212
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
RUSSIA AND CHINA.
No doubt such an attitude
may be considered somewhat selfish and prosaic; but it is at least plain and intelli- gible and within such limits that it can be readily stated and, on the other hand, if wrong, could be easily refuted. No one, however, has attempted to bring forward any argument to controvert the position. Indeed the facts are so patent that no sub- stantial reasons against them can be advanced. The only show of argument that has been made in this direction, is the attempt to induce people to believe that if Russia obtained a foothold in China, she would not adopt a restrictive trading policy but would, if for no other reason, at all events for the sake of the development of the country she might take over, adopt a trading policy which would be more liberal as regards other nations than she had followed in other places, or than we could obtain from the Chinese. There may pos- sibly be something in this view, but it has certainly not commended itself to those best able froin practical knowledge to form an opinion as to the commercial policy which Russia would b likely to adopt. Every thing in fact points to the likelihood of her taking up a restrictive and reactionary line of commercial policy, and endeavouring to close the avenues of trade against competi-
Japan, her conqueror, a third of Manchuria which does not belong to her, she must obey Japan's first command, to retire bag and
Daily Press, 30th March. baggage, and then pay for the trespass she has committed. The opinion in London is The threatened encroachment of Russia stated to be that "neither Russia nor Japan upon China, which it may now be hoped place any reliance upon the efforts of out will be permanently stayed, has been looked side diplomacy." That is very simple. upon unfavourably by other nations no Outside diplomacy, except in the nature of doubt chiefly upon merely commercial and a benevolent inactivity, would be an imper-political considerations. Such, at all events tinence to the conqueror, who has achieved, are the grounds which have generally been or practically achieved, what he wanted put forward. They form the simplest and, unaided; while Russia cannot rely upon it to a large extent for that very reason, the because any outside diplomacy that could strongest position that can be taken up in interfere on her behalf successfully would opposition. be like the rank dishonesty that first gave ber Port Arthur, and a repetition of which Great Britain could not, for very shame's sake, countenance. The American fear that Russia and Japan might come to some agreement that would close the “open door" in Manchuria seems to us a baseless one, for apart altogether from the inevitable interference of the Powers, in such case, Japan is likely to think a long time before the value of any new agreement with the treaty,breaker would appeal to her states men. Once bitten, twice shy, is scarcely adequate to express the Japanese point of view where Russia is concerned, For the rest of those quaint terms which REUTER communicated from his St. Petersburg agency, Baron SUYEMATSU seems to have summarily dismissed them in terms that in effect were these: Allow Japanese suze- rainty in Corea? We have it already Cede. Port Arthur and Liaotung to
Might us ?
as well code Nagasaki. Place the Eastern Chinese Railway under neutral international administration? The greater part of it is actually under Japanese administration. Restore Manchuria as far north as Harbin to China ? What cheek! We have fought, and won, to make Rus-ia evacuate all Manchuria; and it is not for the vanquished now to talk of reserving two thirds of it. And so on. Even the con- quering power is not going to swop Chinese territory in this way. No one can justly interfere if, in handing back Manchuria to China, she takes steps to see that China does not mislay it again; but it is difficult to see how even victorious Japan could pro- pose to retain that territory as her own. As to the indemnity, our yesterday's telegram announcing a "terrific deficit" in Russian finances, and the bogus nature of her reserve, seem to put that country more than ever on a level with China. It must be paid in the same way that China is paying hers, how ever; and we doubt not that it will be paid. The news, until peace is declared, seems to put any more Russian loans out of the ques- tion and without the sinews of war, it seem's obvious that Russia must come speedily to terms. Hence, while we may possibly have to shift the date a little, we hold to the opinion that peace is nearer than generally supposed; and that there will be no "Spring campaign."
The Waiwupu bas reo-ived, the following dispatch from the Viceroy of Szechuan:-Have received petitions from 8 m of my district magistrates who complain that certain Roman Catholic converts have lately been guilty of refusing to kneel before their Courts like other native litigants, displaying their rosaries and crosses in defiance of orders from the presiding magistrate to kneel. To check this I have issued instructions that, in future, Magistrat s shall display in the centre of their courts a copy of the Imperial decree commanding that con- verts and non-converts shall be treated alike, before which all subjects of the Throne of whatever rank and class must reverse atially
kneel.
|
tors,
(April 8, 1905. itself, would be improved upon in dealing with an alien race. The account given in the article which appeared a short time ago in the Quarterly said to have been written by a Russian Nobleman, and which conse quently attracted considerable attention, shows to what a point affairs have come in that country.
Some allowance must no
doubt be made in accepting this disclosure, as it manifestly comes from a person strong- ly opposed to the action of the Tsar and his advisers; but making every allowance for this, there is so much that is fully confirmed in other directions that we may take it that
the statements are on the whole correct.
From these statements it would appear that the extent to which the Tsar individually can interfere in public matters is such as can hardly be realised even by those who are used to watching the action of absolute and arbitrary Governments such as that of China; and this has been confirmed by a large number of incidents of late all going to show that the Tsar individually mixes up with matters of state-even those of active warfare-in a way which ordinary people can hardly imagine as possible. This in itself is serious enough; but when we find also that it has been proposed that every Provincial or local Governor should be invested with all the arbitrary powers of the Tsar himself,
we can at once
Such a sys-
sec an element, the existence of which must convince all right thinking men that Russian rule in distant parts like China would be nothing more or less than wanton and unrestrained absolutism. tem could only be supported by yielding largely to Chinese Officials who would be used to assist in government, for without such assistance in some form Government of any kind would be absolutely impossible. At this point, there would be an opening for perpetuating the system of bribery and corruption which unfortunately too notoriously exists in China, In fact, this Apart, however, from purely commercial system could be consolidated and strength- manner which would make considerations, the occupation by Russia of oned in a any large portion of China-and still more ultimate improvement more difficult of the possibility of her ultimately obtaining attainment than it had been before. If the whole of it-does not commend itself to China is to be reformed, it must be by the those who are honestly anxious to see real introduction gradually of changes in ad- progress in that country. It has been ministration of such a character as to do plausibly argued that, if Russia is not away with individual abuses; and this can everything that might be wished, she is at never be hoped for from Russia, who herself least substantially in advance of China ; suffers from the very defects which work and that her taking over a portion of the so much harm in China. Above all things country might fairly be accepted as some the chief difficulty in the way of Russia step towards improving the internal ad-effecting any real improvement in China is ministration, and would be an advance her undenied and undisguised contempt for towards ultimate progress. More intimate the masses. Strange as it may seem, the knowledge, however, of Russian ways of best authorities with regard to China government, which has been acquired of (among them the late Sir THOMAS WADE) late, shows that such a hope is not justified. have always recognised that the voice of So far as it is possible to judge from all the people is a strong factor in the Govern. that has been published on the subject, ment of China, arbitrary though the rule Russian internal administration is little if may be in theory, and in many directions anything in advance of that in China. An also in practice. A similar view was taken autocracy on the Russian model would by ABBE Huc, no mean authority upon do very little. towards the improvement Chinese matters, and all experience goes to of China. The only way in which Russia show that a Government which completely would think of governing would be of ignored the views and the rights of the the most arbitrary character, and the corrup- masses the "peasants," as they would be tion notoriously existing in Chinese adminis- classed with in Russia--could never obtain tration would in all probability be rather such authority as is necessary to govern increased than diminished. The strictest effectively or to introduce necessary reform nation as to financial dealing would find it even if inclined to do so. very difficult to do away with bribery and can only be brought about by the influence corruption amongst the Chinese, and most or the rule of some nation able to introduce certainly this very onerous task would be them in accordance with the wishes of the little likely to be accomplished by Russia. people; and this can never be hoped for that would be introduced, it may be taken herself. With what has been of late As to the general system of government from Russia until she has first reformed
as certain that very little respect would be revealed as to the state of affairs in that paid by Russia to Chinese feelings and, country, it is not surprising that there is enstoms; and that the arbitrariness, which strong feeling against the possibility of her has brought about revolution in Russia being able to extend such a system in the
Reforms in China
}