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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND literati, would be rather a large order, even for Great Britain with all her resources. Loth as we may be to abandon the idea of having the whole of China open on equal terms to the trade of all nations the trend of events seems to be rather towards the car- ving up of the country. carving up takes place Great Britain must be ready on the spot to take her proper share. The integrity of China may possibly, by British influence, be preserved for some time longer, but it will only mean a short postponement of the inevitable breaking up of the empire.
20 "the Siberian coast? How long should we “be, if Canada had no port, before we made "it a primary object of our policy to get one for her? Or what claims have we, "who hold Hongkong, Labuan, and Singa- pore, to declare that Germany, with her large Far Eastern trade, shall not have a port in which the warships necessary to protect that trade shall be refitted? If anything that is ours is taken away or menaced, or if we are violently prevented "from acquiring our fair share of influence or commerce, let us fight, and fight with our whole hearts; but let us not give way to these unreasoning fits of jealously "and spite." This is no doubt a very correct attitude to assume, and in the main t corresponds with the trend of opinion amongst the English communities of the Far East, always with the proviso that the acquisitions of other Powers are not de- trimental to our interests. But it is there It is true that we that the rub comes. English have gone about the world for ni century snapping up every position of vantage we can claim, but no other Power has been prejudiced thereby, the said posi- tions of vantage being as open to the trade of other nations as to our own. the If other Powers would proceed on same principle we would have little rea- son to object to their following our ex- ample in obtaining points of vantage, but, unfortunately for that amiable view of the matter, one of the main objects of other Powers in acquiring foreign posses- sions is to shut.out all trade but their own by differential tariffs, bounties, and so forth. Even if guarantees for the maintenance of existing commercial privileges are obtained they are of doubtful permanence, as is illustrated by the recent surrender to France of our rights in Tunis The same thing might happen in Korea and North China if Russia entered into possession. For the time being she might be willing to con- sent to the continuance of the existing com- mercial arrangements, but she would no doubt take the earliest opportunity of setting them aside and securing for herself complete freedom of action. This might be done possibly by way of a bargain in respect of a dispute in some other part of the world, or simply by tearing up the treaty at some moment when Great Britain was too much occupied elsewhere to resent it. Without advocating a dog-in-the-manager policy, therefore, or saying that Russia, Germany, or any other Power shall not acquire such ports as the necessities of their expansion call for, it is essential that Great Britain should take careful note of all their doings and secure for herself such further positions of vantage as may be required to prevent hér existing or prospective interests being prejudiced. Our Government appears at last to have realised the importance of the situa- tion in the Far East, but the utmost reticence is observed in official circles as to the policy that has been determined on. The North-China Herald advocates that Great Britain should assist China in her financial embarrassments and thereby obtain It a moral protectorate over the country. is not our interest, says our contemporary, to see China partitioned, even if we get the valley of the Yangtsze as our share; we would rather see the whole of China open on equal terms to the trade of all nations. But a moral protectorate without direct control over the administration would bring heavy responsibilities without the means of carry ing them, and to assume such direct control, in face of the certain opposition of other Powers and the equally certain antagonism, and falsity of the Chinese official classes and
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LEGAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE COLONIAL SERVICE,
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[January 13, 1898.
THE PARTITIONING OF CHINA.
A Dalziel telegram from Shanghai, published in the London papers, snys:——— 'It is believed here, iu the best-informed circles, that the new situation contem- plates, with the passing of Northern China "into Russian hands, at the same time that Germany takes Shantung and France Fokien, the creation of a new State the in character, purely Chinese capital of which will be Nanking. This new State will enjoy British protection, "which will involve the occupation “of strategic points by the British both on "the const and in the provinces of Yunnan, 'Human, and Szechuen." It may be doubted whether Dalziel's correspondent is in the confidence of the best informed circles, and the situation is far from being so A rule is said to have been made in the advanced as the above telegram would Colonial Service, and embodied in the form represent it. In connection with the of a minute, that legal vacancies of the hypothetical partitioning of China we be new State higher order shall for the future be filled lieve the idea of creating a by promotion wherever suitable candidates in Mid-China, under British protection already in the service are applying for but Chinese in character, has commended
to be said at present them. This rule, says a contemporary, itself in certain quarters, but it cannot have advanced "will have a two-fold effect. On the one "hand it will compel the younger candid-beyond the stage of adumbration and "ates outside the service to accept com- certainly not to have been adopted as a paratively small appointments to begin settled point of policy by the British Go- "with. On the other hand it will remove vernment, which still aims at securing as far "the shelving process of which within the as possible the integrity of Chinn as it at pre-
sent exists. Colonial Service there has during recent 'years been so much complaint.” The most important question, however, is whether the system of appointment to legal office
the ranks of the Service from
best available calculated to secure the men a judges. In the legal profession we believe the opinion prevails that the best training for a Judge is experi- ence at the bar in private practice. This, it is contended, gives the barrister an acquaintance with life and legal practice that can never be acquired in the strictly official groove. Furthermore, if a man distinguishes himself in private practice his success affords a gurantee of ability which promotion But per- by seniority fails to give. haps the most serious objection to the system embodied in the new rule is that official Judges are apt to be unconsciously biassed in favour of the Government and consequently to lack independence and im- partiality where popular rights and official pretensions come into conflict. It is not every day that constitutional questions of that kind arise and consequently there is no great onss of experience upon which to found an opinion, but all parties must be agreed as to the importance of pre- serving the independence of the judicial bench inviolate in fact as well as in name. In practice, however, the system of appoint-political atmosphere has been cleared. ment to legal offee from the ranks of the Colonial Service does not seem to develop the evils that are imputed to it, judging from the experience of Hongkong. We have had several occupants of the bench, holding acting and substantive appointments, who were
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not even called to the bar until they had been in the service for some time, but who filled their positions as ably as circuit in others who had practised on England before they received their appoint- ments. The objections, seem therefore, in the light of present experience, to be theoretical rather than practical, but-under the rule that all legal appointments are to be made from the ranks in future
the of the Colonial Service, to clusion of barristers who have distinguished themselves in private practice, it may pos- sibly be found that the fears of the objectors are not altogether unfounded,
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THE SITUATION,
REPORTED SETTLEMENT.
10th January.
From a reliable source we learn that the out- standing questions between Russia, England, and Japan in reference to China and Korea have been satisfactorily arranged. The basis of the arrangement is not as yet known. but the British ships that went North have been ordered to return to Hongkong, the Powerful is not to go North, and two cruisers, now on their way out from England will receive orders to return at the first port they reach. Conosis have risen to 114, and a Chinese 3 per cent. loan guaranteed by England is to be issued at 110.The last item is confirmed by Renter's telegram.
11th January,
We have not been able to obtain official con- firmation of the reported agreement between The officials England, Japan, and Russia. either know nothing about it, or knowing some- thing prefer not to say anything.
Facts which we have gleaned from private sources all point to a settlement having been arrived at in favour, of course, of Great, Britain. Consols are steady at 113; the Chinese 5 per cent. loan, which a week ago stood at 954. has risen to 1004; and the Japanese 5 per cent. મ્ર week ago, to 1023. The money market is a loan has advanced from 994, which was the rate reliable barometer and it is almost certain the
One gentleman who has the best sources of information says he would not be surprised to see the British fleet down here for the Races, while in another well informed quarter it was stated on reliable anthority that the fleet would be bere in about ten days. The only fact which might speak in favour of a non-settlement is the departure yesterday afternoon of the Humber with stores for the fleet.
In regard to the Chinese loan to be guaran- teed by England nothing very definite is as yet known, but one financial authority thinks it relates to the unpaid £8,000,000 of the indom- nity to Japan.
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In Monday's issue appeared an extract from the Chemist and Druggist giving the results of an examination of some recently imported star anise star anise oil is the product of the Chinese oil. The article opened with the remark that This we are înformned tree Illicium anisatum.
The oil is derived by Mr. Ford is an error. from Illicium verunt.
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