302
CONTRADICTORY RAYS.
THE HOGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
1
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impressions, can scarcely be expected to join in such amusement. It is not worth while giving reins to indignation, however. The condition of things has to be recognised, and it resuits accepted with as much resignation as possible. The practical lesson to be looked for is one of greater tolerance and charity toward all opinions. Opinions are the result of information, and where the opinions seeza obnoxious to us, it is only fair to assume that the people who express then have been misinformed. All allege! information, apparently, should be received with scepticism and carefully weighed, while opinions at all times are to be taken for what they are worth, and never resented as they too often are. Certainly, residents in the Far East, with enough local knowledge to how
See
over and Over again the ordinarily well educated world is misin formed about China and the rest of the Orient, should find it easy to acquire a charitable outlook. They should adopt as ia formula, not the bitter saying that
men are liars ", but the gentler paraphrase, "most men appear to be misinformed “.
1+
all
(Daily Press, October 29th,) The quotations that appear elsewere, from Mr. DOUGLAS STORY'S letter in the Tribune contradicting the Times account of what has taken place in Korea, serve to call attention to the unsatisfactory position the general public is in when it wan's to know the truth. The vast number of news papers in the world only seems to make confusion worse confounded, and to provoke repetitions of PILATE's question, "What is truth?" We are not sure that PILATE was jesting on that occasion, although we have often been told so; and certainly experience continues to offer very many occasions in which, perplexed and wortel, men in something like his position are prompted to make the same query. The situation is most discouraging to interested students of contemporary history, and tends to foster cynicism. We know that there has been and is a deep-laid conspiracy to discredit Japan and the Japanese in Korea and throughout the Far East; but we also } know that there are honest observers who i claim to have discovered that the pro-
CHINA'S SAFEGUARD. Japanese have gone to undue lengths in stating their case, glossing over facts and
(Daily Press, Oct. 30th.) suppressing others. Exparte statements | Probably at no period in the history of with this country has we may always expect to be somewhat foreign relations coloured, but the diametrically opposite opinion heen so much divided as it is at the things that are retailed as news compel the present time upou the question whether doubt whether there still be any hone t
China is likely ever to enter fully into with a
international comity and herome a P. men for a modern searcher even lautern to discover. Too hasty conclusions | which can be accepted, in reality as well as on this head are also to be deprecated, in "name, as upon an equality with other We have seen in the curiously distorted nations. The principle has always been accounts of the Hongkong typhoon, as adopted of accepting China as a nation published in Home papers, how the public upon an equality in respect to all diplomatic matters. This has been done in the hope may be misled without deliberate intention. It would appear that the popular stry that she would appreciat. the coufidence of the gossips finds a parallel in modern this shown and adopt steps to qualify methods of journalism, and that all are not herself to take up a position in the same equally culpable. Mrs. A. was not unenda- way as has been done by Japan. For many cious when she toll Mrs. . that Mrs. C. years this hope seemed little likely to he took too much sugar in her tea. Whether Mrs. B. meant mischief by informing Mrs.
course
and
more
sme-
wer
realised, but of late there have certainly been indications that China has at last
${
[November 3, 1906,
The
The loyal adoption of this principle by foreign nations was of incalculable value to China in enabling her to preserve her neutrality throughout the war and to escape being dragged int › it, as was, at one time, beyond question the hope of Russia. This policy adhered to by foreign nations pre- cisely suited China and enabled her to come out at the end of the war without loss or expense and with her territory intact. necessity of the course thus adopted was beyond dispute. If China had been dragged into the war, there would have been no limit to the complications which would have arisen. This was clearly foreseen aud there was consequently a general consensus of opinion among diplomatists in favour of a line of action taking for its basis the principle that under should the integrity of China be interfered with. This policy is of course not new. It is indeed that which has been held by the majority of foreign nations as best for their
113
circumstances
to
to
own interests and those of China for many years past, but especial emphasis was naturally given to it during the recent troublous times. This fact seems have been misunderstood by the Chinese, and they now appear according good authority to be firmly under the will impression that this line of action under
he possible circumstances departed from. Hence the opportunity is being seized for certain reactionary move- ments, such as that taken with regard to the Customs Inspectorate and with respect to railway concessions, the idea being that foreign ations will put up with anything in order to
integrity preserve the policy. This conclusion is not unnatural from the point of view which is taken by the Chinese. They saw what must have appeared to them an excellent opportunity for any foreign nation to adopt a hostile attitude towards them passed by--and they found that peace was established an 1 their territory still intact. The conclusion which
11
they drew from this was that China waS
80
These
perfectly sale in future from anything in D. that. Mrs. C took too much
begun to realise that she must make some
the form of coercion from any foreign thing" in the drinking line is a ticklish effort to get into line with modern require Power; in other words that do what she question; and still so the moral ments if she wishes to hold her own with might as respected any individual nation, responsibility of Mrs. Y., who in due European nations. The last, and the most
the foreign Powers as a whole would always
to good faith regretted
ene uraging sign which she has given has combine to prevent any individual one inform Mrs. Z. that Mrs. C. had been her admission that some reform must from forcibly asserting is rights. This been arrested
! state of be male in her internal administration; view, though it may unexpectedly prove to 311 a hopeless intoxication. It is largely a question of; but the manner in which she has d me this
be erroneous, is no doubt the secret of the interpretation, it will be observed; and in is unfortunately only too good an illustrbstructiveness and of the attempts to the absence of better knowledge of local tion of the trouble which attaches to allevale obligations which have becoine
the colour and detail, it is quite possible that promises of pro ress made by China. She manifest of late. no withstanding the European receivers and transcribers of: acepts the principle, hat proceeds about
assurances which have been given by the telegrams from Hougkong were unconscious į reform slowly and reluctantly that Poking authorities that China intends to sinners when they alarmed the public with acceptance and rejection are practically the
enter upon substantial reforms. such exaggerated reports of what had, same thing. Thus while there is some promises are not unaaturally suspected in really taken place in this far away depend- appearance of improvement in various some well informed quarters to be a mera
A StangLai contemporary has ; directions, there is too much ground t›
feint at being progress ve as a metne of recently expressed its concern the believe that China is as determine as ever amusing the outer barbarian while a very
¡
to the one declared is ignorance of things Chinese on the part of ¦ to keep up her old policy of exelnsion and different course people of ordinarily good education at obstructiveness. Tais attitude is a per being failowed, if we are to julge of China
¡ Home; and it instances a case of the return for the consideration which has by actions and not merely by her words. Illustrated London News devoting its two especially of lite been extended to her The game is clever and has be kept up central pages to a remarkable represcutation but it is only what, from experience successfully for many years; but it is a of an imaginary Viceroy of Kiaugsu" of the past, was to be expected. During dangerous one to play too long. driving swiftly in a motor-car along a fiue the Russo-Japanese war, the policy of country road set with temples and hand. maintaning the integrity of China" was sonic dwellings at what the artist considered unturally suitable distances. The road, moreover,
ency.
was
at
very
lined with swart-looking Chinese soldiers, in moderu uniform, who were undergoing review prior to dispatch "to quell a rice riot in Honan Such misleading publications are numerous indeed; and more amusing than ancoying to those who know better. But the person of ordinarily good education, discovering how in more serious matters he is similarly liable to be given wrong
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NORTH MANCHURIA,
(Daily Press, October 31st.) Mr. PUTNAM WEALE, the well-known authority on Manchuria, has sent a long and interesting telegram to the N.-C. Daily News, which our contemporary publishes on
practically the first October 26th as
verv strongly emphasise 1. The possibility of the hostilities being made a means of aggression upon China by either side, but more particularly by Russia, made it imperative for the various foreign nations to declare vary definitely in favour of maintaining the
uncensore 1 report by hn inviolability of China. This course was au obvious necessity in order to keep the war independent observer of conditions in within as small a compass as possible and North Manchuria and the Russian prov- also in view of what might be done by the inces beyond, as they have existed since Mr. WEALE victorious nation at the close of hostilities. I the conclusion of the war".
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"
acute and