408
this precaution has not always been taken, but no doubt in the future, the necessity for a clause of the kind in any new treaties or treaty revisions will act be overlooked. That the Home Government cannot force Australia, New Zealand or South Africa to receive the subjects of Asiatic countries whom they regard as undesirable citizens, will in the future be accepted as an established principle-and if the Govern- ment of any Asiatic country desires this privilege, it will have to negotiate specially for it.
The matter, however, at first sight appeared more difficult of solution in respect to Indian immigrants to the Colonies, as they, or rather the oratorical friends who took up their cause, were able to wrap themselves up in the British flag and, as they thought, to claim the full rights of British subjects. In an abstract point | of the view, the argument looked almost unanswerable but a very simple answer to it has been the fortunate outcome of the recent Conference, and the fact augurs well for the value in the future of some such means of Colonial repre. sentation at headquarters.
It is pointed out that though Indians are in one sense British subjects they are not such in a way that will entitle them to everything that may be claimed by those of Europe in descent and among those privileges that of absolute right to be received on an equality in Colonies having their own independent autonomy, may reasonably be considered as excluded. The Colonies have very largely made their own countries without much direct assistance even from the mother country and certainly without the aid of the Indians who now clamour to come in at the last moment and to share the advantages which they have not in any way contributed to produce. To claim this right merel be- cause they are under the protection of the British Government in their own country and are recognised as British subjects is carrying a good principle to an absurdity. This fact has been recognised by the Honie Government who have wisely (more Britannico) preferred common sense to logic -and have not attempted to interfere with the undoubted rights of Colonies to regulate their internal affairs for the sake of pushing another principle good enough in itself to unreasonable lengthis.
in
at
and
in
11
as
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
JAPAN AND THE POWERS.
(Daily Press, 20th June.) "He would an he could" is apparently the ignoble view taken by nation of nation, in respect to possible aggression and land- grabbing. Japan has had to go to great lengths to assure other nations of its pacific and honest intentions, since those other nations awoke to the fact that Japan is able to be dishonest if it likes. The Franco-Japanese agreement is taken mainly as a guarantee that Japan does not covet Indo-China, nor contemplate conquest there; and if there could only be a similar guarantee that Japan has no designs on the Philippines, we suspect that we should hear much less of American anti-Japanese pre- judice. Even when Japan was struggling with Russia, and the French authorities of Indo-China were just a little too hospitable to Admiral ROZHDESTVENSKY and his ill- fated Armada, the Japanese found occasion to publish assurances that they did not and never had had the least wish to covet or capture the Asiatic possessions of France. They were not believed, for such suspicions are more easily propagated than exter- minated. Now they have given the best possible proof of sincerity, it is somewhat odd to find a respectable contemporary gravely recording as history the nightmares of political pessimists. The Shanghai Mer cury declares without any qualification or doubt whatever that the Fashoda incident was grasped at by the Japanese as
"Whilst opportunity.
Sir MORTIMER the DURAND was conducting in Paris negotiations which terminated in peice, the Japanese Government," it roundly states,
was preparing for
Every staff officer was summoned to Tokyo in the expectation that at any moment orders would
war.
An
be issued for the mobilization of
troops which were to be employed in a descent upon French possessions in the Far East in the event of war between France
","
aud Britain." This is wonderful, and does not enhanco our appreciation of the way history is made. Some papers outside Japan at that time may have suggested, and perhaps did, that Japan could aud might do some such thing; but so far as our recol- lection goes, there was absolutely no founda- tion discernible in the Island Empire for such statements. The Japanese Intellig⚫nce Office may have known "to a hair" how much Frauce's ally, Russia, would be worth in a Far Eastern strife, but we are not prepared to admit that "every edeulation
was
May
The position which has thus been asserted might with advantage be advanced a further stage. There has often been trouble in China through Singapore Chinamen claim- "British subjects, when but ing to be
made for the success of the under for the merest accident of birth," they are taking." simply because we do not believe to all intents-in habits, in instincts, in
that such an undertaking was contemplated. language and largely in education Chines It is easy for an arm-chair strategist to -and really only wish under the cloak of point-out that "if a descent upon Tongking being "British subjects" to hunt with the could be made simultaneously with an out- hounds and run with the hare. It would break ou a large scale of the Black Flag not be unreasonable that such men should Societies on the border provinces whilst be considered as Chinese unless on landing France was (sic) hampered by a war with China, they declared themselves Britain, a considerable measure of succes: the British Consulate British might be safely anticipated for the expeli-
distinctive way made tion." some
That bears all the stigmat of this apparent to the Chinese Authorities ar chair-strategy, but it is not high politics, and others concerned. It is possible that and it is not history. There was undoubtedly as the "British subject" question generally some dissatisfaction over the allegation of has now been brought within more reason-
French breaches of neutrality during the able limits, the position of Chinamen born Russo-Japane.e war, and we know that in Singapore or other British Colouies may
the Japanese press, like the newspaper lom also be placed upon a more satisfactory of other nations, had botheads who talked of basis than bas been the case hitherto.
reprisals, but the government of Japan is not swayed by this sort of counsel, and it is sheer invention to say that there was "again a strong feeling in favour of the invasion of Tongking." Japan had too much on its hands, even if it had been tempted to favour such a policy; and if, as is further alleged, France had at that time set about preparing
The Chinese press is to be placed under the control of the minister of Posts and Communi- cations. It is enacted by the proposed new laws that no newspaper shall attack the Govern. ment nor the administration, nor must it allow a personal attack on a member of the Govern-
ment, nor insert any secret official document.
|
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+4
"1
[June 24, 1907.
immense re-inforcements of French forces in the Far East," her protestations of neutrality would have gone for less than they did. The carelessness of the historian is evident in his reference to the new Anglo-Japanese agreement, by which the Allied Powers are not "pledged to assist The pledge each other in the event of war.' operates only in the event of "unprovoked at- tack or aggressivo action," and the war to follow must be in defence of its territorial right or special interests." If Japan declares war on America, which is most unlikely, Great Britain would not be concerned under the treaty, though it might if the declaration came from the other side. Grant Britain is bound to interfere against any Russian 'campaign of revenge, as was probably chiefly intended; but at the time of the renewed Alliance, there was no question of the amicable relations of Japin and Frince, or of Japan and America, and it is nothing more than journalistic imgination to suggest otherwise. Recognising the pre- vailing inistrust and evil thinking of pseudo- Christian Powers, the Japanese statesmen have thought it well in the interests of peace to take pains to prove the of their Governmaut, and that is all there really is bebind the much-talked-of ententel If the American Government were ins position of real authority over all its com. ponent states, which it seems it is not, we should soou see a similar agreement between it and Japan. The Times has suggested that America's traditional policy is against such agreements, but the re il obstacle seems to be, as we pointed out some time ago, that America is not yet in a position to keep The great Republic, the world's terrible example of a misfit ideal, still lets the tail way the dog, much as China does.
them.
**
· CUMSHAWS.
"
od faith
(Daily Press, June 21st.) There are some people who argue, on the lius that in Rome it is permissible to do as the Romana do, that those Sanitary officials were not really dragging who “squeezed" the name of Englishman into the mire- that they were not, in fact, positively dishonest at all. They had, it is suggested, merely substituted one code of ethics for
another.
We have in the past pointed out that morais are a question of latitu∙le, and that in the Arctic circle it is a virtuous and public-spiritel act to give euthanasia to one's graudparents. That was, however, merely academic, to prove some point now we are not sufficiently forgotten, and latitudinarian to sanction the implication that in practice frigid ethics will bear Indeed, transplanting to torrid regions. teindry now awakes to the fact that that was the pint of politics in question-the advisability or otherwise of missionaries e ndeavouring to make the creed of a locility As the local servants now iá universal. disgrace for doing even as the R mans were actually also "doing the Romans," it might have been exp cted that the chief con- plaints would have come from them, i.. from the local Chinese. not so; the Chinese gave their evidence reluctantly; and the Officer Administering has publicly referred the Government to the need of taching the Chinese that it is as wicked to offer a bribe as to accept oue. Leaving aside for a moment definitions
and squeeze, of terms like “bribe' will it be an easy thi to inculcate that lesson? That is a question. With Chinese it would involve interference with
• old custoin", at all times a difficult matter with such a conservative people. Looking at the meaning of the words
"
זין
Yet it was
the