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men who after all cannot be held respons- ible for the damage done. Nor is it a case of locking the stable-door after the horse has been stolen. Supposing it to be established that there could not possibly have been any earlier warning in that case, if it awakens us to the dangers of the present systein, the experience has not been wholly wasted. We may well not on the basis of what might happen, and, be it remembered, what some people insist actully did happen in this case. We have it stated on eminent authority that the majority of our typhoons come to us from the Philippines. Surely it is a most reasonable request to make, that we should officially cultivate such relations with Manila as would ensure our receiving every information and warning possible? Supposing we had a much bigger chain of stations within the limits of the Colony, we should still find the Manila observations invaluable. The explanation already volun- teered by our local Observatory sufficiently proves. for argumentative purposes that a purely Colonial system is inadequate. Simultaneous observations at points widely separated in the track of the storm, when exchanged and compared, alone enable the officials to make useful deductions. The variations between Gap Rock and Kowloon will never serve as the salvation of a single sampan. It is with considerable diffidence that we make the foregoing remarks, feeling sure that the practical men who have the business in hand realise the require- ments that seem so obvious when pointed out. But in view of the remarks made at the Legislative Council, it seems our duty to point out that the public is not anxious for either blame or vindication of any individuals. On the other hand, an official assurance that in future the closest profes- sional relations will be maintained with our meteorological neighbours, without omission or distinction, will, we feel sure, reassure the public. whose feeling in the matter we have tried to echo.
DISARMAMENT IDEALS.
(Daily Press, 27th September.) It is satisfactory to find that the leading home papers take a very rational view of the question of arbitration and disarmament which again forms the subject of discussion at the Hague Conference. With respect to both subjects, the optimistic views which are so frequently put forward by enthusiasts, meet with no favour; and are passed over lightly and as hardly worth the consideration of practical politicians. With regard to arbitration, the matter has been very well thrashed out and the true bearing of the subject is now generally recognised. Certain matters are in their nature suitable for arbitration, while others are of such a character that any attempt to settle them by that means is almost certain to prove abortive, and in some cases is clearly impossible. A disagreement about some mere matter of fact such as a boundary question, or some other definite right, is clearly a matter which may be submitted to the arbitration of some impartial tribunal and settled in as rapid and easy a way as possible. There are many such questions which arise and which could be thus disposed of, and the dangers of their con- tinuing to be subjects of disagreement which may ultimately lead to serious con- sequences may be thus very well avoided. Up to this point, all will be in favour of the establishment of a Court of arbitration which may be resorted to if other means fail. But there are other matters of disagreement which no Court of Arbritation can by any
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be
(October 1, 1900
manifest for any one seriously to suggest but a reduction of armaments by mutual consent is very much the same suggestion in a more specious form If the nations be- tween whom the agreement is made are certain to be friends, the arrangement is not wanted; but if there is the possibility of their becoming enemies what can be more absurd than agreeing with a possible enemy as to what amount of arma- ment it may be necessary for you to have to prevent his attacking you. Imagine an agreement with the Chinese Govern- ment that we would have only such men of war in China,waters as would bear a certain proportion to what the Chinese might have to oppose us, a sort of “weight for inches " handicap, possibly very interesting in a sporting point of view, but scarcely an arrangement such as would add to our security or tend to the preservation of peace.
MISSIONARY JUBILEE AT
CANTON.
(Daily Press, September 28th.) All the world loves a lover, and in the same spirit it may be remarked that all the jubilee. From a reigning
world likes monarch
to
an
THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS AND
possibility settle finally, and in respect of which any such attempt would be likely to lead to more mischief than it could possibly abate. To take an example which will occur to all in these parts. Does any one suppose that a court of arbitration could have settled the question between Russia and Japan as it stood before the outbreak of the recent war? Would it have been of any use for a court of international arbitration to say to Russia that she must give up all idea of pushing on towards the Korea? Such a pronouncement might have been made, but who can imagine that Russia, as she thed was, would have paid the slightest attention to it, and would not have procee led in her policy of aggression notwithstanding the dictum of any number of courts of arbitration? The attempt to arbitrate would only have given her more time to prepare for a final blow, and would in any such case afford the less acrupulous of the two Powers concerned an opportunity of striking at the most favourable moment. It is clear that a question of this kind could not be settled by arbitration; and such questions, as we all know, are certain, from time to time, to arise. In face of this fact and of others scarcely les significant it must be admitted that there is no hope of any general court of arbitration being
Inspector-General of sufficient to prevent war under all circum- Customs, from a Darby and Joan couple to stances, however useful such a tribunal may a missionary, there is noticeably a particular be to settle special questions such as those satisfaction whenever a career is neatly. above indicated. The idea that any means
rounded off with the half century. It is of arbitration can ever be devised which rather remarkable, taking all things into will secure universal peace must
consideration, to find such feats possible in abandoned as
To merely a very happy dream, but such a country as China. destined to remain a dream, so long as
maintain and continue one's earthly human nature continues what it is. Even existence for fifty years seens in itself an with respect to minor questions which can
achievement, if we consider the things that be settled by arbitration too much must not are everywhere said of the white man's be expected. Many of these matters can
burden of sickness in these parts. To go be arranged much more
amongst the Chinese, satisfactorily etween the nations concerned than by any attempts at arbitration. Difficulties of this
to be able to boast of it after half a hundred kind are often adjusted by diplomatists upon years, is to suggest that by DARWIN'S the simple basis of a quid pro quo, and the famous principle, the Rev. Dr.. Graves of absolute right in dispute does not come
Canton must, indred, have been, "the i fittest". We have heard an eminent man under discussion at all; and in a great many cases this is a far more satisfactory Chinese on foreigners, that a man carrying of commerce remark, apropo attacks by way of dealing with them.
With respect to disarmament agreements
a bottle of spirits in one hand und a cigar. opinion is much more definite than within the other might safely penetrate any regard to arbitration; and it may be taken as certain that no nation will be simple enough to place reliance upon any compacts of this nature. Whatever arrangements might be made in times of peace, it is quite certain they would have to be abandoned so soon as war threatened, that is at the time when they would be of the most consequence.
They might save a certain amount of money in the interim but would count for nothing in time of danger. A nation threatened with possible invasion has only one duty-that of protecting itself at all cost, and this consideration would at once override any understanding on the matter of armaments which might before bave been arrived at. If there were no other reason against attempting to come to such an understanding, the numerous ways in which such an agreement could be evaded are sufficient to show its uselessness. A nation might possibly agree to reduce its armaments in a certain degree but it is inconceivable that any nation in its senses would agree to do away with all means of increasing then at a given moment on necessity arising; and it is manifest that underhand arrangements might be made to secure this India, Australia, and China, inform us that The local branch of the Chartered Bank. of end. The only compact that could be of any in the direction sought from the London office advising that a dividend on September 26th a telegram was - received- would be one by which all nations had been declared for the past half year to 30th agreed that there should be no war at all. June, 1906, at 13 per cent p... free of income The absurdity of such an idea is tool tax.
preaching new
doctrines, and attacking old ones, and still
region of China. He meant that these things would satisfy the natives that the bearer was not a missionary. Dr. GRAVES may be said to have carried the Bible in one hand and a medicine bottle in the other, during his fifty years among the Chinese; but we suspect that bis-safety and popularity have been due chiefly to the tact and sympathy which be carried, so tu speak, in head and heart. It was inevitable that at such a gathering there would be offered some sort of apology for the presence of missionaries, but we cannot unreservedly compliment the speaker who: made so much of missionary services.to..
commerce. Missionaries were described as with which to enlist the sympathy of those sample agents. It is a plausible argument who have trade interests at heart, but it is quite certain that the Chinese would have learned about and desired foreign goods if there had never been a missionary in the country. At best the benefits they have all they ought to take a much higher moral given to trade have been indirect, and after ground than that. Many of them do.
!