February 24, 1906.J
and the Mandarins the expression of the same feelings. French prestige, he holds, 1 not in any way enhanced by the pro- tection of the Missions; and he goes on to Bay that the continued application of such a policy would on the contrary be likely to entail serious complications.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. generally, and she is wise in concluding that she has quite enough responsibility in respect to Missions, so far as they can claim it as French subjects. It may be doubted very much whether Germany ever really contemplated taking up this position of protector of Christians generally in Chain as was at one time stated. Possibly this was
commercial persone, that business men are blind interests and op
the
need external encouragement. tion to make the most of them, seemed to us somewhat funtastic Herr VON BRANDT's object in thus impugning some of the most intelligent
Allowance must, of course, be made, in accepting these utterances, for the anti-given out with a view of raising the ques-countrymen may be guessed at, after
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clerical movement which has of late year: made so much progress in France, and ban been the subject of so much discussion fr that country. This may, to some extent, account for the stand which has beer adopted on this subject; but, on the other hand, there can be little question, quite apart from any bias of this kind, that the view set forth by M. GERVAI 18 accordance with the facts; and that the French will do wisely to give up the pro. tectorate of Catholic Missions must be the opinion of most persons who have had opportunity of judging of the practical effects of that measure. Experience ampl: demonstrates that, so far from increasing the influence of France in China, her assumption of this position has in reality seriously impaired it, and in no direction so much as in respect to the Mission sthem selves. The effect of taking up such an attitude was to cause the Chinese to look upon the work of Catholic Missions in China as specially political; and thus (in their case) to accentuate the difficulty which has attached to all missionary work in this country-the objection to which pa the part of the officials has been always far more upon political than upon religious or moral grounds. And, in fairness, it cannot be denied that the Chinese have at tinies had some ground for complaint on this score. It is beyond denial that missionaries have on occasions been induced to use their positions in respect to native converts or members of their stations in ways that must have been irritating to the Chinese officials, and have not always shown the tact and consiration which are essential in dealing with such questions as are likely to arise. Such matters bave long been a source of trouble to the Consular Authorities, and have often enough led to serious diplomatic difficulties. The Catholic missionaries have been credited with more interference in judicial and political matters than others; but whether there is any real foundation for this is open to question; as with the arrangement that France would act as pro- tector of Catholic Missions, it may be taken as certain that their protégés would be looked upon with ill-favour by the officials, who would often be inclined to take more severe views of anything like interference on their part 1an they would with regard to the
sane acts by persons not under a special system of protection. In a certain way too such a protectorate itself had un- doubtedly a political significance. It gave to France a certain status in China which no other nation possessed; and the impor tance of this was likely to be over-estimated by the Chinese, especially when the possibil. ity of foreign conquest was prominently in the minds of the Chinese officials and was frankly considered as a matter within the range of practical politica by European nations. In the tingency arising the end of such a con- influence acquired by the protectorate of Missions might have proved of some value to France, though
probably not
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tion as to the position of France in respect his suggestion that the Anglo-In of the Catholic Missions, and of inducing Treaty and the British naval activity her to abandon it. If such was the case, Singapore were bɔth directed at German Germany has certainly done France good commerce with China. As an imperialistic service. Nothing can militate more against German, we can in that way make due her legitimate influence with High Chinese allowance for his alarums. The Chamber authorities than the special claim which she of Commerce of München-Gladbach has in respect of Missions in the interior. auswered them with an argument that It is notorious that it has always raised would doubtless cause rejoicing to Mr. undue suspicious as to her intentions, and CHAMBERLAIN's opponents. They declared has stood in her way in regard to other and that they could not compete with the more legitimate demands which she might English manufacturers because cotton yarn prefer. It would be to her advantage to is dearer in Germany than in England. abandon any special claims in this direction." It is," they said, "therefore useless to They are not likely to benefit the Missions, expect an increase in the German exports which have a claim to protection upon the of grey goods to China. The exports of same grounds that persons of any foreign German prints to China may be consider nationality have a right to assistance from ably increased when China is in a position their authorities in China; and it will be to to purchase better-class cotton goods. the benefit of France herself and of the Germau producers and exporters should foreign Powers generally that no one
co-operate more closely. The German nation be specially accepted as the recog-export houses are independent, purchasing nised protector of Missions, either Catholic their goods in any country they please, and or of any other denomination.
exporting them to the places where they have worked up a connection.”
CHINESE LABOURING CLASSES.
GERMAN COTTON EXPORTS TO CHINA.
(Daily Press, 21st February).
(Daily Press, 22nd February.) A curious illustration of the manner in
We referred not long ago to the bad babit of national pessimism, cultivated partly for which isolated facts are sometimes seized propagandist purposes, and partly, as we upon as a basis for very wide con- reluctantly suggested, by an irresponsible clusions in matters connerte with the press avid of sensation or perverted original Far East is afforded in some remarks ity. Our comments referred, inter alia, to made by Sir J. GoRsr in an article on the the pamphlet by Herr von BRANDT, formerly unemployed question which appeared in the German Minister at Peking, circulated by Fortnightly Review. In order to enforce the Hamburg-American Steamship Com- the proposition that acute distress is poon- pany. His alarmist statements, which we liar to Western civilisation and that in described as palpable exaggerations, were more primitive communities the human presumably prompted by a propagandist. race is not exposed to misfortune of They appear to have caused a good deal of kind, he states: "In China, discussion in German Chambers of Com- ancient civilisation we regard as pit merce and in the textile journals, about and ludicrous, and in which the population. Germany's cotton-goods trade with China. is more concentrated than in any part The Manchester Guardian, usually well the world, the industrial population informed of all matters relating to this singularly free from that instability particular trade, takes our view of the condition and insecurity of prosperity, general postulate, but adds an interesting which all Western people suffer, opinion. It admits that German trade with warrant for this assertion, he quot China, in this line, is a comparative failure;ment of M. EUGENE SIMON, who and says the reason is that the German merly French Consul in various manufacturers cannot produce the gray and China, to the effect that the Chinese white goods that are the staple of the Chinese asked why they did not adopt We demand so cheaply as their English, Ameri industrial methods were in the habi can, and Indian competitors can. It is abaurd replying: “ Large industries, suche to suppose that the Germans are not awake your country, ruin the individualit to the importance of the Chinese market, and men; they become machines and the fact that Herr von BRAND has had one trade. If the factory is the opportunity to study the situation on hands are thrown out of work the spot suggests to our mind that his hunger. In our country, every statements were deliberately exaggerated to several trades; if one fails, he can strengthen some arrière-argument, something upon another. There is no cessatio: in the style of the Tariff Reformer, perhaps. work;" and M. SIMON then goes on We prefer this theory to agreeing with our express his own opinion that there contemporary that the intelligent von beggars in the towns in China, and i BRANDT WAS "under the strange delusion the country next to none. From that his fellow-countrymen in the cotton sleuder facts Sir Joan GoRST trade are unaware of the great importance of conclusion that the misery of the China market and are missing splendid Western countries is a direct opportunities through ignorance and Western civilisation. Upon
How often and how unjustly proceeds to discuss the have British business-men been similarly and probably few will charged with lethargy or indifference, by suggestions which he critics who had no conception of the necessity of steps being obstacles and handicaps so apparent to amelioration of the condition those criticised? As the Manchester paper at home; but it is somewhat puts it, "the theory, widely held by non- that he should have
so much value as bad been lethargy.” nticipated. Circumstances with regard China, however, have now so much red in this respect, that France can hardly look to any great inaterial advantage return for the trouble which she accepted m acting as protector of Catholic Missions
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