this expedition seems but a small matter, but as it involves sea carriage at the rate of some seventeen miles an hour it is evident that on existing routes the limit of accelleration has been almost reached, and is already in sight. An Austrian engineer has proposed a new route traversing the Khanates of Central Asia, and then climbing the Pamirs and reaching China by way of Kashgar or Yarkand. In the present position of the political world such a line would be con- trolled by Russia, and would, of course, be principally used by her for aggressive pur- poses. We know from her present mauage- ment of her line through the Khanates what that would imply for travellers other than Russian. A line over the Pamirs here the passes are upwards of 16,000 feet high involves engineering issues quite beyond our present experience. As far as England is concerned the line may at опсе be ruled out of the competition which must be confined within the limits of 15 degrees and 35 degrees north latitude. The proposed German line between the 40th and 30th has already for reasons mentioned been declined, so that practically no alternative is left except a line of railway crossing Arabia. A very few years ago, both physi cally and politically, such a line could not be considered as within the limits of practical politics, but events have been marching, which certainly have a tendency to remove
11
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
C
75
tempted closure of Koeit we were brought | between one nation and another. Under into unpleasant contact with the intruding one pretence or other Russia aucceeded in Turkish fleet. As we had always communi- having what she was pleased to call her cated with the ruler of Koeit as a perfectly Volunteer Fleet" allowed, while engaged in independent potentate, and as under his private mercantile work, to be classed as mer- friendly auspices relieved from Wahabee chant ships, pure and simple. It was not interference British trade with the interior denied that the intention in building these of Arabia had been largely increasing, the ships was that in case of war they could be commander of the British fleet had orders fitted up and used as armed cruisers. As other if necessary to interfere by force of arms. nations, and more especially England, built The result has been the growth of a marked- equally merchant ships so fitted up that in ly friendly feeling, and an expressed desire case of war they might be likewise utilised to facilitate intercourse.
for warlike purposes, no objection was raised. As men-of-war they could not con- sistently with treaties acknowledged by Europe be permitted to pass in peace time through the Dardanelles, but the object being to facilitate, and not throw obstacles in the way of commerce, no objections were thrown in the way of their passage in their private capacity.
Now it so happens that this track across Arabia from Bahrein to Mejaz on the Red Sea is actually the most ancient trade route of which we have knowledge; it was by this route that some seven thousand years ago civilisation was introduced into ancient Egypt, and it was by this road that bronze first found its way to Phoenicia, and thence by Tyrian and Carthaginian traders was carried all through Europe. The opening up of the route would then be only a return to primitive conditions. From Alexandria to Bahrein by this road would be about 1,200 miles, and from Bahrein to Karachi about 1,100, so that the total distance from Alexandria to India would be about 2,300 miles as against some 4,600 by the ocen route. The saving of time from the sub. stitution of railway for steamer transit would be in a greater proportion.
|
Affairs have not been going satisfactorily for Russin in her conflict with Japan, evi- dently entered on rashly and without con- sideration of the many advantages making for the Power ou the spot. Russia has dealt with her difficulties characteristically. At any risk, and indifferent to the loss of life entailed, she has been hurrying troops from all quarters to Eastern Siberia; this, of course, is Russia's traditional way of campaigning. Against tribes on a lower stage of development than herself it has ad- vantages, doubtless; opposed to a Power like Japan, where a marked capacity for organisation exists, it is really fighting the enemy's battle. Japan counts up every in- dividual soldier, and counts how many she can afford to lose before entering on an engagement; and as a consequence the Russian administration has been from the beginning nonplussed, and uncertain how to strike. An instructive story is told of an old college don who, seeing one day that the students had caught hold of a bailiff who bad intruded himself into the sacred
The subject of a trans-Arabian railway is not of course one that stands out self recommended for immediate adoption; on the contrary, like the Cape to Cairo project, it is one where much opposition and many serious difficulties will remain to be overcome before it even enters on the arena of practical discussion. Still, however inchoate, it is hoped that like the other, first launched as an almost quixotic essay, it may be influential in directing men's minds beyond the imme- diate present to what in the present ever changing world of politics may shortly precincts, saw them uncertain how he would become a potential eventuality. If the look upon the affair and showing signs of Cape to Cairo route, but two years ago dispersion. Forbidden by respect for nothing more than the baseless fabric of a authority to encourage a lawless act, yet as dream, have already advanced to bridging indignant as the Freshmen themselves at the the Zambesi, why should its legitimate sup-insult to the College, he called out: plement, a railway from Cairo to Calcutta,
be refused at least fair discussion?
THE DARDANELLES TREATY.
"Don't
nail his ears to the pump, boys." Russia has been trying on somewhat similar tactics. In the hope of getting someone to aid her against the Yellow Peril," she has been explaining her views on the subject of an Oriental invasion of Europe, while at the (Daily Press, 27th July.)
same time exclaiming with very needless That Russia as a nation is not in the fore-reiteration: "Nobody must come to my front of civilisation is a truism which few assistance, boys." One is irresistibly re- of her most prominent statesmen would minded of the drowning Frenchman, who perhaps care to deny. This, however, is called out in his agony: "I will be drown- hardly to be accepted as an excuse for her ed and nobody shall save me." The French- the most formidable of the difficulties. In numerous acts inconsistent with what are man's cry arose not from any despair of 1863, when W. G. PALGRAVE crossed the usually accepted as the amenities due from want of sympathy, but because he had had a whole breadth of Arabia from the Red Sea to one nation to another. All things may be provincial instructor of English; the Rus- Bahrein in the Persian Gulf he found a well lawful between nations as regulated by what sian's, from his want of appreciation of the watered country, admirably suited for the is somewhat vaguely termed international fact that he had no sympathisers whatever. construction of a railway. At the time it law, but all things are not expedient, and Like the Chinese, Russia is, however, extreme- was dominated by the rule of the fanatical Russia has bren of late widely oversteppingly sensitive to the peculiar feeling denomina- Wahabee dynasty, but the inhabitants were the limits which render possible the existence weary of the bigotry of the rulers, and the of even such a very elastic practice as that kingdom was already decadent. Since then euphemistically called law in its inter- Wahabce influence has still further declined national bearings. The proceedings of the and of late years has not attempted inter- Russian Mediterranean squadron in the ference with commerce. PALGRAVE found the early stages of the war with Japan, and her people everywhere keen traders, and had no as umed right to stretch in her own interests difficulties with the people. who indeed the ordinary designation of contraband throughout screened him from the minions was an instance of this, and led to many of the government. Now within the last protests, more especially from England, three years, without any conscious effort on whose commerce she evi iently considered as the part of the Indian Government, our a thing to be interfered with on grounds of relations with these tribes have entered into her own dictation. This was, however, a a new phase; Turkey recently has been encroaching along the Eastern Coast, which came to a climax last year, when by the at-
带着
minor matter compared with her recent action founded on very similar ideas of her own power of dictation of right or wrong as
ted "loss of face," a feeling that has nothing in common with our Western idea of honour. The "Yellow Peril" and the" Don't help me" cries having proved ineffective in restoring the lost" Face," she has been driven to añ- other, seemingly desperate, resource. Could she only get England to declaré war against her! The idea is not so entirely preposter- ous as at the first glance it might appear. England has never been a match at poker for Russia, especially where the ordinary rules of play as between gentlemen are suspended; yet she has a foolish hankering after the game. Such things as riding for a fall are not altogether unknown on the turf, when a rider is driven to desperation;