210
THE KUCHENG COMMISSION.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
who
[September 18, 1895.
When
of a strip of territory to give us command of done to deserve promotion is not apparent both sides of the Lycemoon Pass and to the outside world. When he was Chargé The interruption of the proceedings of the the range of hills commanding the d'Affaires at Peking in 1886 he signed Kucheng Commission, caused by the in- colony from Kowloon has already been the Burmah Convention, by which it solence and duplicity of the Chinese officials, recognised by the home Government, was agreed that the decennial tribute
at the time the matter was
mission from Burmah to China should be ought to bring the whole degrading farce to but
last discussed it was held there was no continued. How far he was bound by his an end. It ought never to have been en- tered on, and now that an opportunity pre- ground on which the concession could be instructions in that case, or whether he ex- sents itself of getting out of it with dignity asked for. A crisis has now arrived when the hausted his influence to induce the Foreign it is to be hoped it will be promptly availed territory may advantageously be taken, not as Office to refrain from making such an un- of. Had a force of five hundred men a friendly concession, but as a surrender en- dignified concession, we do not know, but it been sent up from Hongkong to raze the forced in atonement of a most flagitious certainly reflects no credit on a man to have. city of Kucheng to the ground and to bring crime. It is not a case for argument or his name attached to such a humiliating back the Viceroy and one or two other high negotiation. Let the territory be formally agreement. Notwithstanding this, however, officials for detention here until full satis occupied and the Chinese Government be Sir NICHOLAS appears to have created a faction was accorded by the Chinese Govern- informed that it is taken in satisfaction of favourable impression on all who have been ment the measure would have proved effec- the Kucheng affair. It would be a stain on brought into personal contact with him, an tive and would have been unattended by any the national honour to allow the Consul impression that he was a man with some humiliation of the British name. Instead to be any longer concerned in the trials force of character and a keen intellect, and of that the Consul is sent up to be present at Kucheng. The Chinese Government when it was announced that he was about to at the trial of the persons accused of having may be left to deal with its criminals in its return to Peking as Minister general satis- committed the murders at Hwasang, to wit- own way, which will not be a very gentle faction was felt. The result has been a com- ness their tortures, and to make himself and way if their crime is found to have led to plete disappointment. During the last three his Government particeps criminis in the the loss of territory, hor will the ignorant years British interests at Peking cannot be barbaric proceedings of a Chinese criminal coolies be the only sufferers. As to monetary said to have been advanced in the slightest court. No greater mistake was ever made. compensation to those injured in the degree; on the contrary, in the crisis follow- The party to be dealt with is the Chinese Kucheng attack and to the families of ing upon the war with Japan the influence
that were killed,
is a Government, not the miserable wretches those
of Great Britain with the Chinese Govern- who are the pawns with which the high responsibility that might reasonably be ment was completely eclipsed by that of other officials play their game of murder, treachery, taken over by the British Government as powers. Nor has the Minister appeared to and deceit. However, Mr. MANSFIELD and one of the conditions attaching to the sug- any greater advantage in connection with his American colleague went up to Kucheng gested transfer of territory. The acceptance the demands for reparation for the recent Where strong and and were at first met with a statement that of blood money should henceforth be in all anti-foreign outrages. they could not be permitted to be present at cases resolutely declined. It is the way in prompt action was required we have had the trials. After some negotiation that which the Chinese like to settle up affairs, orders for inquiries and reports. It is some- point was conceded and they were graciously but there is disgrace attaching to the ac- times urged in extenuation of the inaction of accorded entrance to the torture cham- ceptance of that kind of money. Where the British representatives abroad that they ber. Now comes a second check. The property has been destroyed, as in the case of are bound by the instructions of the Foreign Chinese authorities refuse to carry out any the Szechuen riots, the Chinese Government Office and have no liberty of action allowed executions unless the foreign representatives may fairly be called upon to restore it or to them. The excuse is a paltry one. will accept the coolies' heads as payment pay the bill for its restoration, but where it a Minister is a really strong man he will in full discharge of all obligations in the is a case of loss of life occurring under impress his views on the Foreign Office and 2 weak matter. The foreign representatives decline, such circumstances as to fix the Chinese assist in moulding its policy; and are, as usual, awaiting instructions.
Government with criminal responsibility and timid man, on the other hand, may England does not, or ought not, to entertaino opportunity ought to be afforded them to evade responsibility by refraining from mak- any desire for the coolies' heads. It is the duty compound for their guilt by a monetary ing suggestions of his own and holding fast of the Chinese Government to deal with its payment. As a penalty for the Kucheng to the letter of his instructions. We would own criminal classes and it should be left to do massacre the territory required by Hong- not like, on the evidence before us, to class Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR as a weak or timid so in its own way. It is the Chinese Govern- kong may reasonably be taken, with an ment itself that is responsible to the British intimation to the Chinese that any future man, but in his work he has certainly given Government and it ought not to be allowed outrages of a similar character will be no indication of strength or originality, to shift its responsibilities on to the followed by further annexations. If the city so far as can be judged from the outside. shoulders of a few ignorant wretches, how of Foochow were occupied, as has been The Foreign Office, however, may be justi- ever vicious, who confess under the influence suggested, it would naturally bring the fied in holding him in high favour, and of torture. A foul massacre has been com-. matter more closely home to those imme- there may be special reasons for his transfer mitted for which the Chinese Government diately concerned in the outrage, but England to St. Petersburg at the present juncture; must be held accountable and for which does not want the city of Foochow, and it is with the Far Eastern question forcing England demands atonement. The idea of the Chinese Government that pressure has itself so prominently to the front-a accepting blood money has everywhere been to be brought to bear upon. For that question in which Great Britain and Russia treated with detestation, all the public meet-purpose a compulsory cession of territory, are so vitally interested-it may be deemed ings that have been held having expressed
desirable that England should be repre- themselves strongly on that point. That
sented at St. Petersburg by a Minister who has had the opportunity of making himself the actual murderers should be punished,
acquainted with that question on the spot. although they may have been mere tools in
Sir NICHOLAS has had that opportunity, and the hands of others, is of course agreed, but
under most favourable circumstancesi that is not the main point to be insisted upon It is the Chinese Government that is at bottom responsible for the vole busi- ness; previous outrages on foreigers have been allowed to go unpunished and have been treated in such a way as to lead the people to believe and the belief was well founded that such affairs were really pleas- ing to the mandarins and the Government. If any permanent good is to be effected it can only be by inflicting such punishment as will be felt by the Government, and that can never be done by exacting a mere money payment or a few coolies' heads. The only thing that can really touch the Government is to compel the surrender of territory; that touches them to the quick and that is what should be insisted upon.
Hongkong requires a rectification of its fron- tiers and the present is an opportune time to effect it. The desirability of the acquisition
although the territory ceded be in another province, is the most effective means that could be adopted.
SIR NICHOĻAS O'CONOR.
The announcement of the promotion of Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR from the Legation at Peking to that at St. Petersburg comes as a surprise. Sir NICHOLAS joined the diplomatic service in 1866, and having served at various European and American capitals was promoted to be Secretary of Legation at Peking at the end of 1883, and was Acting Chargé d'Affaires from March, 1885, to July 1886. He was then trans- ferred to Washington, and was afterwards appointed Agent and Consul-General in Bulgaria. On the transfer of Sir JOHN WAL- SHAM from Peking in 1892 Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR was appointed to succeed him. He has now been appointed to St. Peters- burg, one of the plums of the service, the salary there being £7,800 per annum, as against £5,000 at Peking. What he has
SIR ROBERT HART.
The fact that China's indemnity loan has been given to Russia instead of being negotiated through Sir ROBERT HART tends to direct attention to the position occupied by the Inspector-General at Peking. No man has ever served his employers better than Sir ROBERT HART has served the Peking Government. Possessed of inde- fatigable industry and a spendid talent for organisation he has brought the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service to a pitch of perfection that excites universal admiration. The Chinese are believed to have appreciated his services; at all events they have allowed him to carry on his work with very little interference on
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