December 30, 1897.|
FRENCH AGGRESSIVENESS AND THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. critic to the banks of the Nile to expose to the world Anglo-Saxon iniquities; but, to the eternal honour of that high minded The statement wired out a few days ago by Frenchman, he, after examination on the Reuter to the effect that France "will re-spot, ended by belauding Anglo-Saxon "main impassive unless some foreign aggres rule, and for the moment silenced clam- "sion takes place in Southern China" is cer-
our. This clamour had not come well tainly interesting. It is quite a new role for from રી Power that, more than any France to adopt the protector of China other, had indulged in a policy of conquest against foreign aggression. It is true that abroad, not by force of circumstances, for this championship extends only to South the preservation of commercial interests, or China, but the idea of France denouncing from a desire to spread the benefit of a aggression is about on a par with Satan re-higher civilization in dark places. France proving Sin. To be quite fair to our Gallic has sadly neglected opportunities of seeing friends, however, it must be said that herself as others see her, and has even failed they do not reprobate aggression altogether; to profit to any extent by her easily won they are prepared to extend a smug ap- conquests. proval to the unblushing acts of their dear ally in the far North, and are ready even to wink at the somewhat high handed pro- ceedings of their hereditary foe-so long as he maintains a respectful distance from their preseves. What is intended, presumably, by this pronunciamento as to foreign aggres sion in South China is that the French Re- public will not permit any acquisition of territory in South China by any Power but herself. She hankers after Yunnan and has covetous longings for Hainau, which long- ings she hopes, with the assistance of the CZAR, to presently satisfy, when the Russian appetite for territory has been temporarily sated. Meantime France wishes to pose is a foe to aggression, and in that capacity will not fail to suart (like the dog in the manger) at all and sundry who may feel desirous of conserving their commercial in- terests in China by the acquisition of some foothold on her shores. France is perfectly welcome, no doubt, to play this interesting rôle. It will impose on nobody. No civi- lised Power has so consistently shown an aggressive policy during the last two de ades as France. Her Governments may change with the seasons, and are almost as fleeting, but the policy of aggrandisement animates every Cabinet, which, like its ephemeral suc- cessors, must play to the gallery and strive eternally, if vainly, to divert attention from festering corruption and slow decay at home by extending their possessions abroad.
So far the game has only been marked by failure. Every new colony acquired has proved a fresh source of expense, but the drain on the resources of a naturally rich and prosperous country has not yet become so serious as to bring about a fresh revolu- tion, nor has the glamour of these acquisitions (often indeed endowed with great possibili ties) yet begun to pall on the French nation. They have not yet realised that they cannot colonise; they still hope to build up in the Far East a second India. Some day the disillusionment will come; for the present Frenchmen are as sanguine as when NAPO
LEON III. laid the foundation of this new
empire in Cochin-China.. While yearly pro- testing against the occupation of Egypt by a small army of British troops for the pre- servation of order and the accomplishment of necessary administrative reforms, France has annexed Annam and Tonkin has estab- lished her domination in Tunis, has acquired sovereignty over the great island of Mada- gascar, and conquered vast regions of equa- torial Africa. The lust for territory has been upon her in the most aggravated form, and grown with what it fed upon; yet oblivious of the beam in her own eye, she has sought with querulous solicitude to tear the mote out of her neighbour's. Strong in her own rectitude of purpose, Eng- land has calmly refused to be dictated to, and has remained in Egypt for Egypt's good as well as for her own. The French Press, enraged at this persistence, despatched a
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colour in red vast tracts on the map of Africa, which may be a valuable heritage to the Anglo-Saxon, but will nevertheless inevitably entail along with it serious troubles and responsibilities.
MARINE GARRISONS FOR THE COALING STATIONS.
Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK, Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, in a recent speech on Army reform and extension, said that possibly the Navy might garrison the coaling stations. The question of garrison- ing the coaling stations with Marines has often been discussed, and Mr. BRODRICK'S remark seems to indicate that the idea is. making some he adway. The matter is not one of very great interest from the civilian point of view, unless as regards the small saving to the home taxpayer's pocket that the change might effect. We in Hongkong would have to go on paying seventeen- and-a-half per cent.
of our revenue as
a military contribution, but the actual cost to the country of a garrison of Marines would probably be appreciably less than that of the present garrison, with its large and costly staff. The number of men required would of course be the same, but there would be a material reduction in the number of higher grade officers. Another and more important advantage from an Imperial point of view would be increased mobility. If Singapore, Hong- kong, and Chusan were all under the charge of the Admiral he would in case of necessity be able to effect a redistribution of the shore forces more readily thau could be done under the present system; and the health of the men might also be promoted by more frequent interchanges between the different stations with reference to climatic conditions. Useful employment with opportunities of promotion would also be provided for the officers of Marines, the want of which at present causes some trouble and a good deal of dissatisfaction. In a note
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The measure of France's aspirations after empire has not yet been attained. She cherishes, as we said before, designs on some of the provinces of China and regards Siam much as Ahab regarded NABOTn's vineyard, and she has indefinite idens of expansion in Africa. While steadily pursuing these plans for self-aggrandisement, she cease- lessly reviles her neighbours and recklessly imputes to them schemes which existed except in the prolific imagination of Parisian journalists. Perhaps, on the whole, these vapourings have done little harm ex- cept to mislead and irritate a great and, in the mass, a sensible people. The policy of conquest has been a great and constant drain on the French exchequer, which has been borne without murmuring, but the French nation has never yet been led into any serious outcry against Great Britain, and has also kept under re- straint its traditional longing for revenge on the victors in the war of 1870. Nor will the French nation even now be led away and unwittingly be involved in a calamitous war for an idea. But it is greatly to be de- plored that, when people live in glass houses, they should be so ready to throw stones. For the most aggressive Power in Europe to talk about foreign aggression in South China is really too much. If the French Government think that Great Britain will thereby be deterred from taking such guarantees for the protection of her enormous commercial interests in the Far East as may to her appear needful in the present altered political situation-an alteration brought about by the action of France and Russia-then are they most wofully mis- taken, England has never desired or sought for territory in China; had she done so, she would have utilised her opportunities." On the contrary, she voluntarily restored the Chusan Islands to the Chinese Emperor, and declined to accept Formosa when offered to her. Now, however, the position has altered, and she will probably demand to have Chusan handed into her keeping, since the Chinese Government is palpably incapable of carrying out its covenants and it is important that British interests in Central China should be permanently and satisfactorily safeguarded. If through the helpless incapacity and hopeless corruption of the Chinese Government the day has arrived when the eagles soaring above the flabby carcase shall decide to divide and rule, Great Britain cannot afford to stand aside. With interests in China far out- weighing those of any three of the greatest Powers, she will not be content to see this great empire absorbed piecemeal by those who design to utilise the fragments for their own exclusive benefit. Most reluctantly therefore-for her cares of empire lie heavily on her broad shoulders-Great Britain may be forced to take part in a scramble for the dominions of the so-called Son of Heaven, just as she was obliged to
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on this subject in its last issue the Naval and Military Record says:-
The whole question of officering the Ma- rines is a most difficult one, owing to the "fact that more than half the men serve afloat, the actual number with the fleet being 113 officers and 9,240 rank and file, "these officers consisting of twenty majors, forty-two captains, and fifty-one subalterns. "Were this large body turned into a land unit it would have at least three general "and three hundred other officers. The life "of the Marine officer either ashore or afloat "is far too easy, after the period of instruc- tion in the Royal Naval College, the Staff College, the Excellent, the Vernon, the "School of Musketry, &c., and beyond the "application of this instruction in the
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training of the men at the barrack batteries it is absolutely useless, for "on board ship the Marine officer is con "demned to a life of irksome idleness. If "we go on to the higher ranks we find the
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same kind of misfortune pursuing the Marines, for though that force con❤ "tains 17,000 men only one general "officer is employed, while the Royal
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Engineers, with a force of 8,000 men, give employment to twelve general officers. "The Royal Artillery finds equal activity. "for the senior officers, while if 9,240 blue
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jackets were in one squadron they would "demand the attention of two Admirals; "yet the senior Marine officer afloat is a Major. Taking the entire body of 17,000 "Marines we find there are only five com
manding officers--the commandants at the 'depot and head-quarters-and these have
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