the
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been published with the Treaty. But America has a special grievance. It appears that during Mr. Roor's term of office as Secretary of State, memoranda were exchanged between him and BARON TAKAHIRA, then Japanese Minister af Washington, by which the Japanese Govern- ment engaged itself not to take any action which conflicted with the principle of open door" without first consulting the United States. The exclusion of all foreign mining enterprise within the railway zone would clearly defeat the principle of the open door in Man- churia and form a legitimate ground for pro- test by the Powers. We may presume Japan's reply would be that the Agreement does not conflict with the Open-Door principle, for only on that ground can Japan excuse her neglect to consult the Government of the United States in accordance with the terms of BARON TAKAHIRA's memorandum. Therefore, Japan's explanation of the situation will be awaited with much interést.
BRITISH INTERESTS IN CHINA.
(Daily Press, October 14th)
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
in the Chinese Press notwithstanding-no formal request for its retrocession to China has been inade. Since Russia was driven from Port Arthur many questions have been asked in Parliament as to the Government's intentions regarding Weihaiwei, but on no occasion has any announcement been made so definite in its terms as that contained in Sir EDWARD GREY'S reply to Mr. GINNELL'S inquiry. By the Weihaiwei Convention China agreed to lease Weihaiwei to Great Britain" for so long a period as Port Arthur shall remain in the occupation of Russia. Sir EDWARD GREY's announcement is that the lease of Port Arthur has not ter- minated," and he added that in any case he would not be prepared to enter upon any discussion of the question except with the Chinese Government when the proper time arrived. Evidently a nice legal question is raised by this reply, viz., Can Port Arthur be considered as remaining in the occupation of Russia, when as a matter of fact Japan not only wrestedPort Arthur by force of, arms, but Russia, by the terms of the Portsmouth the lease of the territory to Japan? Though Treaty, definitely transferred and assigned
Sir EDWARD GREY is clearly correct in saying that the lease of Port Arthur is not terminated," it cannot be held, except by some legal fiction, that the occupation of the place by Russia has not terminated. We may note here that it was provided in the Portsmouth. Treaty contracting parties should mutually engage to obtain the consent of the Chinese We are not Government to the transfer.
4
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the
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While British residents in the Far East have been naturally interested by the per- sistent manner in which the indefatigable Mr. GINNELL has been drawing the attention of the House of Commons to China ques tions, they certainly will decline to acknowl- edge that he is representing their views in Parliament in the majority of the questions he has lately been asking. Some of the hon.
Per- member's previous questions-those especial-aware that they have ever succeeded. ly which have related to the British section haps that is where the legal fiction comes of the Canton-Kowloon Railway-have made in: Russia may be considered to be still us extremely curious to learn the secret the lessee so long as China withholds her of Mr. GINNELL'S interest in affairs in
consent to the transfer. This is pure sup China, for, so as we are aware, the hon. position on our part, but it seems to give a gentleman has not resided in the East nor key to the situation. has he any business interest in this part of the world. Hongkong was becoming quite kindly disposed towards Mr. GINNELL, for his questions regarding the Colony's railway undertaking had suggested the idea that they had been prompted by a kindly solicitude for the protection of the pockets of the tax- payers. But the last batch of questions, which we reproduced in the Daily Press a few days ago, can leave no doubt in the mind of the reader as to the source of the hon. member's inspiration. His prompters are certainly not British, but Chinese. No Britisher, for instance, would refer to His Majesty's Indian troops in China as troops of an inferior race. Their presence may be resented by the Chinese, but not more so than is the presence of the white troops, and we are glad to note Sir EDWARD GREY'S spirited repudiation of Mr. GINNELL'S description of the Indian troops. Still more reprehensible and disgusting are the base and offensive imputations some of the other questions einbody against British probity and honour, made upon statements which in several instances were shown to have no foundation in fact. Having regard to Mr. GINNELL's claim to voice in these questions the views and opinions of the Chinese Government on so many different topics, one might draw the inference that the questions had been inspired by the Chinese Legation in London. The replies which some of the questions elicited are certainly very interesting.
First, let us take the inquiries with regard to Weihaiwei. We know from the frequent references to the subject which have appeared in the Chinese Press that there has been a desire in the highest circles in China to see Weihaiwei restored to China as a naval base for her own fleet, though we have reason to believe that--all statements to the contrary
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[Ootcber 16, 1909. questions were largely based on inaccurate information, and, embodying as they do the most offensive imputations, we can leave them under the dignified rebukes adminis- tered by the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. If Mr. GINNELL had a more intimate knowledge of China he would know that if certain railways are proving unre- munerative the responsibility rests largely, if not entirely, on the Chinese Imperial and Provincial authorities. We have on more than one occasion called attention to the disastrous effects upon railway brought about by the eccentricities of the provincial Likin authorities, and, as Mr. GINNELL has made particular reference to the Shanghai-Nanking railway, we may suggest that a study of the paralysing effects of the Likin system on the traffic of this line will enable him to understand why certain railways in China are not proving the highly remunerative enterprises they were expected to become.
- revenue
THE DOMINANT POWER IN ASIA.
""
(Drily Press, October 15th.) An article has appeared in the Revue des deux Mondes from the pen of General NEGRIER, which calls attention in a very forcible manner to the effects that are likely to be produced by the dominant position in the East which has been acquired by Japan. The writer displays an intimate acquaintance with the past history and the present state of that country, and although the essay is of a speculative character, and General NEGRIER carefully refrains from committing himself to any definite conclusion, the facts are set forth in such a manner that there can be very little doubt as to what his own view of the subject must be. The key note of his disquisition is to be found in a single sentence near its end: "The true conqueror Taking next the Boxer Indemnity Ques- at Tsushima, Port Arthur and Mukden was tion, the answer of Sir EDWARD GREY the Old Japan. Her trumph has given her contains an implied suggestion that the a new energy, she has confidence in herself United States Government were able to re- and believes in her destiny to regenerate turn to China about half the indemnity with the peoples of the East. When such out saddling the Treasury with any part of aspirations seize a nation of 52,000,000 the expense incurred by the American troops people, changes in the political geography of which assisted to put down the Boxer rising the world are the probable consequence." That suggestion has been made before, The writer evidently views with apprehen- unofficially in the newspapers, and We sion the increase of the power of Japan, and, have never seen it authoritatively denied. though he carefully refrains from saying so The British claim," Sir EDWARD GREY in so many words, he is clearly of opinion that said, "was assessed as far as possible only China is the "objectif" towards which the on the basis of actual expenditure. Should renewed energy
of a people when he it eventually be found when fully liqui- describes as bellicose" is likely to be dated that there is any surplus, it will be directed. The figures that are given returned to the Chinese Government, and its as showing the increase both in the Navy disposal would be left to their discretion." and the Army in Japan would seen un- The suggestion is that this is all the doubtedly to support the idea which is thus American Government has done, and nothing set forth by General NEGRIER. He points moré. The thought will no doubt oceur to out when in Europe the Dreadnought type of many that the British Government is taking vessel was hardly known, Japan had already a long time to liquidate a claim incurred launched two battleships of nine years ago, but we presume the ex-powerful order, the Satsuma and the Aki, planation is that the continued expense of each of 19,400 tons, designed and constructed maintaining an extra force in North China entirely on the Dreadnought lines. He
goes for the preservation of order is a legitimate on to express the opinion that a communica- charge upon the indemnity, and that there- tion which was sent to the papers in 1909 fore the expense incurred by the Boxer by Admiral SPERRY, Commander of the trouble will not cease until all the additional American fleet, to the effect that the Japanese troops placed in North China as a conse- fleet did not possess any offensive force and quence of the Boxer outbreak shall have was incapable of any serious action in the heen withdrawn. Unless that is the case, Pacific and away from the Japan Coast, was the long delay in liquidating the bill cannot founded upon error. It was true that, as. be understood. But it is difficult to recon- he stated, Japan was re-making the captures cile this theory with the statement that from Russia during the late war, but this "these troops are maintained at the expense did not represent in any way her naval of the country to which they belong, and not strength, being rather a supplementary of China." Some further explanation of the addition to it. With respect to military matter therefore seems to be necessary. matters, he points out that the Japanese have not failed to learn some valuable lessons from the late war, but a general plan for ameliorations has been set on foot,
We need not further discuss Mr. GIN- NELL's latest questions on matters connected with British railway enterprise. Those
the most