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JAPAN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Tokyo, May 16th.
DISCIPLINE IN THE SCHOOL.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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THE LATE MR, BETHELL. The death of Mr. Bethell of Seoul removes an unofficial figure who was making his mark in Korean affairs. Mr. Bethell came out to the East fifteen years ago,
and settled in Kobe where he had an export business, his brother being the London partner in the concern. This is Spare the rod and spoil the child" is a saw still flourishing, but about five years ago,
Mr. that must have occurred to most minds in this Bethell withdrew from the business and went .country in recent years at the remarkable to Korea. He was a friend of the late Mr. Tom demonstrations, often violent and insubordinate. Cowan, the well-known journalist, who was the of schoolboys against their teachers and the founder of most of the "Times" newspapers in higher authorities. This tendency has certainly the East, such as the Manila Times, China | grown since the war, together with other bad Times (Tientsin) and Japan Times (Tokyo). tendencies, and it seems rampant to-day just at It was the intention of the two to start a daily the time when the education authorities, from in Seoul, but before the actual flotation of the the Minister of State downwards, are endeavour-Korea Daily News, Mr. Cowan, who had long ing to impress upon boys and girls the importance been in bad health, grew worse and Mr. Bethell of obedience and good behaviour in and out of
was left to undertake the work alone, which he school. The Imperial Rescript on education is did. Mr. Cowan removed to Tokyo and shortly regarded as the Bible of the Japanese school, afterwards in 1906 succumbed to brain disease. but just as the precepts of the good book are Mr. Bethell contined the News and during the disregarded in the school of life, so the precepts
war was correspondent at Seoul of the Daily of the Imperial Rescript seem to be utterly Telegraph. From the signing of the Japan disregarded by those whom they chiefly con- Korea Treaty of 1905 he became a decided cern. Instances of petty, insubordination have opponent of the Japanese administration, but been numerous of late, cases of arson and unfortunately journalistic indiscretions, slight assault on teachers in revenge for real or
but irritating. marred his influence, which imagined wrongs have been recorded, and might have been very great had he been the latest example of schoolboy revolt.
more moderate in expression and less the suspension of the Higher Commercial School personal. His connection with the Korea in Tokyo, is a matter of grave concern to the Redemption Fand proved his influence among country.
the Koreaus, and a successful action for libel at Shanghai riudicated his character of a charge that too many preferred to believe true. At the time of the Redemption Fund trouble Mr. Bethell would have had ground for successful libel actions against a dozen papers in Japan had something equivalent to British law been in force here, for he was treated unjustly from the first. Although he received scant courtesy and less justice from the papers at that time, it is a pleasure to note that at least one Japanese paper does him justice after his death. This acknowledgement comes from the Seoul Press, and it will be appreciated by residents in the Korean capital who knew Mr. Bethell and esteemed him as a man.
THE QUESTION AT ISSUE.
In the first place it must be pointed out that the authorities have misled the public in a certain act. At the last session of the Diet a
representation was passed recommending the establishment of a commercial college, and this was generally considered to imply the desire of the Diet and public that the Higher Commercial School be elevated to the rank of a college. Contrary to all expectations the Do- partment of Education suddenly ordered the abolition of the post-graduate course of the school and the establishment of a commercial faculty in the Imperial University of Tokyo, giving the post-graduate students certain privileges when entering the University. In this it must be said the Government has acted, regardless of the Diet and public opinion, with its customary despotism. as evidenced in such examples as the postponement of the exhibition and abolition of the pari-mutuel. The Diet has been ignored, which is a common phenomenon, but public opinion, too, has been ignored.
REVOLT AND A TEARFUL FAREWELL.
A PLEASANT PICNIC.
The officers of the British China squadron spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon on the river Tama near Tokyo a week ago, and enjoyed a sort of hospitality that was pleasing mainly because of its primitive character. Overlooking the Tamagawa, amid a landscape not at all un- like that in the homeland, the officers spent the first part of the afternoon in the gardens of Then the agitation among the students, 1,500 their host From a distance the slopes of these in number, began. Resolutions were passed by gardens looked like a solid bank of vivid red, them, teachers resigned or were discharged, being thickly planted with the pretty azalea, and finally the students left the school then at its best. This country mansion is en masse. Last Saturday the final mass surrounded with fine timber, and as it had meeting of the boys was held. and on the rained on the previous day there was an air of evening of that day one of the principal build- freshness about the country that was delightful. ings of the school was destroyed by fire, in- The officers assembled on the lawn fronting the volving a loss of 30,000 yen. The institution house and moving here and there were many was then suspended. A day or two later a
a pretty kimono and obi, adding colour, while remarkable scene was witnessed. Eight their wearers added grace and beauty to the hundred young men, wearing their uniforms scene. Outside, in the laues and byways, a with the school badge on their caps, drew them great portion of the country side had gathered selves up in rows in the narrow street opposite to view the scene, and a lot of the simple country the school and solemnly sang the Kimigayo. folk seemed quite disappointed that the officers The anthem was repeated three times. They had not turned out in gold-lace and medals. then took off their hats, tore the brass badges Near by, the private gardens of another magnate therefrom, and threw those insignia in a heap on were thrown open to the school children, and the ground. As they were bowing in bidding here tastefully laid out were camelia, azalea, farewell to their alma mater the tears streamed peony, and many other flowering trees. Boys down their cheeks, and we are assured that the and girls romped the afternoon away, until it dense assemblage of on lookers, even the police
was time for the officers to depart, when and hard-hearted detectives, could not restrain the children gave the gallant sea-fighters shedding a tear in sympathy with the
a send-off. But before they went back to woeful young men. It must have been an
Tokyo the officers had an amusing time on affecting scene. In the meantime the Depart the river, being crowded in small boats ment of Education has expressed its determina- and engaging in fishing for a, or love-fish, a tion to carry out its resolve, which of course is number of the finny tribe that is caught, broiled, the proper thing to do, for if the authorities and eaten on the spot. It is a pity there were to show weakness at the present moment it were not more excursions such as this, not would be disastrous in its effect upon all who go only for officers, but for men also, for there to school. The students, by their acts, have
are are lots to be seen round about the alienated the public sympathy, much as the public Arbau districts of the capital. Unfortunately, may condemn the attitude of the authorities, for however, the enjoyment of the sailors. British it is recognised that discipline must be upheld. and American, has been marred by heavy rains. What the Government proposes to do cannot affect the personal position and progress of the students, but they, from a false love for their alma mater, hare shown a disregard for discipline and a disobedience that should not go unpunished.
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EXHIBITIONS.
Although the Tokyo Assembly has resolved to proceed with the scheme of holding an exhibition in Tokyo in 1911, it has yet to be con- firmed by the Aldermans' Conncil, as the superi. cr body, and enthusiasm does not appear to be
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[June 7, 1909.
very keen in the matter. The fact seems to be that the idea of holding the exhibition was but the child of pique and resentment at the post- ponement of the national exhibition by the Government. If the exhibition is to be held, it will mean that the tax on land in the city will be increased 50 per cent. to defray part expenditure. An exhibition of another character, in fact, a sort of national gallery, has just been opened in Uyeno. This is the art gallery established by public subscription to commemorate the wed- ding of the Crown Prince ten years ago. building has been eight years under construc tion, and is designed to be permanent, being built of stone. It is destined to be one of the sights of the capital, for it contains the greatest art treasures in the country, lent and purchased.
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.
The
A new chapter has been begun in the history of Japanese business concerns by the appoint- ment to the board of directors of the Keihin (Tokyo-Yokohama) Electric Railway of foreigner, a representative of Messrs. Sale, Frazar and Co., who are the underwriters. of a loan for two millions advanced to the company. The business was concluded at a meeting of the company yesterday. There has naturally been much opposition to the
idea of a foreign director on the board, but evidently the company has been unable to obtain funds except at prohibitive rates on any other terms. The money will be used for the construction of the Rokugo bridge, near Kawasaki, and the extension to Aoyama, where the great exhibition is to be held. The con- struction of the Keisei (Tokyo-Narita) Electric Railway will shortly be begun, and for this purpose a loan has been arranged with a London syndicate for 1,500,000 yen. Narita is a town in Shimosa, twenty-five miles due east of Tokyo, and the country in between is thickly populated and with very poor railway accommodation. A representative of the London syndicate recently visited the proposed route. The subsoribed capital of the company is 3,000,000 yen.
THE MACAO BOUNDARY,
Au apparently well-informed correspondent writes the following letter to the N.-Ĉ. Daily
Nercs :-
SI-General Machado, the Portuguese Commissioner, will shortly be in Macao, if he has not yet arrived, and he will forthwith meet his Chinese colleague, H. E. Kao Erh-chien.
In the meantime, it would appear that the Portuguese and Chinese Governments have tried to find a basis for the deliberation that will ensue between the Commissioners. The Wairupu must have demanded from the Por- tuguese Minister the devolution of the territories which the Cantonese maintain have been unwarrantably taken possession of by the Por- tuguese, and hence the report that the Por- tuguese Minister has claimed a sum of about Tis. 2,300,000 for the redemption of these territories.
But, in view of the solemn pledges as con- tained in Art. II of the Luzo-Chinese Treaty ef 1887, one would like to be informed on what ground the Imperial Government has put for ward its demand. The irresponsible Cantonese agitators have proclaimed urbi et orbi that the islands around Macao and even the zone from the old city wall up to the barrier_across the isthmus, have been usurped by the Portuguese, but, although inferentially we could clearly
see that this was also the contention of the Imperial Government. did not expect that the Waiwupu would openly adopt it in the face of an international pact recognizing as legitimate our occupation of these territories.
On the other hand, I wonder what has been the reason which induced the Portuguesa Minister to be prepared to hand back these territories to China against a money payment. Has he found some legal defects in our title thereto Or has he received orders from the Lisbon Government to acquiesce in the Chinese demand?
Altogether we occupy an area of 12 squaro Kilometres (about 7 1/3 square miles). Macao proper comprises something over 2 square miles and the dependencies about 5. Had we to comply with the Chinese demand, we should have to give up the whole of the dependencies and part of the peninsula, i. e., the area from the old city wall up to the barrier. We shall