August 31, 1908.]
A SUGGESTED CHINESE AMERICAN ALLIANCE,
(Daily Press, August 25th.) The latest alliance between nations to be discussed is that in which the United States of America and China are represented as the principals. The proposition we must take it is seriously made by the New York Herald, which is endeavouring to create a public opinion in favour of this union. So far the subject has been confined to the journalistic world; it has not entered the political domain, and we doubt if it is likely to do so. In the first place it may well be asked what are the advantages of the suggested treaty? What inducement is there for a Power like America to ally itself with China, ponderous, unwieldy and weak ? The benefits to China are, of course, very appar. ent. Such an alliance would strengthen her position in the eyes of the world. Any nation, tempted by China's comparative helplessness, would henceforth pause before seeking to carry out contemplated designs on this vast empire (although one would suppose that there are sufficient guarantees already on this point), and China would be able to command greater respect in inter- national counsels than at present; a result which would not be without material gain. But, on the other hand, what benefits are likely to accrue to America? We know that she has been doing her best to secure friendly relations with the Chinese She has remitted a portion of the Boxer indemnity and in other ways has sought to win the goodwill of China. With what object? Commercial results highly favour. able to American trade may ensue, an achievement greatly to be desired after the regrettable estrangement two three years ago. This is, no doubt, good business in the eyes of merchants and exporters, but what concrete benefits will be gained by the nation? None, so far as we can see, except the doubtful advantage to which we
shall refer later.
or
more
It has been truly said that newspapers have the power to make war and to make peace, and true as this is when applied to European journalism it is still applicable to the Press of America. The Herald represents a force in that country. It is more conservative than the ordinary and is certainly
American
newspaper,
not to be classed with the "yellow roujnals." Consideration is given to its opinions, and usually its proposals do not pass unheeded. As we have already remarked, there is nothing to indicate that such an alliance has been considered by the responsible statesmen, but that should not preclude the proposition from being discuss- ed on its merits even at present. We have briefly examined the proposed arrangement without discovering the quid pro quo which America might expect to receive, and the only suggestion which remains is that a certain section of Americans, fearing future hostilities directed against them by Japan, wish to make a move which will checkmate the Nippon Government. The bitteraess which recently arose between America and Japan has given place to a better feeling to-day, but there are people who are, never- theless, far from sanguine as to the future. Much of course depends on the point of view but the actual conditions of to day would seem to belie such gloomy prognostications. Yet, if the proposed treaty by not aimed at Japan, we fail to see what other object it can have, It cannot be regarded in any other light than as a threat to Japan, and as such it represents a menace to the peace of the world.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Among the Chinese, possibly in the North as much as in the South, the idea is well received, but the support given to it is born of undisguised hostility to Japan. Not one Chinese in a hundred, we venture to believe, would have any other idea on the subject. Yet no alliance of the kind, had it been in existence, could have availed to stop Japan from doing any one of the acts which have given offence to the Chinese people. Whatever benefits the Chinese may see in such an alliance, there can accrue to America no advantage that we can ace beyond what the existing commercial treaties confer, but the disadvantages are doubtless sufficiently obvious to the people of America to prevent them seriously entertaining the idea as a project within the sphere of practical politics at the present time. When China has arisen as it were from the dead ashes of her former self and stands up as a Power in the world, condi- tions will be changed, and doubtless nations will seek her aid then, but meantime her weakness would imperil the very existence of the country which allied itself with her.
CHINA AND OPIUM.
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will become necessary in consequence of the abolition of all traffic in opium, native or foreign. What the taxation of opium yields to the Chinese Government we have no statistics to show, but in the aggregate it must be a very large sum. When Sir ROBERT HART, in 1881, made an attempt like Mr. CLEMENTI has recently done to estimate the number of opium smokers ia China, be incidentally estimated that the total amount spent by China on the opium luxury produced at home and imported from abroad, was about £25,000,000 annually. And his estimate was that only 3 per thousand of the population were opium smokers. Mr. CLEMENTI has formed a higher estimate on the basis of the latest statistics. He has put the opium smokers down as approximately 2 per cent but it will be seen from another columa that a Chinese calculation gives 15 per cent of the male population over fifteen years of age, which is stated without proof to form "an in- finitely greater percentage than can be shown by any European country in the case of alcohol." This statement will not bear investigation, but assuming the Chinese estimate to be approximately correct, the fact still remains that the revenue derived from the taxation of the luxuries of the few must be recouped by the taxation of the necessities of the whole people. Whether alcohol will take the place of opium, as many people believe, is a question which time alone will decide. The Customs statistics of the import of wines, beer and spirits during the last few years cannot safely be taken as a guide, for the import of these beverages while the Russian and Japanese armies were in the field was doubtless abnormal. It is noteworthy, however, that in 1907 the import of wines was larger than it has ever been, and beer shows a substantial increase on the import of 1906.
?!
(Daily Press, 26th August.) The constant references in the Chinese Press
to action taken by the Imperial Government in pursuance of the resolve to suppress the opium-smoking habit must convince the most sceptical that China is just now thoroughly in earnest about the inatter. But those who are familiar with the history of the opium question in China will not need to be reminded that China has been just as terribly in earnest on the subject before. China's opposition has always ostensibly been on the ground of the harm the drug does to its consumers; but heretofore the insincerity of her indignation over "the sinful revenue of the British-
Finally, we may note in this connexion Indian Government" was plainly evidenced the astonishing increase
of late years by the direct encouragement which was all in the import of morphia for hypodermic the while being given to the cultivation of
injection. It has been suggested that the poppy in China. Now, however, we
this growth in the import has arisen read of peremptory orders being sent to from the well-meant administration of the cultivators of poppy to reduce the anti-opium pilis containing the alkaloid, cultivation, and even in some cases to take intended to satisfy the craving without the up seeds that had already been sown. Here knowledge of the druggard that opium is the real test of China's present sincerity
was being administered in aby for m in the matter, and her ability to carry out but without discussing that we may infer the policy she has enunciated will be tested that opium smoking became popular in when the economic effects of this restriction China as an antidote to malaria. China is a force themselves upon the attention of the land of waters of great canals and canalised Government and the populace at large. rivers, and of irrigation on a most extensive Mr. MORSE, the Statistical Secretary of the scale: Malaria is probably prevalent among Customs, considers that it may be safely the Chinese people to a greater extent than asserted that the production of opium in the world has any conception of, and opium China to-day is, at the lowest, six-fold, and is known to have been used as a remedy is more probably eight-fold, the quantity long before Jesuita bark and quinine were of the present import of foreign opium. discovered, and looking at the opium ques What is to take the place of the poppy in tion from this standpoint the absolute the vast agricultural areas which are now prohibition of the supply would appear to devoted to its cultivation ? Will the far-
be gratuitous cruelty. No amount of mers be content to grow cereals yielding to
newspaper argument, however, will avail to them perhaps but a fraction of their present alter the determination of the Government; revenue from poppy cultivation ? There but it is interesting to note the probable is no news from the poppy-growing districts consequences of the prohibition while wo that the growers are imbued with a spirit wait to see how the Chinese Government of philanthropy in the matter, and great propose to deal with them. popular discontent in the opium-growing districts is inevitable; more especially as re- stricted cultivation means loss of employment to probably thousands of people now engaged in the cultivation and preparation of opium. These opium growing districts for the most part are situated in provinces which are in a chronic state of unrest. But China has entered upon the task with her eyes open. She must be fully aware too of the discontent which must certainly arise from the shifting of the incidence of taxation which
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The funds necessary for the construction of the first class hotel which Manila fools is necessary in view of its growth and importance have practically been raised. The Cablenswe Americas reports that 800,000 pesos has been raised by subscription by the directors of the company that is to float the new Laneta HotKi. This together with the P600,000 that is to be donated by the Insular government will just about make up the amount necessary to com mence work. The plans are now being drawn by Architect Parsons,