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MACAO HARBOUR.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND HOLLAND AND VENEZUELA.
(Daily Press, August 21st.) The news which we published yesterday from our London correspondent to the effect that Holland had decided to blockade Venezuelan ports was important not so much because it indicated that the fiery little republic which has caused so much trouble to other Powers of late was at length to receive a much-needed lesson, but because it proclaimed the fact that on occasion the Monroe doctrine may be suspended. It will be remembere i that when President GROVER CLEVELAND, who died only a few weeks ago, some ten or twelve years the restated Monroe doctrine with an application to the circumstances of the time when Great Britain was in dispute with Venezuela, con- siderable irritation was aroused in Britain and feeling ran high. It was regarded as an undue interference with British interests and, however sound the doctrine might be, the fact could not be overlooked that from the point of view of the United States there might arise an occasion when it would be impugned. Fortunately that evil day has not dawned yet, and if America displays the same sound common sense as she does to day the unhappy contingency may be long delayed.
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[August 22, 1998.
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man power, which has not been used in the interests of the country but for his own aggrandisement. With a charming irreg ponsibility he quarrels with country after to the detriment of his own. country, As a Canadian newspaper sagely remarks, he is a long distance" fighter, but pro bably he will become less bellicose when he finds a hostile fleet blockading his ports and the inhabitants rising in protest against the dangers and hardships to which they are ex- posed. Whether the force behind the pro- test will be sufficiently strong to remove this Commanding figure from Venezuelan affairs remains to be seen, but it does take us far into the realm of conjecture little declare that there will be to security for peace so long as he is allowed to remain in his present position. Of course no one who knows anything of the mercurial temperament of the Latin races in South. America and the instability of the various governments there would hope for great reforms from a successive president and government, but conditions could not be much worse than they are under the exist~~ ing régime and no improvement seems possible without a change. The Dutch demonstration will doubtless bring the President to terms and if it also indirectly brought about another revolution
no one would be surprised. Venezuela But its effect in international politics is far shows that the Monroe reaching. It doctrine has more elasticity than some European politicians, particularly British, thought and this consent on the part of the States Government to armed United intervention by a European Power on the American Continent establishes a precedent which must be regarded as of the highest importance.
in
(Daily Press, August 21st.) For very nearly half a century the improvement of the harbour of Macao has been under consideration by the Government at Lisboa. Every year's delay has meant an aggravation of the cause of complaint, and now it has become absolutely imperative that dredging operations should be under- taken. The statement made by the new Governor in his first public speech in the Colony that his initial efforts would be directed to this important question is a welcome announcement alike to the com- munity of Macao aud to all mariners charged with the duty of taking ships in or out of the babour. It will not have been forgotten, however, that many, if not every one of Senhor ROCADA's predecessors in office were most sincerely anxious to see this important work undertaken, and none more so than the last Governor. Recollec tion of this fact certainly does not tend to inspire confidence in the public mind that the new Governor will be able to prevail any more effectually than his predecessors against the blank wall of inaction at Lisbon, but there are good rea- sons for adopting a more optimistic view of the matter. If it be true, as report had it
It is well known that Venezuela has at the time, that Senhor COUTINHO resigned the Governorship of Macao as a protest been storing up trouble with a persistence Not against the stultification of his efforts by the which is almost akin to madness. authorities at Lisbon, we may gather even only the United States itself has broken off from the brief summary of the new diplomatic relations with the Government of the country, but Great Britain, France Governor's speech communicated by our Macao correspondent, that this strong action and Holland have claims against her which There is something has not been without effect. Evidently in demand settlement. his perusal of information available in extremely ludicrous in the spectacle of this Lisbon with regard to his future sphere of litle Republic defying so many of the greater labour, Senhor ROCADAS has been impressed Powers of the world, and were it not so by the injustice the Home Government has serious the world could afford to laugh at done to the Colony of Macao in starving the little bantam cock which crows so loudly public improvements and withdrawing from from its own little dirt heap. But patience
"Hongkong's proposals" in connection with the Colony funds which might have been has its limits, and so has the Monroe
A spent in the Colony to its immediate and doctrine. The Dutch Minister having been the suppression of the Opium divans has been a permanent advantage and to the ultimate expelled from Caracas, the situation between to pic of considerable interest this week.
correspondent a few days ago inquired in the gain of the mother country. No doubt the Netherlands and Venezuela became
Press how the Colonial Secretary Daily more acute, and the natural consequence reconciled his unequivocal denial of the state- this matter was well discussed with the responsible officials and it will be sincerely followed that Holland should take steps ment that the Government had made certain Satisfaction was definitely specifled proposals with Router's hoped by all well-wishers of the Colony that to avenge this insult. the Lisbon authorities have at last been demanded, but none being forthcoming, telegram announcing that the consideration of the Hongkong proposals" was in abeyance persuaded of this injustice. The barbour the Dutch decided on a naval demonstration
Mr. May is now so silted up that the cost of dredg- which would doubtless bring about the pending the return of the Secretary of State for
The United States has the Colonies from the Continent. ing it will be very considerable; and Macao desired result.
has not broken the rules of the Service by puoitive was never so ill able to bear that cost as she declared her sympathy with
publishing in the newspapers an explanation, is to-day. Had the matter been taken in measures of this description, and," as
and as the Legislative Council which has hand a quarter of a century ago when the American journal remarks, "the Monroe throughout the summer been holding weekly Colony enforced previous appeals to Lisbon doctrine will take a vacation from Vene- meetings, is now adjourned ine die, we may by a direct petition to the King of Portugal, zuela for a time." Of course it could not have to wait some time for an explanation.
the that
Governor has made the work would have cost far less than it well be otherwise. If the United States There need, however, be no hesitation in
believing will now. Procrastination has proved very wished to exercise a species of protection
some proposals, as, for instance, with regard over the whole of the new world south
to the date when the so-called “dens" stall expensive. Portuguese engineers who re-
must also in- ported on the project warned the Govern- of her own borders she
be closed, and it may be that His Excellency of obligation in bas proposed that the Shanghai example should ment years ago that the ruin of the port cur a certain amount was inevitable unless dredging operations preserving peace and maintaining order be followed of closing them up in batches; but that the Governor, without first giving the were undertaken and the necessary works within that sphere. On the present occa- not shown any
Legislative Council an opportunity of express- constructed for the regulation of the currentssion, however, she bas in the harbour. This prediction has to a inclination to interfere, has not even threating an opinion on the sisime put forward by the large extent been fulfilled, and the longer ened to use" the big stick and the duty Opium Farmer, bas made any definite pro- posils to the Secretary of State as to the these improvement works are delayed the of bringing the Venezuelan Government to
amount to be remitted by way of compensation worse will it be for the Colony and also for reason therefore fell to one or other of the
in the monthly payments of the Opiam Farm to the Mother country which has up to now Powers concerned. Holland having perhaps the Government, I, for one, do not believe. been able to regard it as a valuable asset to the greatest cause for quarrel has been It is quite possible that His Excellency has the nation,
forced to take severe measures and there transmitted certain proposals made by the can be little doubt that apologies will be Opium Farmer on this important phase of the tendered all round and that Venezuela will question, in order to suable the Bɛcretary of State to fully appreciate the consequences of his be allowed to continue its independent hasty decision, but to say that the Government has endorsed those claims without having given the Legislative Council an opportunity of discussing them is a very different matter.
career.
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an
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PANDOM REFLECTIONS.
In April and May last Drs. R. MacLeau Gibson and Chan Hin Fun gave instruction at the Chinese Y.M.C.A. in first aid to the injured. An examination was held in due course when twenty-four were examined, eighteen of whom passed with creditable marks, and they have now all received certificates from the St. John's Ambulance Association. This is stated to be the first time that lessons in first aid bave been Republic. The government has ceased to be wished to see erected on Blake Pier is about to
given in the Chinese language,
It will be readily admitted that the source of all the trouble and all the international complication in that part of the world is traced to President CASTRO, who for nine years has controlled the destinies of the
representative and in his hands it is a one
At last. The iroa structure which so many
people-I had almost aid generations have make its appearance. For years the residente