804
THE TUNE THAT LI PLAYED.
THE HONGKON › WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 2nd November.) There are indications that the Chinese authorities have taken into serious consideration the alteration brought about in their position vis-a-vis foreign nations by the results of the recent war between Russia and Japan, and the diminution of the power of the former as a factor in foreign relations consequent upon the check which Russin received by the war and the internal disorder in that country which soon after followed. For years past Russia had been a trump card in the hands of the officials at Peking in dealing with all questions in which a possibility of the disintegration of China was involved. Russia was pointed to by China as the natior, from whom aggression was most to be feared with the natural result of raising sufficient reluctance to the adoption of any ench policy on the part of other nations to give them a consistent position in using at least all their moral influence against Russia's encroachment. This was precisely what the Chinese desired, as it enabled them to stay off the evil day by allowing Russia to slowly push on her encroachments until, as LI HUNG-CHANG shrewdly foresaw, Russia would come into collision with China's old rival, Japan, when the latter country would fight the battle with Russia which China, herself was too weak to wage. If Russia had been successful in the war, China would have been able to claim some consideration from her on the ground of her previous friendly attitude and no doubt she also hoped in that case to obtain sufficient support from other foreign countries to prevent Russia from, at all events for some time, making use of her success for serious aggression so far as Chinese territory was concerned. In the event of Japan heing the successful party, & salutary check would have been placed upon Russian advances in the East, and China would be the gainer to this extent. Such was
as subsequently declared the policy of LI HUNG.CHANG, who certainly displayed a complete grasp of the situation, and an ability to act upon a fixed line of policy for many years in face of much opposition and even of accusations of want of loyalty in apparently too asily yielding to Kussia's encroachments. The wily old diplomatist saw very clearly to what point they would lend her. The scheme bas however, leen in one sense a little too successful. Russia has been weakened far more than was considered possible by the results of the war, and Japan has been proportionately strengthened. The hope of China's pitting the one against the other and so keeping at bay the two Powers most likely to threaten her, is likely to be disappointed for some years to come, if not permanently. It is, therefore, mainly with Japan that China has to deal as respects anything which might threaten her integrity at the present time-and it is not surprising to find China following her traditional policy of making friends with the uation who might be the one most to be feared in that direction. This will account for her present coquetting with her
old rival; and her apparent willingness to be instructed by and to some extent directed by her. No doubt there may be a bona fide belief among many of the Chinese officials that they would be able not only to learn from Japan all she knows, but to better the instruction; and this idea would account to some extent for the obstructiveness which has of late been observable at the Capital. The idea in all probability is to repeat Li HUNG-CHANG's policy as to foreign relations,
1
[November 3, 1908. merely substituting Japan for Russia, uader | work foreign nations the one against the the belief that foreign nations generally other. It would require a clever man to may be relied upon to keep Japan off and play upon the same instrument that was Japan to deal with any one foreign nation successfully touched by LI HUNG-CHANG; which might be induced by China's aud, even if such a one were found, there systematic evasion of her obligations, to 13 a rift in the lute. adopt an actively hostile attitude.
There is however an essential difference which will very much modify the effects of adopting this line of policy in the present day. Russia, while pretending to move in respect to China questions in conformity with other foreign nations, in reality always adopted a course of her own. Japan, on the contrary has in the past been willing to act in the main ia couformity with their views; and in the future will, there is every reason to believe, act in concert with them It is, therefore, unlikely that China will under any circumstances he able to make use of Japan as a set off against foreign progress in China. Her policy for many years past has been the same as that of European nations; and her interests lie in the direction of continuing that policy. If therefore China desires to secure the support of Japan, she will be compelled to adopt a policy which will be in conformity at once with the views of that country and with those of European nations. If she do this, she may be able to enter upon a process of reform, which will enable her to maintain her position alongside of modern nations. But if she endeavours to maintain a policy of evasion and obstruction with the idea that foreign nations will submit to anything rather than face the contingency of a break up of the Chinese Empire, she may find that there is a point at which this policy, successful as it has been hitherto, will fail. European nations - and of course with them we class America--are each naturally jealous of seeing any one of them take a dominaut attitude in China; and this jealousy may continue to be effectually worked upon so far as they are concerned. But a point may be reachei when no such jealousy will be felt with respect to Japau. If patient dealing with China for years is found only to result in a continuance of her old evasion, obstruction and exclusiveness, it may at last become generally recognised that there would be no serious objection to a portion of China falling under Japan-and thus the opposition which could be relied upon with respect to any European nation would not be a factor in the action of foreign nations generally in the event of Jap in adopting a firm attitude with regard to the invasion of any of the reasonable rights which she has in China in common with other nations. The idea of the Chinese would be to met this con- tingency by granting special privileges in some surreptitious manner to the Japanese; and this policy might succend for a time; but it is unlikely that it would be successful in the end. It is almost certain that Jap in would sen the policy of stopping short of anything which wou d separate her action in China from that of other foreign nations, and would take very good care that the Chinese did not lead her on until she crime into collision with any one of them, as they led Russia int collision with her. This fact will no doubt become apparent to the Chinese, who are too shrewdl not to proceed warily and to test the feeling of those with whom they have to deal. The Japanese can hardly fail to see that their best interests in China are the same as those of other nations-that is to enjoy fair trading facilities with that country; and so long as they take this view and are prepared to join with European Powers in maintaining their common rights, it will be impossible for the Chinese to play them off against foreign nations as they have hitherto been able to
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
Council was held on the 1st instant in the A meeting of the Hongko ng Legislative Council Chamber at 2.30 p.m.
PRESENT:--
Governor, SIR
H18 EXCELLENCY THE MATTHEW NATHAN K.C.M.G.
Hon. COLONEL DARLING, R.E. (Officer Commanding the Troops).
Hon. Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial
Secretary). General).
Hon. Mr. H. H. J. GOMPERTZ (Attorney.
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON Treasurer).
(Colonial
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY Captain-Seperin. tendent of Police).
Hou. Dr. Ho Kai, M.B., C.M., Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT. Hou. Mr. W. J. GRESSON. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils)
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER. Mr. H. H J. Gompertz took the oath and
assumed his seat as a member of the Couovil.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H., the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 84 to 90 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURE ‹ seconded. H18 EXCELLENCY -Financial Minute No. repair typhoon damages incurred by the 84 makes a further provision of $1,20 to Botanical and Forestry Department. The previous vote of $1,200 Was for the purpose of repairing buildings and re-erecting trees. The present vote is for additional labour required to clear the streets of branchos, ets. Financial Minute No. 85 is to provide $18 for the hire of a house in which Taipo, the matshed us for that purpose to carry on the work of the Land Office at having been destroyed by the typhoon. Financial Minute No. 86 is for an additional $1,000 for repairs to typhoon damages incurred by the Police and Prison Departments. We have already voted $1,000 for raising and repa ring police launches and pia. beaching the Bating fire engine. Financial The present vote is for raising and
Minute No. 87 for 343) for light and fuel and washing at the Civil Hospital is required on account of the higher price of fal Financial Minute No 83 is for $13.010 on account of survey and preliminary work on the ruilway. It will be repail to revenu⚫ from the railway loan, and a vote is taken for it. the Public Works Department. This particular work is under the direction of Minute No. 89 makes a further provision of $1,000 for the item, refunds of reveane. It is require ou acount of refund of rates for y cint houses. Financial Minute No. 90 of $175
naces.
Financial
is to cover a few sma'l reward given to the junior clerks and coolies at Taipo for good wirk Officer, and Mr. Mackay, the 1,and Buliff, in they did in assisting Mr. Clementi, the Land saving laud records when the Land Offic mitshed was broken down.
FINANCIAL
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the tab's
the report of the Finanes Committee (No. 11) and mored its adoption
The COLONIAL TREASUREE seconded, and the
motion was agreed to
༔
EEPORT OF PUBLIC WORKÓ COMMITTAE. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid on the table a report of the ploceedings of the Public Works Committee (No 2).