332
for the Chief Justices of Crown Colonies near to one another meeting periodically as au Appeal Court. The idea was thrown out some years ago that the Chief Judges of Hongkong, Singagore, and of the Supreme Court at Shanghai might meet periodically in this manner to hear and determine cases on appeal from either of those Courts, Nothing came of the suggestions and probably it was found there were some reasons at the time against such an arrange. ment-óne obvious one being that in all such cases one of the Judges on the Appeal Court would have been a Judge who had already dealt with the case. As the matter of appeals generally will, no doubt, be carefully considered again by the Home Government, it is not impossible that the above-named suggestion may be revived, and if a sufficiently strong Bench could be secured in some such manner, it would be a great advantage in saving of time and
expense.
EUROPEAN RELATIONS.
seems
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[May 27, 1907. mutually supplementary, to take advant-peace and prosperity of his neighbours all age of the first opening that presented round. These are things that the KAISER itself to get rid of any possible cause of and his ministers have as yet failed to friction in the near future; and so avoid grasp, but the remedy is within their own those suspicions which, without a thorough hands. If instead of propounding irresol- comprehension by each of the other's vable rid lles, and fretting with indignation general policy, are almost certain to
at the failure of the neighbours to expound lead to unseemly bickerings. Unless for them, Germany,-Emperor and Ministers. the mere object of stirring up general unpleasantness, it is not easy to see how on any broad principle of public polity a peaceful explanation between two states so, situated as France and Japan could in any way have clashed with Germany's aspirations. The understanding is not even defensive, far less offensive, and makes no mention of any third power, nor gives a hint that it is intended to place either France or Japan at cross purposes, poli- tically or commercially, with any third nation. There is no doubt that Germany is markedly sensitive to the idea of being isolated, and, as often happens in such cases, this morbid feeling leads her to conceive that every friendly advance on the part of other powers is intended as a slight on herself. His bringing up and bis prodilections have made King EDWARD VII.
would for once adopt the simpler and more generous task of bending a little to the ordinary amenities of social life,→ for social life, as King EDWARD has shown, is quite possible between nations as between individuals, she would find that most of the mountains which her present myopy raises before her, would return to their ordinary and proper condition of mere mole-hills, if they did not indeed actually fade out of sight. Neither King Edward nor Sir HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN has any deep-laid scheme of policy to con coal, and certainly the last idea that would enter the mind of either would be to harbour any scheme so entirely at variance with their lives. Without passing any judgment on the latter's wisdom or abilities, every Englishman, no matter what may be his political predilections, tory, unionist, or radical, will at least concur in holding His Majesty's present PREMIER quite incapable of any such Machiavellian project; while King EDWARD has shown himself too sensible of his duty as constitutional Sovereign to harbour the least suspicion about the perfect propriety of his own com- munications.
(Daily Press, 23rd May). Referring to the Franco-Japanese Agreea
more especially genial monarch, ment, "the German Press is dissatisfied, one who delights in the society of his and avers that it is attributable to the fellows and one who in any position of life British policy to isolate Germany." Also, would be personally popular. That being the German Government regards the so that he should take advantage of it Franco-Japanese Agreement with calmness. to enjoy unrestrained intercourse with his as it will not injure German interests, but equals in station is but natural. A monarch will rather facilitate a Franco-German has but few opportunities of mixing in rapprochement.” Such are the contents social life; yet the ease of travel in modern of two equally authentic telegrams from times has introduced the possibility. Queen Europe, both received the same day, and VICTORIA may almost be said to have SOME both published in the same paper in the one commenced the practice in visiting her issue. The one comes from London, the neighbour King Louis PHILIPPE, but the other from Paris, and there is no indication succeeding generation has seen the practice that either sender wished to falsify the news much extended with marked advantage to that he had before him, yet one
the international politics of Europe. The directly contrary to the other. The riddle necessarily frigid etiquette of courts has is apparently as irresolvable as that pro- never been conducive to sociability; and pounded by the Sphinx to the unfortunate many of the worst wars in history have Thebans, and equally on its correct answer
been the result of simple misunderstandings, seems to depend the continued peace of which a few friendly words would at once Europe. Does there lie behind it some such have dissipated. In following the private dark mystery as hung over the unconscious bent of his own feelings, and improving crime of Edipus? It is ominous that the his personal acquaintance with his fellow question with all its dark suggestions and rulers, there is then no reason to accuse possibilities should have arisen when King EDWARD of any dark desire to reflect Europe was within a month of celebrating on his less congenial fellow sovereigns. ita presumed Parliament of Peace, and that The KING OF SPAIN, for instance, is a England for all her peace loving Premier young monarch, like King EDWARD himself should have been dragged into the abyss of eminently fond of social intercourse; the old-renowned strife. With Germany's present inordinate world haughty etiquette of his court has at desire to entangle herself in every petty all times tended to make the Sovereigns quarrel from Guatemala to Morocco it was
of Spain reserved and uncongenial; and perhaps hardly to be expected that she history shows that since Spain became a would pass over so promising a fiell of Monarchy moroseness and narrow-minded- operations as A possible understanding ness have been the marked characteristics between France and Japan. There were
of her Sovereigns, and Europe has had to many easily comprehensible reasons why pay for this in torrents of blood. It is to such an understanding should recommend the honour of King ALFONSO that he has
the first itself to both Japan and France.
With been
to break through this and without regard to the latter, busy tongues have been girdle of exclusiveness, free with their suggestions that after having lowering his dignity as sovereigu, found got Russia, for the present at least, out of the himself able to enter into intimate social way, Japan in her inordinate ambition was relations with his fellow sovereigns. Even plotting the conquest of the Philippines, or
old buckram etiquette has in case of this proving too hard a nut, of pursued him, but improved circumstance
of travel have come to his assistance: the descending upon Indo-China, and expelling the French from their snug colony. It was
hard and fast rules that beset a King of clearly in the interest of France to have Spain in his own Palace, fortunately, do not such rumours at once checked; as it was prevail on board ship; and in our modern plainly also of importance to Japan, in the days steamers are fitted up with all the accomplishment of her great object of com- dignity and luxury of palaces, so that for merical advancement in the Pacific, to once in a while even a monarch of Spain excite as little hostile animosity as possible. can unbend. There is here, it may be There were thus very evident and palpable added, no need to act the Sphinx on Mount reasons to induce both Japan and France, Kithaeron; for once a King may uabend the two nations in the world perhaps with himself to the infinite advantage of not only the fewest conflicting interests, and whose his own health and comfort, but to the commercial interests are above others benefit of his subjects, and the enhanced
here the
REFLECTIONS AT THE
TILLER.
44
" on
(Daily Press, 24th May.) Not as &
"nation of shopkeepers," but as a nation of sailors, we should fairly be known. This without concern for the dis respect implied by the original epithet. That was a case for the personal equation ngain, for discounting the contempt of a professional wholesale murderer, who could not see that the pursuit of "la gloire such lines was no more noble than the pursuit of honest profits of honest trade. Both ambitions were essentially egotistic, but NAPOLEON's was the more mischievous and immoral. That it was more romantic is a postulate not to be maintained. Trade its victories no less has its history,
and British tra le can never be dissociated from seafaring. Only a sea- faring folk could be so strenuously resistent to Channel Tunnel projects; the sentiment for salt water was probably a dominant factor in that antipathy. Mr. FROUDE'S literary complaint that the magic of our sea and shipping has not hitherto adequately
bave inspired our poets may
prompted W. CLARK RUSSELL to the fine effort published in the Monthly Review for April. It is rather untimely, ensi lering the the English present intimacy between EDWARD and the Spanish ALFONSO, and from the point of view of our remarks yes terday, it can be objected to. But whereas yesterday we were politically minded, tɔ-day our concern is with letters, and we ca
19 as a applaud "The Plymouth Buccaneers foretaste of a harvest that ought to be reaped.
"Now pitch a shot and try the range: we're
closing him smain,
He answers, and the ill-sped ball squirts up the
yeast abreast.
as thander raia
Now laff and ply him fierce as hail and thick His flag droops from its pak, my boys! Its eloquence is weak, my joys! Is weak is gone O goodly shot! the youngest
and the best!