February 27, 1896.]
to which he has been subjected. It would then be open to Mr. ANDREW to embark on another venture of the same kind, and if he again met with obstruction the treatment might be repeated as in the former case, and so on until the Chinese authorities got tired of paying and became convinced that it would be more to their own interest to let trade run a free course. The facilitating of trade would be a very profitable employ ment for a gunboat and would be fully justified by the circumstances. Mr. ANDREW is in no personal danger, we believe; it is simply on commercial grounds that we advocate the application of the gunboat policy in the present instance. The gun- boat would act as 8 true commercial missionary and all parties would benefit by its ministrations-the. Chinese Government by an increased revenue, the Chinese people by obtaining articles of import at cheaper rates, the British merchant by an accession of trade, and the British Government by obtaining increased respect from the native
authorities.
RUSSIA, JAPAN, AND KÖREA.
"
163
goes on to speak of the valley of the Menam, the integrity of which as Siamese territory is guaranteed, as eminently fitted to receive a high industrial development, in which British capital may be advantageously em- ployed. The events of recent history, however, have had a tendency to encourage doubts as to the stability of the Siamese dominion, and therefore to discourage the growth of that confidence which is the first condition of material improvement, "and without in any degree sharing in these doubts or admitting "the possibility, within any future with which we have to deal, of the Siamese in- dependence being compromised, Her Ma- jesty's Government could not but feel that "there would be an advantage in giving some security to the commercial world that, in regard to the region where the most active development is likely to take place, no further disturbances of territorial "ownership are to be apprehended" That represents the sum and substance of British gain in the matter: we have made material concessions in order to secure from France a promise that, she will not take something that does not belong to her. The French note, which is addressed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Minister for the Colonies, is a much briefer and, we are bound to say, a much more business-like document than the British one. There is no high falutin nonsense about the integrity of those portions of the Kingdom of Siam not expressly included in the agreement. On the contrary, after stating what is actually guaranteed, M. Courts; but that is merely by the way and has BERTHELOT goes on to sayThe other nothing to do with the question now under "portions of the Kingdom of Siam remain discussion, namely, whether the Japanesé "outside of this clause of reciprocal neutra-
which seems Government can be fixed with responsibility "lisation,'
af honest and for the miscarriage of justice which has straightforward way of saying that France occurred. Notwithstanding our contempor- intends at her convenience to absorb into ary's argunient it appears to us, we regret to her Indo-China possessions that portion of say, that there is a strong prima facie case Siam lying to the east of the neutralised against the Government. The judgment of area, including the rich province of a preliminary court is not final, but can be Battembang. This is followed by another appealed against. Why did the Government declaration in the following terms:-"Each not appeal against the judgment of the "of the two Powers preserves the right of Hiroshima court? Why, furthermore, was 'insuring the execution of the treaties MIURA's patent of nobility restored to him
existing between it and Siam by suitable after the trial? We are not sufficiently ways and meaus, I need not add, as acquainted with the law governing patents regards the execution, still incomplete, of of nobility in Japan to say what powers the the treaty of 3rd October, 1893, that we Government may possess with regard to shall make use of this privilege in the them, but as some of the vernacular journals spirit of moderation and equity that has express dissatisfaction with the leniency always guided us." This is a direct in- shown by the Imperial court the inference tiniation to Siam that she will be required to is that the Government had power to make fulfil her agreement with France to the the deprivation of MIURA's patent per letter and that the new agreement between manent. If the Government has failed to England and France in refercuce to her ter- use all means in its power to visit the ex-ritory means absolutely nothing more than Minister with its displeasure and to bring it says. him to justice it must be held to have made The agreement appears to offer plenti- itself particeps criminis in one of the foulestful crop of difficulties for the future, to con- outrages recorded in history.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. Government itself is not responsible for the miscarriage of justice which has decurred. The argument adopted is not very con- vincing. What it amounts to is this, that the Government, having caused MIURA's arrest and arraignment on a capital charge, must naturally have desired that its action should be vindicated by the judgment of a court of law, and that if the Hiroshima tribunal bad acted in obedience to official suggestion, or been in any degree under official guidance, it would never have been suffered to pursue a course so clumsy, so glaringly unjust, as to bring contempt upon all concerned. But the clumsiness of the course pursued by the Hiroshima tribunal does not necessarily dispose of the suspicion that it may have had instructions to acquit the accused; hirelings are often clumsy in carrying out the instructions of their em- ployers. Nor does the fact that the Govern- ment brought MIURA to trial necessarily argue a desire for his conviction persons are sometimes brought to trial for the pur- pose of being whitewashed. Incidentally our contemporary admits in the course of its argument that while " theoretically the Japanese Judiciary is entirely independent A Reuter's telegram reports that Japan is of the Executive, the judges are poorly indignant at Russia's action in Korea. After paid officers, lacking as yet a full sense of the recent murder of the Queen of Korea, the dignity of the Bench and scarcely instigated by the Japanese Minister, and likely to obey the dictates of justice only apparently condoned by the Mikado's Go- "in a case where great political Issues are vernment, Japanese indignation at anything "involved." It is rather difficult to re- Russia or any other Power may do in concile that opinion with our contemporary's Korea will not command much public continuous advocacy of placing foreigners sympathy? The dastardly conduct of Vis-under the jurisdiction of the Japanese count MIURA, his acquittal by the Preli. minary Tribunal, and the restoration of his patent of nobility (of which he had been deprived during his trial) must seriously damage the good name of Japan and alienate the respect and sympathy, she previously commanded. In referring to this subject some days ago we remarked upon the silence of the Japan Mail in regard to the judgment of the Hiroshima court. That journal has since published a translation of the judg- ment and commented upon it. The Japan Mail is accused by its local contemporaries of being subsidised by the Japanese Gov- erment, an accusation which we believe is not founded on fact, but although it may not be subsidised the paper so ably edited by Captain BRINKLEY consistently supports Japanese interests and is generally cognisant of the poliey of the Japanese Government. Importance therefore attaches to its utter ances on Japanese questions. In the present instance, however, the editor appears to have been left without any inspiration and has had to deal with the case according to the light of his own judgment and conscience. The testimony adduced before a preliminary tribunal in Japan not being published, our contemporary professes itself "unable to form any opinion as to whether "the Hiroshima Court had evidence war- Iranting the account it gives of Viscount "MIURA's doings." "But," the article con- tinues, "having placed that account on record and having then and there released Viscount MIURA, on the ground that evidence sufficient to commit him for trial was not forthcoming, the tribunal cannot escape the disgrace of having set the laws "of the land at defiance and perpetrated one of the most flagrant injustices ever com- mitted by a court of law.
Nothing "could possibly be more injurious to the "reputation of the Japanese Judiciary." This is heavy condemnation, coming from such a quarter. Our contemporary, in fact, makes no attempt to defend either Viscount MIURA or the Court which tried him, but it does attempt to show that the Japanese
16
1
"
“
|
|
ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND SIAM,
The last mail brought out the full text of the agreement between England and France concerning Siam and the notes which have been respectively published by the two Governments in explanation thereof, The summaries of the agreement itself which have already appeared are sufficiently decurate, and the interest now centres in the intentions of the two Governments as expressed in their notes. Lord SALISBURY in his rote to Lord DUFFERIN explains that a particular area has been selected for the application of the stipulations of the treaty, not because the title of the King of Siam to other portions of his dominions is less valid, "but he
cause it is the area which affects our "interests as a commercial nation."
He
64
i
卖家
"
t
•
tain, in fact, all the elements of a new Egyptian question. It is provided that. neither Power will, without the consent of the other, in any case, or under any pre- text, advance their armed forces into the region the integrity of which is guaranteed. M. BERTHELOT, however, it will be observed, says that "cach of the two Powers pre- serves the right of insuring the execution "of the treaties existing between it and Siam by suitable ways and means." What are we to understand by that if not that the right to use force is reserved? In dealing with semi-civilised states the exhibition, and if necessary the usc, of force is the only suitable ways and means of enforcing treaties. Lord SALISBURY in his note has a good deal to say about the industrial growth of the guaranteed region and the employment of But will there be any British capital. industrial growth or any considerable em-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.