298
JAPANESE AND CHINESE
FUTURE RELATIONS.
(Daily Press, 17th October.)
It is a speculation of much interest how far and in what manner the war between Russia and Japan will influence the relations between the latter country and China. The want of verve and of straight-forwardness on the part of China bad much to do with the state of affairs which led up to the war. It has been the policy of China to claim its rights of suzerainty in adjacent countries long after it bas ceased to have effective authority over them; and this policy with regard to Manchuria left. it open to the encroachment of any Power sufficiently ven- turesome and sufficiently strong to establish itself there. Russia was scarcely likely to overlook so apparently easy a field of aggrandis ment, and her ambition once inflamed, it is not surprising that she should after establishing herself in Manchurin, despite her repeated promises to evacuate the country, have pushed her position so far as to become a serious menace to Japan. How far China assisted her in this it is possible for outsiders only to surmise; but there can be no question that her acquies cence in Russian encroachment has been of a marked character, though it was probably due chiefly to her feeling it impossible to offer effective resistance to so powerful a nation as Russia. This fear will have been to some extent removed by the success with which Japan has opposed a foe with whom few thought she would in any way be able to contend, and the Chinese cannot fail to begin to look with less complacency than formerly upon encroachments which they were before willing to accept as the inevit
[October 22, 1904.
THE BRITISH, ASSOCIATION.
The glamour
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
under existing circumstances least calculated to menace ber integrity. The weak hold which she has alone been able to retain
(Daily Press, 18th October.) upon her outlying provinces, is the chief: Quietism rather than the feverish unrest source of trouble in respect of her foreign of the third quarter of the nineteentli policy. It was the cause of her quarrel century has been the prevailing spirit over with Japan, who could not with prudence the last few meetings of the British Associa- allow the way towards Corea and her tion. The change is, perhaps, on the whole own country to be left so freely open, and rather to he commended than the contrary, it was thus also the underlying cause of the as it enables us, undisturbed by briHiart hostilities between Russia and Japan. The discoveries as yet but half understood, to question which now arises is whether China take intelligent stock of the progress of the can adopt any policy which will render this year. For a series of years the meetings of state of things impossible or at least un-the Association had been taken alvan'age likely in the future. If she could re of to make the first public announcement of establish herself firmly in Manchuria: and discoveries, frequently first class in import- place herself in a position to withstand ance; so much so that for a time this came further encroachments from Russia, the to be looked upon as one of the chief func problem would be easy of solution. But tions of the institution. there is little hope that she could do this resulting from the first enunciation of these alone, an less hope that such an end could discoveries, however much it added to the be attained by any understanding with eclat of the proceedings, from the glare of Russia. How little promises from that momentary popularity which it threw across quarter can be relied upon, must at the pre- the mental perceptions of those attending sent time be but too apparent to the Chinese. the meeting, certainly prev nted them from The reliance upon other foreigu nations re- sunming up with calm deliberation the pro- straining Russian advances hitherto largely hable results. The last time a meeting of relied upon, must by this time be looked upon the As-ociation became the occasion of as delusive The only nation who it might be announcing & discovery of first class hoped would do so is Great Britain; and importance was that of 1894, held at we are not now quite so ready as formerly Oxford under the presidency of the late to pick other people's chestnuts out of the Lord SALISBURY, The actual discovery fire-while the idea of increasing our announced by Lord RAYLEIGH and Pro- already too large responsibilities by terri fessor RAMSAY was by no means torial acquisitions in China, is one that sensational: there was in it no element of would commend itself to no section of the chance, as in many of the other discoveries British public in the present day. Under announced in the same place, and was sim these circumstances it would appear likely ply the outcome of patience and hard work. that China may consider it wise to accept Lord RAYLEIGH had noticed that when he the situation and to endeavour to come to a procurel nitrogen from the air it differed in friendly understanding with Japan with re-weight from what it should apparently do gard to Manchuria. What form any co- as experienced with nitrogen prepared operation between the two nations will take chemically; true it was only a matter of a permanen ly must be dependent upon many thousandth or two, but it differed and Lord It is perhaps unfortunate that there has contingencies which cannot now be fairly RAYLEIGH wanted to know the reason why. been a historical antagonism between China estimated. A joint understanding for pro. For mouths he kept sparking a bottle of and Japan. But for the want of confidence tecting both Manchuria and Corea, in some atmospheric nitrogen, and at last found a between them the Chino-Japanese war, form or another, inust, however, be to the gaseous residue which he called argon from which was really the fore-runner of that benefit of both nations. The possibility of its unexpected inertness. The discovery between Russia and Japan, need not have those countries being absorbed by Russia is when announced attracted but little notice, taken place, nor wouli the opportunity a common danger which should be met by and it was not for months after that the have been afforded to Russia to push for- common action. Of course the chance of scientific world commence to understand ward in Manchuria in a manner which has Japan adopting a dominant and overriding that previous ideas on the finality of their proved a standing menace to both these attitude is, a contingency against which knowledge of molecular physics must be -untions. Russia managed by ingenious China may justly be upon her guard; abandoned. The previous discovery by diplomacy to filch from Japan the fruits of but this danger is much greater in Professor RONTGEN of the rays called after her success over China-and, after objecting respect to Russia; and indeed may pro-him had shown how limited was our know- that Japan's establishing herself in any way bably be but slight so far as Japan is con- in Mauchuria would be a menace to Peking, cerued. Her declared policy in this respect contrived with the assistance of France is entirely in the opposite direction. So aud Geroiany to diplomatise Japan away long as she is secured against encroachment and then simply put herself in Japan's place. either in Manchuria or Corea such as The effect, however, of the Russo-Japan may menace her own independence, she is war is likely to be to cause China to reflect willing and indeed anxious that the in- seriously on her position of antagonism to a tegrity of China should be preserved. Upon neighbouring empire, with which her in his basis, she was ready to come to terms terests are so closely bound up as Japan. with Russia before war was declared, and
In 1894 Lord SALISBURY was So long as Russia was supposed to he of there is no reason to suppose that in the overwhelming power, it is not unlikely that future she will desire to greatly depart from by what may be called a happy inspiration the Chinese would prefer her influence in it. So far as European nations generally selected to preside over the meeting. In Manchuria-even to the extent of almost are concerned a good understanding be- bis younger days he bad been himself a completely resigning that dependency to tween China and Japan is desirable instudent of the natural sciences, and had her, to sharing her somewhat shadowy many ways. We have no reason to doubt always kept himself in touch with their power there with ber bistorical rival. that the latter country is sincere in her de- latest developments. The innovation was ‘a Recent events, however, must have had theclared desire to continue in the direction of useful on, înd his address, presenting, as ffect of making China seriously reflect foreign progress; and her policy will thus it did from the point of view of a sympathe- upon the danger which she incurred in her be consonant in the main with that of tic outsider, the most modern developments choice of a supporter. By tacitly siding with European nations (Russia of course except of scientific thought, was of advantage to the When Russia as against Japan she was encouraging ted) who desire commerce rather than con-
more purely scientific members. the encroachinent of a Power, which if not quest and whose true interests lie in the then it was determined that the next meet- checked, would undoubtedly override both former direction. The idea that it is quite ing of the Association was to be held in Japan and herself. Such a policy would easy for any Foreign Power who has a mind Cambridge, Mr. BALFOUR, whose early have inevitably brought about the greatest to do so, to establish itself in the Far East connections were with that University, was disaster to China but for the stand which has been rudely shaken by the war; and it selected as President. Wisely avoiding Japan, far wiser than her neighbour, has will be long before any Power is likely to mer ly technical subjects, he selected the. made against it. What really China has to emulate the action which has proved so borderland where pure science came in con- consider is what is the policy she can adopt costly an experiment to Russia.
tact with philosophic thought. Fortunately
able.
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ledge up to that period of the variety of the ethereal vibrations, and the almost unlimited field thus opened up for exploration; and these views were still further extended by the subsequent discoveries of BECQUEREL. It was not, however, till the isolation of radium by Mme. CURIE that public attention was turned to the real importance of the subject, ant this last discovery has, it may be said, completely revolutionised our views on the subject.