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Daily Press, 29th (Jctober.) The story of the Railway question, in China, as told by the Shanghai correspon- dent of the Times (and reproduced on the 26th inst. in our columns), is interesting but most saddening. It reveals a consider- able amount of apathy on the part of British investors, but it also betrays a sorry exhibi- tion of weakness on the part of the British Government. Between the promise claimed by the then British Minister in China, Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD, to have been secured by the British Government in 1898, and the actual achievement in 1904 there is a wide gap indeed. The promise was 2,800 miles of prospective railways to be made under. British control; the result in 1904 is 590 miles in esse and 950 miles in posse. The Times correspondent shows very clearly how, owing to lack of pressure from the British Government, one British concession after another has either dwindled or heen deferred indefinitely. He admits that the conclusion of the final agreement with regard to the Shanghai-Nauking Railway aind the issue of the bonds for its construc- tion in London is a matter for congratula-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[November 5, 1904.
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NEGLECTED BRITISH CONCES- now three months since the GOVERNOR | too much of SOUTH's definition, that
SIONS.
landed in Hongkong, and proclaimed, in" modern Christianity teaches that men are the Council Room, that the completion of bound to suffer when they are not able to this vitally important railway would have resist.” Patience might be a virtue, but his prompt attention. We do not doubt we felt convinced that resignation was that the line has received his careful mot: Patience under pin-pricka is a thought and attention, but we should like to characteristic of greatness; but a meek. know something as to the result of the negotia- conformity to circumstances like these tions mentioned by the Times correspondent. under consideration smacks of cowardice. What, for instance, is the cause of difference, However, diplomacy had sp ken, and we if difference there be, between the Govern- hoped things would come out all right. ment and the Corporation? If this difference Then the North Sea atrocity occurred. is irreconcilable, then there need be no and the roar of JOHN BULL was heard difficulty at any rate in the Colonial Office in the land. Diplomacy assured him that sanctioning the construction of a railway to to assert himself.now would be to play the frontier, over which the concessionaires into Russia's hands. It does, ind ed, scem could be allowed running powers ou agree-likely that Russia, threatened with im- ment when they had constructed their lineminent and ignominious defeat at the hands to Canton. In any case let us get on with of a young Asiatic army, would be glid to the work! The Colony needs it for the save face" by provoking another Power · development of the New Territory, but it to attack it, and so to lay down its arms to especially desires a beginning to be unde superior force. If this latest deed of in- with the line which is to connect it with excusable savagery in the North Sea Canton for other and still more cogent was not instigated with some such end reasons. The main engineering difficulties in view, it gives to the Russian naval exist on the section between Kowloon and officer a reputation that will take him years Shamchun, and hence the necessity for to live down. Unless it were a case of. losing no further time in the prosecution obeying orders, we must regard it as an in- of the enterprise. His Excellency the stance of cowardly panic and barbarous GOVERNOR is naturally reticent on this cruelty only to be looked for in an absolute question; he has probably no authority to ly uncivilised foe. With moderu search-. do anything as yet; but we can assure him lights, admittedly in working order, a naval that he will have the whole Colouy at his officer who cannot distinguish between a back in any efforts he may make to induce ship of war and an inoffensive fishing boat the Imperial Government to authorise the ought to be kicked off the quarter deck as Hongkong Government to construct the au incompetent ignoramus. It says some. British portion of the line.
thing, any way, for the wholesome respect with which the Japanese naval men have inspired the Russians that twelve thousand miles away a Russian officer should be ferri- fied at shadows, and betray his cowardly terror by wildly firing upon the first thing that moved in the dark.
t on.
He might, however, very justly have added that these felicitations should be greatly tempered by the fact that while not a single sad of that railway has yet been cut, the German railway through Shantung has been completed for a distance of more than two hundred and fifty miles. He very rightly accords some blame to the in- difference of British capitalists, but does not impute any special fault to the British- Chinese Corporation for the six years' delay in taking advantage of the hardly won con- cession. The effect of the whole summary, however, is to demonstrate, beyond doubt, that there has been slackness on the part of the concessionaires and supineness on that of the British Foreign Office, which, if
it was the object of the British Government to maintain its influence and prestige in China, should have been prepared to throw the whole weight of its influence in the scale, not only to secure a proper share of railway concessions for British capital, but to have kept the concessionaires fully up to mark and ready to carry out their engage- ments without any undue delay either in
construction or management.
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Coming down to the Kowloon (Hongkong) Canton line, the Times correspondent, after remarking on the great value of this concession, says: Public opinion Hongkong has been gathering weight for the past two years, and now expresses itself .strongly to the effect that the needs of the Colony demand the immediate construction of this railway. The Colonial Government,' he adds, " has offered to guarantee 3 per cent. on the cost of construction for five years, and it is probable that with the arrival of the new Governor, Sir MATTHEW NATHAN, the matter will be energetically taken up." So it was hoped when Sir MATTHEW arrived, and it is no secret that His Excellency most earnestly desires to see the work commenced, but apparently there is some bitch in the negotiations at home, though with whom rests the responsibility for the..w delay it is beyond our power to divine. It would be interesting to know what is transpiring at Downing Street in connection with this important question. To the colonists, who have now for some six years been impatiently waiting for some sign of activity on the part of the concessionaires, the delay is most irritating, more especially in view of the possible contingencies which hang upon the commencement of the enterprise. It is
WAR AVERTED.
The Biblical character JOB has been
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(Daily Press, 31st October.) superseded as the incarnation of patience. When men wish to express their idea of the most patient kind of patience now, they will speak of the patience of JOHN BULL. That gentleman has in the last few months served his apprenticeship to JOB, and proved how exceedingly long-suffering he can be under the influence of diplomacy. SHAKE SPEARE remarks "how poor are they that have not patience," and in his endurance of the stings and arrows of outrageous Russia JOHN BULL has demonstrated his affluence n that quality of meekness which we are informed, from the pulpit, entitles its pos-
Diplomacy has had its way again. The incident promises to close in a perceful in- quiry. We do not suppose that JOHN BULL is satisfied with this outcome. It was un-
likely, in the circumstances, that France would have felt it her duty to side with her ally in any trouble due to such wanton and wicked provocation. It is more than pro- bable that the real basis of our recent under- standing with France was connected with the diplomatic rapprochement of Russia and Prussia, due to the ambitions of the latter in the direction of Austria. French diplo
sessor to inherit the earth. Accustomed to mats saw the danger to France of such believe that he, under that other and more co-operation sooner than ours did, hence gracious typification of BRITANNIA, ruled the entente cordiale. The Tinies has the waves, Mr. BULL became somewhat sarcastically called Russia's new under. restless when ship after ship, was stopped standing with the Hohenzollerns against and pirated by Russian cruisers. His diplo- her own ally France a case of “re-insurance." mats soothed him by assuring him that he. It might be called by an even uglier name. was not suffering more than anybody else. Apart altogether from such considerations, The well-directed compliment by Mr. BAL- we cannot help thinking that this was a FOUR, that nine-tenths of the shipping East-proper time and a fitting opportunity to ward bound was British was evidence that give Russia an object lesson, and some Mr. BULL'Scraft were not b. ing discriminated against, and at the same time one of the most typical instances of effectual diplomacy
known to history. It made Mr. BULL resume his reposeful attitude. When he heard of the Malacca's voyage under the Russian flag, JOHN BULL lost his temper once more. His patience was chipped at the edges, and cracked right across the middle. His pro- gress towards an old-fashioned BERSERKER rage was again checked by diplomacy. "Leave it to me," said Mr. BALFOUR; " I'll see that your honour does not suffer." The urbane but clumsy gentleman from St. Petersburg who had thus trodden on his toes apologised with all the unctuousness of a Mr. CARKER; and Mr. BULL, grumbling a little, again resumed his reposeful atti tude. Some of us did not like this tame ending to an annoying affir. It savoured
salutary instruction in the ways of civilisa- tion. As it is, we suppose we must be. resigned to arbitration, whatever Mr. BAL- FOUR may say. If the decision of the International Commission at Vigo does not lead to the amplest of amends, including the stripping off of the uniforms of the c.aren naval assassius concerned, we may safely promise that the vice of JOHN BULL will once more be raised, and raised with purpose.
The Central Mining Company at Chang-sha is now working a coal mine at Shui-kou Shan. Owing to the want of an experienced engineer The coal produced is of very good quality.. the mine at Heng-chou has been closed by order of the new governor. It is believed that the company lost fully Tls. 50,000 in the enterprise, and the workmen have been sent back to their homes.
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