March 25, 1905.]
prospect of obtaining pecuniary compensa- tion for the sufferers." It was to be made clear that should Russia continue that course, "His Majesty's Government will be constrained to take such precautions as may seem to them desirable and sufficient for the protection of their commerce." He reminded Russia that the treatment of coal as unconditionally contraband was incon- sistent with their peremptory and categori cal refusal (at Berlin in 1884) to imply the recognition of coal as contraband. It was impossible for Great Britain to admit the new Russian doctrine. Towards the end of August there WAS the idea tbat British ships were
being discriminated against. Count LAMSDORFF warmly repudiated" that idea, and sug- gested that it had arisen from the fact that the Volunteer cruisers met more British ships than others, "which is easily explain ed when one considers the great numerical superiority of the British commercial fleet over those of other countries." This ex-
"
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to take this view, shippers would rejoice; but it is not very likely to appear to the Tokyo authorities in that light. While the war lasts, insurance premiums must be paid. It has been pointed out, however, that the Japanese position would have been more regular had they officially declared Vladi vostock to be under blockade.
AMERICAN IDEALS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
99
of civilized life. It is sad to have to add that no man in the South Seas ever now attaches credence to the word of a 'converted' Kanaka, but there it is: civilization
must continue its glorious march. Ideals are wonderful motors. It was a British ideal apotheosised that gave birth to the Great American Re public; and we will leave it to others to
the say if
ideal bas been lost
in the greatness, At all events, the same ideal seems to emerge in the Philippines, (Daily Press, 24th March.)
and to it must be credited one of the mis- The concluding essay by Mr. ALLEYNE takes in American administration there IRELAND on American Administration in that Mr. IRELAND tells us are being made. the Philippines, which we reproduced in We do not think it such a mistake as would extenso from the Times, must have proved be made, for instance, if the Americans stimulating to those of our readers who were to adopt Mr. IRELAND'S suggestion: gave it a careful reading. Human nature that having decided to foist Western is such that some American readers might standards upon this Eastern race, Western. be tempted to pooh-pooh all his arguments ers should stay to continue the task of because of one or two unpalatable references; foisting, which, as others have found before while, on the other hand, some British them, is a somewhat Sisyphean one. The pre- readers might seize upon certain of the
sent American ideal that would grant self planation, it will be remembered, was accep- odorous comparisons, and smile complacently government would be sure subsequently to ted; but the thought still arises that it had without taking the trouble to consider how strike many Americans as having tailed, a family resemblance to the retort of the far-reaching are some of Mr. IRELAND'S but the failure would be more apparent rude man in the omnibus, who, hearing a postulates and conclusions. The Times, than real. The original standards as re- complaint from another whose toes he had while not endorsing all that its able ceived from the West would inevitably trodden on, remarked upon the bigness of correspondent wrote, has given him credit undergo much modification, but such part some people's feet. On September 22nd, for ability and impartiality, and in referring of them as are capable of adaptation by the when things were beginning to calm down, to the trenchant character of his Philippine East would stick. The only real mistake Count LAMSDORFF said, in effect, that his article, remarks: "The circumstances in we should feel inclined to attribute to the naval men had been ordered to be discreet, which he is writing should be remembered Americans in the Philippines is that of but "he gave no indication of yielding on the There is a special reason why he should trying to "hustle" the East; for its result question of principle." He held that "it was
treat this question with even more than his is that the nerves of the "hustler" are the permissible for the Russian Government to wonted impartiality and candour. Mr. first to succumb. The old saying about the change their views since 1884"; and that IRELAND holds his commission to investi- mills of the gods fits Nature, and the East "at the commencement of a war every gate these colonial problems from an which is Nature; and no amount of hurry- belligerent had hitherto exercised the right American body, the Chicago University. ing will educate the Filipinos up to Broad- of announcing what would be considered as In the case of the Philippines he is appeal-way and the Bowery, election campaigns, contraband of war, and the list of such ing directly to an American audience, which, Tammany and trusts, in the twinkling of an articles necessarily varied with the resources
as having empowered him to undertake these eye. These blessings must come gradually. of the adversary.' So much for the stability studies, he would wish above all others to The "yellow press" may come first, spring- of international law. Count LAMSDORFF be placed in possession of the truth." ing, fungus like, from the free elucation strongly urged that these matters should be Whether the man be mistaken or not, we see that is being so lavishly spread by a well discussed with calmness and moderation," no great reason for all these apologetica. meaning Government; but the "all men which sounds quite feminine-the sort of Aroericans are not too thin-skinned to hear equal" idea must have time to grow. thing a wife says when, in an argument with adverse criticism, and their own Govern- has to be remembered that much of the ber husband, she is in the wrong. Sub-ment has certainly done much to obtain Western civilization and ideals introduced sequently, the Russian Government gave
by Spaiu bas stuck; and that somehow all way with regard to rice and provisions,
Western ideals do not agree, any more than admitting them to be only conditionally contraband; and this is the only British diplomatic victory apparent in this official record. That there was a greater result of all this correspondence, in point of fact, is sufficiently shown by the cessation of the incidents which gave occasion for it. Having admitted the principle of conditional contra- band, it should be less difficult to convince Russia and others, at any future time, that coal and cotton cannot logically be excluded from that category. The great bulk of raw cotton sent from India to Japan could not be absolute contraband, in face of the microscopic proportion of it that could possibly be needed for the manufacture of war material. Coal is capable of a like demonstration. Enormous cargoes are re- gularly sent to Russia and Japan in time of peace. Japan, by the way, declared coal, inter alia, to be contraband" when destined for the enemy's
navy, or in cases where. there is reason to believe, from the circumstances of the place of sity. It appears that in the early days the expansion which is taking place in the trade of
65
+
destination, that they are intended for the the use of the naval
forces of the enemy." Seeing that Russia no longer has a navy in the Far East, and considering the circumstances of the place of destina- tion," ought the Japanese to continue seiz- ing coal ships at the rate they have been doing lately? All this coal can no longer be regarded as "solely for use in war," since there is no longer any naval war, and none likely to occur. If Japan could be induced
kind
accurate information as to the state of things in these neighbouring islands. Our British readers will not be too unbearably com placent because of Mr. IRELAND'S comparisons, for some of them have not yet forgotten bis unsparing criticism of the administration of Hongkong. There seems to be some doubt as to how to take his remark that "the native of the tropics is not susceptible to the political and adminis- trative ideals of our so-called Western civilization." We take it IRELAND does not mean that the tropical that Mr.
aborigine is susceptible to no politi. cal or administrative ideals; yet that seems to be the contention against which our correspondent's arguments are directed. It does not seem to us that Western ideals can ever be effectively or usefully thrust, holus bolus, into the mind of the East; but their influence, under modification, is apparent enough in experience. There are certain ideals which colours, different zones, share in common, ideals that were invented by human neces-
men of different
Polynesians were so convinced of the value of truth, and the common danger of deceit, that they slew any convicted liar. Thus one tropical people at least were susceptible
to at least one Western ideal-too suscep- tible, we can imagine a missionary telling them, for the biblical fate of liars is too dreadful for our tenderhearted orthodoxy, in these days; and we regard it as only a figure of speech. Such things as white lies" are accepted as every day necessities
C
It
do the Orient and the Occident at times. Mr. IRELAND mentions 'practical reasons that made it necessary to take that ideal (independence) from them." Ideals, whether impractical or not, create similar necessities. In the East, it is as with the pines of the Afforestation Department, to plant a young deal' you have to cut down a strongly rooted old one, and it is a heart-rending process sometimes.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
21st March.
The Minnesota, the pioneer steamer of the Great Northern Co's service between Seattle and this coast of the Pacific, causes the man-in-
the-street to again take note of the astonishing increase in recent years in the size of the steamers now entering the ports of the Far East. What a change has come character of our shipping during the last five that cross the Pacific. It brings home to us the years! This is especially noticeable in the ships
over the
America with the Orient, and the commencement
of a service of steamers like the Minnesota manifesta the confidence felt on the other side of the Pacific in the possibilities of the development of trade in the immediate
future. Not only have the San Francisco companies increased the tonnage of their vessels, them in this respect, but the Canadian Pacific and the great Northern Company excelled Company are also building new steamers for the
trade. The man-in-the-street is inclined to wonder where all the freight is to come from for the homeward trips.