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THE TERMS OF PEACE.
(25th April.)
That we are in possession of most of the terms of settlement arrived at between China and Japan may be taken for granted. It is true that the conditious have leaked out by instalments, with not a few contradictions and that they emanate from Chinese, and therefore untrustworthy, sources, but no doubt the salient features of the treaty are, now known, though perhaps imperfectly. Nevertheless it is as well to suspend judg- ment on the Treaty until the official text or the memorandum is before us.
| May 1, 1895.
but as it is evident that ignorance on this matter is widespread, we will mention in detail what the docking facilities at this port really are. The Dock Company before men- tioned have two establishments on the Kow- loon peninsula and one at Aberdeen, on the south side of the island. That at Hungbam has there docks, viz., the Admiralty dock. which is 500 feet in length, 80 feet in breadth at entrance at top and 70 feet at bottom, with a depth of 29 feet; the No. 1 dock, 340 feet in length, 74 feet in breadth, and 18 feet in depth; the No. 2 dock 245 feet in length, 49 feet breadth at entrance, and 13 feet in depth. There are also two patent slips, one 250 feet in length 60 feet in breadth, and the other 280 feet in length by 60 feet in breadth. sui, there is the Cosmopolitan dock, which At Tai-kok-
with a depth of 20 feet, and which can is 465 feet in length by 85 feet in breath, readily accommodate two gunboats at
THÉ HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND hardly be drawn between a murder and temporary states that the British Govern- failure to comply with new sanitary laws.ment has accepted the terms of the treaty There is perhaps some doubt as to the extent of peace, provided that the fortifications of to which the Government intends to enforce Makung, in the Pescadores, be razed. But the laws, or the amount of grace that is though Great Britain seems content to give to be allowed, a doubt perhaps justified Japan a free hand, the other European to some extent by the confusion consequent Powers are not, if Reuter is well informed, on the Government's unreasoning opposition inclined to be equally complaisant. Russia, to the Sanitary Board, which is the executive France, and Germany are reported to have body in the matter but has little power combined to protect their interests in the to effectively discharge its duties with- Far East, and Russia at any rate has col- out the support and co-operation of the lected a most formidable fleet in these waters. Government. The question of sanitation, The Russian Press, which is under strict however, is too serious a one to be consorship, has declared that Russia cannot trifled with and it is time steps were agree to the acquisition by Japan of any taken to put the law in force. When the territory on the mainland; and if the Freuch Crown rents become due a notice is issued Press are to be accepted as any guide to the that after a certain date proceedings will be policy of the French Government, France taken against defaulters. A similar notice will strongly oppose the cession of Formosa might usefully be issued in respect of the va- to Japan. The Japanese Government, on rious matters touched on in Mr. MAY's speech, their part, betray no sign of wavering, and stating that after a certain date a prosecu- show no symptom of an intention to invite a tion will be instituted against any person conference on the subject. Seeing that Bus-a offending against the law in the particular sia is looking forward to a development of Si- points mentioned. After that let prosecu- beria, and having regard to the fact that she tions be instituted where necessary and has recently reinforced the garrisons in the exemplary fines he imposed, for no one could then plead ignorance of the law or of fresh storm is even now brewing in the Amoor provinces, it is not improbable that a the Government's determination to enforce North. The Russian Government have not it.
despatched the big fleet of formidable vessels all the way to Eastern Asia merely for a naval promenade. They mean business in some direction, and mean to profit by the will the eagles be gathered together. The present crisis. Where the carcase is there prostrate empire of Chipa lies at the mercy of her victor; and to the victor belongs the spoils, Japan is no doubt prepared to urge, but the great Bear will not acquiesce in that dogma unless he secures honey. Great are the resources of diplomacy, a share of the however, and it is quite possible that the conflicting interests may yet be reconciled | without a new rupture, but at the moment the prospects look rather threatening. For instance, There is a general impression that we are on it is not yet perfectly clear whether the ces- the verge of urther afud important develop. sions of territory are temporary as guaranteements, and it is at the moment impossible to or permanent acquisitions by the Japanese predicate the course of events. Empire. The alleged offensive and defensive alliance between the parties to the agreement is also another item concerning which we should like some definite information. If the terms are substantially what has been
In an article devoted to a review of the stated then the collapse of China has attitude of the Foreign Powers in the pre- been indeed complete. The indemuity was sent crisis in the Far East brought about by probably not much disputed. China the treaty of peace between China and Japan had lost the game, and knew that she our Shanghai morning contemporary has the would have to pay the bill. It may have following extraordinary passage:- "But she been larger than she liked, but it could not [England] has nothing at present to gain be very tenaciously contested. But the by going to war with anybody, and until cession of territory would inevitably be
we have some adequate dock accommoda- resisted at Peking. It is a principle in tion at Hongkong we should most certainly Chinese policy nover to part with any
"advocate a neutral policy." Passing over territory once brought under the Dragon the first statement, we should like to flag, and the Manchu Government have know what is meant by the latter, namely, always displayed great reluctance to cede a the inadequate dock accommodation at rood of the sacred soil of the Central King- Hongkong. The only possible explanation dom. They invariably endeavour to make is that the writer is an utter stranger to this it believed in China that the cession of Colony, has never even taken the trouble Hongkong is only temporary occupation to read anything about it, and has simply by the British permitted by the Emperor echoed the ignorance of home journals on as a favour to the English Government, the subject, who seem to imagine that The tenacity with which they cling to the Hongkong, in regard to dock accommodation, Kuldja, thereby risking a war with Russia, is on a par with Gibraltar. And so pro- and the determined opposition offered by them bably it would have been had not mercan- to France in Tonkin, is still further evidence tile enterprise provided docking facilities of the reluctance with which they give up any here hardly surpassed in any port in the ground once acquired. But they are not world. The Hougkong and Whampoa Dock now in a position to stand out against the Company-it is a pity the latter title was not demands of Japan, and they are feverishly eliminated when the mud docks at Whampoa anxious to stop the march of the victorious were sold to the Canton Government, as it Japanese legions into the capital.
serves to inislead silly people at a distance have three large establishments where the docking and repair of any fleet might be quickly and thoroughly effected, and a flotilla of small cruisers or torpedo boats built at short notice. It ought not to be necessary,'
Though the Treaty signed by Li HUNG- CHANG has been duly ratified there are some rocks ahead which may lead to a prolonga- tion and widening of the area of conflict in Asia. A telegram in a Shanghai con-
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DOCKING ACCOMMODATION AT HONGKONG.
fine docks, the dimensions of which are time. At Aberdeen there are ́ two as follow:-Hope dock: length over all, 433 feet; breadth at entrance 84 feet; depth, 24 feet; breadth 64 feet; depth, 16 feet. There feet. Lamont (dock: length over all, 340 are in addition the Royal Naval Yard, where repairs can be effected, und several private establishment which both construct and re- pair small vessels up to one hundred tons. It will be seen therefore that Hongkong amount of docking accommodation not to possesses six docks and two patent slips, an be found in any other port in Asia. The Admiralty Dock is capable of holding the largest ironclad ever waters, and the work can be executed with s sent out to these
passed by the best English dockyards. It is completeness and despatch only to be sur- quite time the strange hallucinations which prevail as to the docking capacities of this colony, and which it seems are even shared by some persons in the Far East, should be finally dispelled. What Hongkong requires is, not docks for the accommodation of Her Ma jesty's fleet, but more of those same vessels docked in these extensive establishments, for it is an item of just complaint against the Admiralty that, after the Dock Company has constructed a huge dock for the special loaned to the Company by the British benefit of British ironclads with money Government, and which work has never proved remunerative, most of the vessels of the Squadron are docked at Nagasaki. It has been decided, we learn by recent advices, to extend the accommodation at the Royal Yaval Nard by the reclamation of some six acres from the foreshore, but there was never any intention of constructing a dock, for the very good reason, presumably, that such accommodation was amply provided by the Hongkong Dock Company, time, pending the enlargement of the Naval Mean- Yard, there need be nothing lacking for the repair and docking of Her Majesty's ships, and if the whole of the Mediterranean Fleet naval force in these waters there would be were to be despatched out to augment the no difficulty in providing for them. therefore as Hongkong's resources in this So far line are concerned there is no obligation on Her Majesty's Government to adopt a neu- tral policy.
THE BANK OF CHINA, JAPAN, AND THE STRAITS AND ITS CALLS.
Saigon in the case of the Bank of China, The judgment of the Court of Appeal at Japan, and the Straits, Limited, v. E. L, LEPISSIER, which was reproduced in our columns a few days ago, is one of some im portance, both from a general point of view and as specially affecting the position of the Bank and its shareholders. It
may
be use-
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