The Daily Press.
HONGKONG OFFICE: 9, PRAYA CENTRAL. LONDON OFFICE: 181, FLEET STREET, E.C.
HONGKONG, October 4th, 1900
REFERRING to the attack made by the Chinese on the British steamer Lungkiang, we now learn that H.M. gunboat Robin, with the Consul from Samsbui on board, went to Luklao (the place where the outrage occur- red), where she too was stoned by the people of the place, whereupon she fired some shota into the bank. Later, a petty official was got hold of, who regretted his inability to restrain the people, but promised to bamboo someone! With regard to the Lungkiang herself we understand the Customs at Can- ton threatened to fine her for passing Luklao at all and her captain was instructed, under orders from H.M. Consul-General in Canton, that he had better not go there again. A British merchant vessel is fired" at; a British guuboat is pelted with stones, and what happens? The merchant vessel is threatened with a fine by the Chinese Gov- ernment and the captain is warned by the British Authorities that-like Sam Weller in the Bardell case--he bad better be care- ful; while the gunboat fires at a mud bank and gets a coolie bambooed. A truly logical, dignified, and strong attitude!
It is, of course, necessary that H.M. Con- suls should do their best to preserve order and peace in the southern provinces if pos- sible, but it is doubtful if an exhibition which is characterised by neither dignity nor force can be calculated to increase the chances of this. Firing into a mud bank as a method of impressing the Chinese is doubtless effective, but whether the impres- sion made tends to increase that respect, for England's power with which it is so neces- sury the Chinese should be inspired, and upon which depends the lives of hundreds of foreigners in China, is a matter on which the ordinary man can have no doubt what- ever. With regard to the threat of the Cus- toms officials to fine the Langkiang, this can be taken for what it is worth. It can only
be regarded as an attempt at "bluff,"
undertaken on behalf of the local officials in order, if possible, to complicate and evade the very plain question of their responsibility for an unprovoked outrage on a British vessel. The Customs are perfectly well aware that in passing Luklao--which is in one of the delta channels joiuing Canton with the West River- the Lungiang was only doing what she and all other vessels have been doing with their (the Customs')
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full knowledge and consent for the past three years; although to do so may be contrary to the letter of certain regulations which were drawn up under conditions now no louger existing. But whether the vessel's presence at that particular spot, was or was not in accordance with some restrictive and absurd regulation, it cannot be allowed to cover or in any way hide the point at issue. A rantog attack is made on a vessel under the British flag, aud it is plainly the duty of the British Govern- ment to take some more effective steps to obtain redress than can be obtained by firing at a mud bank; and it is equally plainly the duty of the Chinese Government to offer some other reparation for the out- rage than is contained in a threat of the infliction of a fine--on the outraged vessel. Piracy, murder and outrage have, however, become so common that a little more or less does not seem to affect our Government, but there is a power arising slowly but surely which will sooner or later make itself følt ----the power of public opinion and public indignation. The public indignation of the world, it may be; but that of Britain cer- tainly. The cup is nearly full, and it will be well for the Chinese that the last few drops are not added to make it overflow.
Closely connected with and forming part of the same restrictive regulations which the Chinese now advance in an attempt to palliate their attack on the Lunghiang, is the reason for the withdrawal and sale of the Shipping Companies' vessels from the West River trade. After two years of representation and petitioning against these restrictive regulations, which only re- sulted in polite acknowledgments from the British Government and in active resistance on the part of the Chinese, they have been compelled to withdraw their vessels, with the result that the British Flag is now prac tically unrepresented on the West River, as far as trade is concerned. Abstract reason- ings on the right of the Chinese to make what regulations they see fit are interesting when one's pocket is not affected, but we cannot help wondering whether, if our re- presentatives from the Minister down- wards to the Consuls at the various ports---- bad been financially affected by the result, they would not have introduced a little more practical energy into the performance of their duties and made some more efforts to secure the recognition of equality of opportunity for British ships than will ever be accomplished by discussions as to the exact meaning to be attached to some abstruse Chinese hierogly. phic.
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