146
JAPAN'S PROBLEM IN FORMOSA.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A GENUINE CHINESE GRIEVANCE.
(Daily Press, 3rd September.)
(Daily Press, 4th September.) Another of those "morally indefensible' There can be little doubt that, should the propositions that are becoming so noticeable attempt which has been so persistently kept in recent times might be found in the up by the Home Government to prevent the discussion of Japan's relations with the employment of Chinese labourers in the Formosan aborigines, which we reprinted Transvaal mines be successful, much three days ago. The writer of that letter disappointment will be felt in China referred to the failure of Japan's very both in official quarters and among the gentle and humane efforts to tame the labouring classes inmediately concerned. Eavages of Formosa, as witnessed to by The extraordinary part of the whole of this several recent massacres. He argued that long protracted matter is that the persons such failure was inevitable in the circum- who are certainly those most affected, have stances; and with a fortitude at which we
made no movement from beginning to end can but marvel, he advised that the only of the controversy. Neither the Chinese proper policy now is a policy of exter- Consul in the Transvaal nor the Chinese mination. The Japanese Government was labourers had any complaint to make, and recommended to select from its long-term | the latter, when means to return were convicts a number of men to be released offered to them, showed no disposition to from prison and sent to the camphor dis.nvail themselves of the facilities. There is tricts of Formiosa. These men-murderers
no doubt therefore, that the opportunity of for choice-would open up the country, and employment is looked upon by the Chinese "deal efficiently
with every savage
18 ΠΟ small advantage, and that the coming within their sphere of action". interference of the Imperial Government in There is eveu the suggestion that a suitable the matter will not be considered as an premium should be paid for every savage act for which they are called upon to be head forwarded to those in authority. This particularly grateful. would be to turn the tables on the head- hunters in a very striking way. After a determined number of years of such service "in the interest of true civilisation ", these
hired murderers would receive a free pardon, "and become again useful members of society, after the performance of meri- torious work". There can be no doubt that Japan has shown a splendid example as a coloniser, in this beautiful island of Formosa, and that the pleasing picture is spoiled only by the continual peril from the aboriginal hillmen. The "savage question" is a real problem, calling for a practical solution. At the same time, there can be no question that from the point of view of the armchair moralist Japan is entirely in the wrong. The head. hunter was there first, He is incapable, the previously quoted writer said, of conforming to civilised conditions. Why should he be expected to change? His life hitherto bas been
a happy one, free, untrammelled, full of the fierce joys that Attend the first-class fighting man. The Formosan aborigine's life must not be supposed to have been entirely without culture, either. He had a very pretty taste in some branches of art. The Formosan native canoe, seen afloat, looks almost alive, so graceful are its lines; while its ornamentation is a surprise to those familiar with barbaric ideals in such matters. The police at Taiboku are in possession of numerous articles that prove the Formosau to have also 鏡 clever
mechanical tura of mind. What can the Japanese offer him? Peace, in savage eyes, must seem boredom; social law and order on the Japanese pattern has enough red-tape about it to weary a person trained to civilisation's ways; in the case of the savage it would be torture. Really there is a good deal to be said from the savage point of view. But what is to be done? Here is a rich and only partly developed colony whose progress is seriously hampered by the conservative notions of its natives. They will not consent to regard murder as improper. They can't, we are told, be mended; we do not like the cold-blooded proposal to end them. This is another of the cases we would like the sentimentalists to take note of; and to settle, if they can.
The agenda of the meeting of the Sanitary Board to be held on Inesday is again a lengthy one. The reply of the Government relative to the submitting of C.S.O's has been received.
The views of the Chinese Government in respect to the emigration of their subjects have undergone a great change of late years. Formerly it was against Chinese law for any subject of the son of Heaven to transport himself to foreign climes. But the curious thing is that, notwithstanding this, there has always been a tendency to emigrate on the part of the Chinese. They did so in their junks long before foreign vessels came to these parts, and there can be very little doubt that they will continue to do so in face of all the difficulties that may from time to time be put in their way in given directions. If one nation will hot have them or does not want them, another will receive them, and get the benefit of their stealy and reliable work. At the present time, it is noteworthy that while our Government is exerting itself to the utmost to prevent the Chinese being intro- duced into the Transvaal, Germany is arranging to receive an instalment of the "Yellow Peril " so much denounced by her, into her Colony in East Africa. Should this movement succeed, as there is good reason to believe it will, there will be good reason to smile at the absurdity of Great Britain in opposing so useful an element in one of her most valuable possessions. That the attempts of the Home Government, (should the present administration continue long in office) to put an end to the employ ment of Chinese in the Transvaal will not cease with the establishment of responsible government there, may be taken for cer- fain; nod these attempts are only too likely to prove successful. Although self-govern- ing Colonies have the decision of such matters in their own hands the Home Government is able to influence such decision
to a great extent in matters in which they are interested, by instructions to the Governors of the Colonies. It is true the Governors have no power to direct what decision shall be arrived at, but their influence goes a great way towards the manner in which a given question is deciding brought before the Legislature, and is often enough to turn the scale where opinion is pretty evenly divided. This is likely to be especially the case in a Colony to which representative institutions have been only newly granted, as will be the state of matters in the Transvaal. There is tius good ground to fear the possibility of the Transvaal Legislature declaring against the employment of Chinese, and thus lifting
[September 8, 1906.
the Liberal Government out of the quagmire in which their election cries have landed them. It is to be hoped that wiser counsels will prevail, but the contrary contingency has to be borne in mind.
Should this be the result there can be no question that the Chinese Government will regard it na an act of exclusion of an uncalled for character as regards their nationals. The subject cannet of course be taken ap as an international grievance seeing that the Chinese still restrict the rights of Europeans in their own country; but it will be certain to be remembered at any time when further concessions are asked for. For this reason, if for no other, it was certainly not the policy of the Home Goverment to raise this question. If it had sprung up of itself, they might have hand to accept the position and make the best of it, as they have had to do with respect to the exclusion of Asiatics in Australia and other Colonies; but this is a very different thing from netually courting a difficulty which is certain sooner or later to assume proportions that will make it a serious matter to deal with. Of
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course it is not wise to look too far ahead, and circumstances may arise, and it is to be hoped will spring up, which will render the question of Chinese immigration in our Colonies less thorny than it appears at present. The best hope no doubt lies in the development of China herself. modern improvements in the way of rail- ways, local manufactures and the like are developed, there will be increased employ. ment for the Chinese labourer in his own country, and this may have the effect of making him less disposed than at present to seek his fortunes abroad. In the meantime, however, it is certainly the policy of the Home Government to encourage the Colonies to adopt as liberal a policy as is compatible with their own interests in respect to the admission of Asiatics, whether as labourers or in any other capacity; and it is a subject of regret that precisely the opposite policy has been acted upon and seems likely to be persisted in by the present Administration.'
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PEKING VERSUS PROVINCES.
(Daily Press, 5th September.) It is an interesting question how far the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Central Government in China has realised the expectatious which were formed with regard to it. Time was when this step was looked upon as the great panaces for all the evils which foreigners had to face in this country. It was hoped that when once foreign nations obtained access to the highest source of authority in the Empire, there would be an end to local disturbances as the Provincial Authorities would be effectively held in control by the High Officials at Peking. In theory, this was a view whose justice could hardly he disputed. The results, however, have in practice, proved very different from what was anticipated. It is true that, by having their Representatives at the Capital foreign nations were able, with more facility than Chinese Government, and, as a consequence before, to press any grievauces upon the it becnine possible, where injustice against Europeans had bean perpetrated, to obtain an immediate hearing, and thus avert the necessity of resorting to coercive measures on the spot, which had been the more simple plau before resorted to. Though this mode of action was undoubtedly simple, it had the disadvantage of being likely at any time to precipitate hostilities of a serious character with the Chinese