808
THE AUSTRIAN PRESS ON THE
CHINESE QUESTION.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND go on to foretell that European influence, political, commercial, and industrial, will be driven from the Asiatic Continent, and that, If Austria has played no part in en-
within one or two generations, cheap Chi- nese and Japanese labour will seek an deavouring to deprive Japan of some of outlet for its over-production in the Euro. the fruits of her conquests in the Central
pean and American markets, ruining the Kingdom, it is not the fault of the Vienna manufacturing industries of Europe just as Press. Austrian interests in the Far East easily as agricultural production in the new are not great, and the Austro-Hungarian countries over the sea has ruined or is ruin- Government has never done much to fostering the European farmies. The Freie Presse,
dent of the Standard, in imagination, says the Vienna correspon- already sees the "Chinese, a nation of over three hundred "millions, change into good, well-disciplined, "and well-handled soldiers and seamen, like "the Japanese, and as they will be provided "with the best weapons, probably of their own make, that will mean woe to decrepit, decaying Europe and its civilisation. The "migration of Asiatic barbarians to Europe, "the Presse fears, will be repeated, over- "running our beautiful cities, and extinguish- "ing the luxuries of the Western World, "just as those of the Roman Empire were extinguished by the hordes coming from
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trade with China. Beyond the subsidy paid to the Austrian Lloyd's Steam Navigation Company, the maintenance of a Legation at Peking, the Minister at which is likewise accredited to Japan and Siam, and the despatch of an occasional cruiser to the Far East to display the flag of the Empire, the Government of the Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH makes no effort to assert itself in this part of the world. As there is com- paratively very slender intercourse between Austria and the empires of Eastern Asia, the ignorance prevailing in the former con- cerning them is perhaps more pardonable than it is when displayed in Great Britain or the United States. To the vast mass of Austrians, Hungarians, Czechs, Bohemians, Bosnians, and other races constituting the loosely knit empire, China and Japan are for the most part unknown lands, and the people are ready to take on trust any reports or traveller's tales concerning the Far East that may be laid before them. Some three or four years ago Count ALEXANDER HUB-in the Vienna Presse is so little en rapport NEB, a noble of the Austrian Empire, after a tour through Asia, gave to the world his experiences and impressions of the lands he had seen, and, referring to China and her millions, he raised the same note of alarm that has been sounded by Lord WOLSELEY and some other silly persons in England and echoed by sensation lovers on the other side of the Atlantic. Count HUBNER, after setting forth the endurance, frugality, and patience of the Chinaman, ventured on a pro- phecy that the great problem of the Twen- tieth Century will be the struggle between the White and Yellow Races of mankind. The volume, being cleverly written, not unnaturally produced some sensation on the Contiuènt of Europe, and widely reviewed by the English press.
re-
[May 29, 1895.
THE MEETING OF THE SHANGHAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Several matters of interest were fouched upon at the annual meeting of the Shang- hai Chamber of Commerce, held on the 20th inst. One of the speakers suggested that in view of a number of questions affecting com. merce being raised it would be desirable to have a meeting once a quarter, a suggestion which we think might also with advantage be acted upon in Hongkong. When meet- a year private ings are held only once members of the Chamber have little op- portunity of discussing questions at a time when discussion might do good, for most of the questions that arise must necessarily have been disposed of by the Committee during the course of the year and the general body of the Chamber at annual meeting are simply invited to It would be to attend the funeral. the advantage
trade in general, we think, if a good deal of the work now done by the Committee on their own responsibility were dealt with by the Chamber as a whole, as it very well might be if the meetings were held quarterly in- stead of annually.
of
the
Asia down the Volga." This fanciful picture of history repeating itself has no doubt created some alarm in Europe, and might perhaps, if drawn in Berlin instead of
The first subject touched upon by the Vienna, have helped to account for Germany Chairman of the Shanghai Chamber (Mr. joining Russia and France in putting. J. DUDGEON) in his speech was that of pressure on Japan to induce her to part with the Woosung Bar. It will be remembered the Liaotung peninsula. But the German that an arrangement was made with Sir papers are, as a rule, better informed, and CHARLES HARTLEY to come out and re- not given to alarmist writing about the East. port on the Bar, but owing to illness he was unable to fulfil his engagement. They know better bow to gauge the relations between Japan and China, and they can Thereupon the Committee consulted with form a truer estimate of the character of the the Consular authorities and it was agreed Chinese Government and nation. The writer
on all hands that so long as the war con- tinued between China and Japan it would be with fact that he actually asserts that LI entirely hopeless to attempt to induce she HUNG-CHANG would long ere this have Chinese authorities to move in the matter. opened up China to European civilization, Mr. E. A. HEWETT, the Acting Agent of the in order to develop her immense
P. & O. Company, went into the subject at sources, but saw in the Japanese the greater length than the Chairman, Doubt- best aids in the work of reforming China, less, Mr. HEWETT said, there were some who and waited to obtain their assistance. How thought the present was hardly an auspicious moment for requesting the Chinese Govern- little idea the mis-called great Viceroy ever
ment to spend money on improvements, just had of inaugurating any real reforms is only too well known to all those who have watched
as they were called upon to pay a heavy war the
course of events. Like other venal indemuity to Japan, but however much mandarins I thought more of what he
we might sympathise with them in could make by squeezing on contracts for position in which they found themselves war material and men-of-war than of the the condition of the Woosung Bar was providing effectively for the defence of his serious, with so much reason to fear that it country, a fact only too abundantly proved might become worse, as in his opinion to during the course of the disastrous war just justify the Chamber in insisting on some im- concluded. LI HUNG-CHANG has never been provements. being effected without delay. a power for good in China, and the vast Mr. HEWETT mentioned the large revenue influence of his family and gang has been derived from tonnage dues to show that the systematically used for their enrichment at work of improving the river should certainly the expense of the people. The Cantonese be carried out by the Chinese Government, predictions of the noble prophet have since
are now rejoicing over the departure of the and as showing the necessity of this being done fallen out of sight somewhat, but the news corrupt ex-Viceroy, whom they have signi- he mentioned that whereas formerly the depth of the conclusion of a Treaty of Peace be-ficantly dubbed "The Bottomless Purse" of water on the Barat spring tides was often over 23 feet, 21 feet being then considered a tween Japan and China, accompanied by the
poor tide, récently 20ft. 6in. only have ob- statement--we believe to be unfounded native province of Anhwei, where he doubt-tained and even this was very exceptional that a secret treaty of alliance had at the less hopes to enjoy his ill gotten gains in and could not be counted on.
was
The
same time been negotiated between the two Asiatic Powers, may have served to some extent to recall to the Viennese the warning of Count HUBNEE. fess a profound distrust of the Japanese, and At all events they pro- see nothing but evil as likely to result from the conclusion of peace conjoined with an agreement by which Chinese forces are to be trained into a powerful agent for offence or defence by Japanese instructors.
This man, who is brother to LI HUNG-CHANG, is retiring with his enormous plunder to his
the
Since the peace, and in all probability this desire will Feima channel had been blocked by the Nora Peking succeed in their crusade and over- be gratified unless the anti-La faction in he was advised that they could not safely reckon on obtaining more than 18 feet dur- LT HUNG-CHANG and the rise to power of circumstances a vessel could not be brought throw the head of the family. The fall of ing the day tides, and that under ordinary CRANG CHIH-TUNG would, however, not up to Shanghai if likely to be drawing more necessarily mean the regeneration of China. than 18 feet at the time of her departure, effected from without; the cankerworm of neaped. We are confident that this can only be without incurring considerable risk of being Judging from past experience, corruption has so eaten into the body politic which has shown that during the summer Swallowing this story in one bolus the that it can only be removed by an operation and autumn months the Bar as a rule silts Austrian Press proceeds to write on the sup- beyond the power of a native to perform. up, Mr. HewETT had been newly advised position that, like Austria and Germany, The Viennese may rest in peace.
Their that, as far as could be seen at present, in- Japan and China, after settling their differ- splendid, gay, and somewhat dissolute city stead of 18 feet they might shortly have to ences by the sword, have been drawn to each is never likely to be menaced by a horde of calculate on 16ft. 6in. as the greatest depth other, and will beneforward be allies. yellow troops from the East. If it ever falls of water which could be expected during Under such circumstances they anticipate the to a foreign conqueror, it will be to one spring tides. This meant that Inearly all most momentous changes in Asia. They much nearer to its gates.
the ocean going steamers might before long
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