table. No doubt, on the other hand, if he has sufficient curiosity to ask nie for it privately, I shall be able to grant it. But it is quite evident that, until we receive those reports, it is impossible to give any forecast of the precise nature of the measures we shall take for the improvement of Wei-hai-wei. There was,
as the noble lord is aware, a survey taken some time ago by the Admiralty, and from it we can clearly see that, even at present, it is a very valuable station in which a very considerable squadron can be harboured with safety; and I think we can also see that no very con- siderable expenditure will make it still more valuable than it is. And, though it is perfectly true that we took a lease of Wei-hai-wei in the first instance as a political measure in order to balance and compensate that which had been done by another Power, the noble lord must not suppose that to our minds that is the only advantage that attaches to it. The advantage of Wei-hai-wei is that it is a neval station and base in the midst of a region which is rapidly becoming of importance and where commercial operations, growing larger and larger year by year, are likely to take place. Since Hong- kong was acquired, Japan has so to speak come into existence, and with this great project of carrying a railway across Siberia which I lament has been con dacted apparently for the service of military designs, but which, so far as it is truly a commercial project, I hail as a great step in the industrial progress of the world-it is quite clear that the northern province of China and the Chinese Sea are likely to be very much more important in the future than they have been in the past, and will not be served suficiently by a station so distant as Hong-kong, which was adequate for our 80 long as the centre of our interests was ini or even Shanghai. It was necessary that we should have a coaling station and a naval station in thoge regiona and Wei-hai-wei will answer
that purpose; and I have no doubt that in commercial advantages it will amply secure us and will more than compensate us for any expenditure which may he incurred upon it. My lords, I am sorry that I am unable to give the noble earl in this matter more exact information, But I think that any impartial person will see that it fellows from the necessities of the case that until we have had an opportunity for accurate survey neither the question of expense vor the question of im provements can be settled. As for our general policy. we have not changed, and I imagine we shall not change. We wish to see the Chinese Empire main- tained. We do not believe in a European nation at that great distance undertaking the government of these 400 millions of men. We believe that the only hope of the well-being of the people and for the growth of industry and commerce must be a reform in the govern- ment of the Chinese people themselves; and that in the prosecution of this reform they must be protected, so far as we can protect them, from any external inter- ference, We are anxious, if possible, that the inter- ference of foreign nations shall be limited to that encouragement of domestic improvements which foreign nations have such enormous powers of giving. We earnestly trust that they will be satisfied not to hinder each other in carrying that good work forward they will not destroy the hopes of raising up a splendid that industrial and commercial structure by quarrels over territories which can only end in the destruction of commerce and industries together, and to that end we shall cultivate to the utmost of our abilities the friend- ship of all Powers with whom we may come into con- tact.
That end is the policy which her Majesty's Government will pursue. (Cheers.)
}
or Individual.
Hory Kong
No. 13135
DOMESTIC.
C. 0.
13135 READ a (Rect 11 JUN 18
335
898
June
rious Paper.
13112
(Subject.)
"Boundaries gfor: 7
The Earl of Camperdown To ask the Prime Minister whether
le can give any information to the House with reference to the reported acquisition of territory at Hong Kong.
Monday 13th June 1898
(Minutes.)
For Lord Salisbry
annes amw/
h
Out hatime El & fren
(195)-354-1149009-12 4
bsequent Paper
P.T.0.