362
JAPAN'S RICE SUPPLY,
(Daily Press, 18th November.) Japan seems to be following England closely in what is called "the march of civil- isation." Japan has in Asia whay in Europe is called "insular pride"; her ambition is a multi-powered navy; she aspires to be a commercial ALEXANDER; even in her Constitution she has got as fair a substitute as possible for an obstructive House of Lords; and at latest advices she is in the throes of a tariff discussion. The Mainichi newspaper of Tokyo is playing the COBDEN rôle, and appealing to the Japanese Govern- ment to abolish the import duty of fifteen per cent on rice that was inposed last year. It is alleged that it was a profitless measure; and that it will cause great hardships to hefall the people. The idea of the Government was presumably to en- courage home cultivation and production; but it is insinuated-indeed, asserted as
"
a
well-known fact"-that many of the legis- lators had in view the probable increase in the arable value of land. There seems to be a growing scare in Japan, which has its well- known English counterpart, that it is
"
Do
Our con-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
years
A CASE OF COHESIVE ATTRACTION?
I
[November 27, 1905.
itself to respect the hated alien in the same way. But the Japanese respect bore fruit because leavened with patriotism: Chioa must develop this leaven. Some think the boycott proves this possible: that is as may be Before China can sit on the same shelf with Japan, it must be (like Japan) a nation in which none is for the party but all are for the State.
THE RELATION OF IMPORTS TO EXPORTS.
(Daily Press, 21st November.) Professor JENKS has contributed to the
The
(Daily Press 20th November.) While the uninformed in Europe have for assumed that Chira and Japan possess more points of similarity than dissimilarity, it is only lately that the foreign dwellers in the Far East have begun to notice the mutual attraction apparently possessed by each for the other. They are behaving as two splinters of wood do when floating in a tumbler of water; except that it is the larger body which seems to be drawn by the less. China's. attitude towards Japan's adaptability is North American Review some hints on how changing, if it has not, since the defeat to extend commerce in the Far East, which of Russia, completely changed. When
we feel obliged to suggest, with the Japan began to draw on European trousers, diffidence and respect inspired by su (a statement literal and yet sweepingly eminent an authority, ought not to be metaphoric), China took no pains to con-accepted as the final word on the matter. ceal her contempt for her whilom pu, . This expert, whose name is familiar if only China enw only a foolish child pianing on for his recent visit to China in connection adult trappings, and aping its alien ellers. with the movement for currency reform, It did not imagine that this was a genuine commits himself to the doctrine that in- and fully warranted assumption of the creased sales to China must depend upon
a virilis; and it is doubtful if the China- increased purchases from China. Japan War brought more than a vague | Journal of the American Asiatic Associa dangerous to rely upon exterior sources
beginning of a realisation of the true state tion mentions Professor JENKS' contri- of food supply. The speedy subju.ation of affairs. The reform movement proved bution in terms of unqualified approval of Japan is foretold as a consequence that seven years ago there were minds in and remarks :—** The assumption is only should ever she lose control of the sea. China awaking to the meaning of things; too cour mon either that we might be willing There is quite a Tariff Commission smack
but conviction had not yet struck the to sell to the Orient, without securing a fair about the phraseology of our contemporary nation at large. Old ways and ancient equivalent in return, or that the Oriental as translated, although its principles would ideas still shook the wavering balance, country to which we might sell would have shock Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. Japan's in-
and it swung to the wrong side. China an unlimited supply of cash with which Auence in Corea and Manchuria is fast
was found wanting, and had to suffer the to pay for our goods. Simple as the extending," it says, "and there is
humiliation of seeing her "fickle" principle is, it seems that it cannot be too occasion for her to adhere to old exclus:ou
neighbours in the van of the movement that often repeated that if we are continually methods by the adoption of such a narrow-
was directed to teaching the embodied to expand our sales there must be a minded policy. The wealth of the country wisdom of the East a lesson. She has corresponding expansion in the Orient should be consolidated by the expansion just seen the same people humble, alone and of the power of producing those goods of commerce and indu-tries."
unhelped, a mighty nation that had long which the West may be willing to take temporary only needs to have two pictures been a bugbear to China; and the scales in exchange." This is not a statement made, one of a big go-han bowl well filled, have fallen from her eyes. So, at least, we readily controvertible, although it would and the other of a little one; and the
are told. The present fashionableness of have been safer, perhaps, to say that there campaign would be well ou the way. It
"reforms" of all surts and sizes is believed must be some expansion of production; and has our sympathy in any case, for we do
to mean that China is willing to take a lead to have refrained from saying a particular not believe the consumer is getting or likely from her former follower. That she is class of goods must be produced in greater to get any benefit from the recent legislative extremely anxious to enjoy the same status quantity. It seems natural to suppose device for enccuraging home industries. In this case, ice being a staple, the may be taken for granted. She wants all that an increased production of goods for consumer means the greatest number. And foreign troops withdrawn; she wants all domestic consumption only would also have foreign concessions cancelled; she wants to the effect of improving. China's purchasing that greatest number appears to be cou-
manage her own affairs. Soon she will be power. But as Professor JENKS puts the tinually growing; and it is impossible, or
asking for the abolition of extra-territoria-case, it is a fair question whether coun- least, that improbable at conditions there will ever be a nativety. These are laudable ambitions; and tiles, if they double or triple their sales to there is the precedent of Janan. Well, China, are going to be willing to take feed the whole production sufficient to
China has more to learn yet, before all these twice or three times as much silk and tea to this tax, the population. Prior importation of rice and other foo stuffs things can be. She must learn that Japan in exchange, at prices which would be
was ready for the change, before it
substantially the same as those at present; had been growing, irrespective of good
or whether they will take more products harvests. This year, as has already been granted: ready according to foreigu idens, reported, there has been a partial failure that is to say. Japanese justice is not of other kinds from China."
be a fair question," whatever is meant by of the crops,
and much suffering is perfect vet; but its errors are the same
kind of errors that foreigners are used the phrase; but it appears also to be a anticipated. In the north-eastern provinces
to. It does not cut off a thief's ear, as question readily answered. Statistics of there is already much distress among the
our Canton correspondent mentions this trade of all countries appear to answer it. poorer people. In countries like Japan
To take as a very brief example, British and Chïùn it is almost a paramount duty morning; and it does not, in face of an
trade with China (exclusive of Hongkong of government to ensure that rice shall be imperial decree, persist in the ancient me- the one commodity of all cheapest to buy thods of torture and "squeeze," that are still and Macao) was represented in 1899 by in vogue in China in spite of the imperial £3,069,452 imports and £7,186,706 exports. prohibition. Many of the reforms we have In Professor JENKS' phraseology, Great been hearing about lately have a pleasing Britain sold China twice as much as she aspect; but when we think of the miraculous bought from her. This would appear to be reform that is needed to make these effective, an inexplicable circumstance, an impossi- We almost despair of seeing China einerge bility, in fact, if we were to accept the from the slough she occupies. It is not 90 principle advanced by Professor JENKS OS much, in evangelistic jargon, a "change of generally applicable There appears, more heart."that is needed as a change of mind. over, to be very little correspondence of No one imagines that Japan brought about ratio in the figures for 1908, when both her present position out of love for the accounts were reduced. British imports foreigner; and no one expects China to were then £2,679,367 and exports have unnatural feelings of the sort. Japan £6,798,015; or in other words, the sales and China both began by hating the for-
were corsiderably more than two and eigner. China is still blindly hating: a half times the amount of the purchases. Japan conceived a useful respect: the world' We believe it has been long regarded as now knows how useful. China must bring a fallacy of economics to insist that
and easiest to obtain.
under any
The China Times says:-The journey from Peking to Hankow over the railway which has just been completed will take thirty-six hours. This railway, heretofore known as the "Lu- Han" (Lu-kow-ch'iao, referring to the classic bridge of Marco Polo, about 15 miles south west of Peking, the "Han" standing for an kow) will from now be called the "Ching-Han" Railway ("hing" mening capital). It has been determined to run the first through train on the 15th of the present tenth moon (12th inst). On the 16th, 17th, end 18th of this moon (12th, 13th, and 14th inst.) passengers will be earried free on the trains to fittingly mark the occasion. The total cost of construction has been Tls, 5,800,000.
was
This may