February 12, 1898.]
outside attack. This question is very much bound up with the Navy, inasmuch as the garrison in this coaling station is a com- plement to the Naval Force maintained in these waters. It is becoming increasingly evident that if British interests in the Far East are to be maintained intact it can only be by the presence of a really overwhelming armed force.
AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN AND ITS EFFECTS. The ambition of Japan is not only to be the Britain of the Pacific in an industrial and commercial sense, but also in a political sense to be the predominant Power of Eastern Asia, leading and controlling the races ethnologically allied with her own. The recent turn of events in China there- fore brings to Japan a critical point in her history, in reference to which there is a suggestive article in the last number of the Spectator. The Marquis Iro, who has re- cently been reappointed Premier, our con- temporary describes as a man who thinks on. a large scale, who knows that it is easier to steal an orange than an orange pip, and who sees that with all Europe for an op- ponent the only prize worth the fright- ful risk, and the only prize also which might yield sufficient strength to en- able him to keep it, is the whole of China. If he can master the Chinese Empire, "either by superseding the Manchoo dynasty, or by assuming for the Japanese "Government the permanent position of "Mayor of the Palace in Peking, he may "make the Yellow Race too powerful for Europe to defeat, at least in the present "condition of its scientific appliances. To secure for ever the control of the re- sources, the trade, and the soldiers of China would indeed be a service to his country worth performing, and it is this, we are almost convinced, which the Japan ese Premier thinks within the limits of "his power. He has, therefore, offered the "Mandarins to suspend all demands for the "rest of the indemnity if they will allow Japanese Generals and officers to organise a Chinese Army, and will maintain a strict "alliance with Japan."
蒙着
ff
4.1
"
EL
**
"L
*
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
minent, may now be regarded, temporarily at all events, as out of court. The danger to the Empire lies in the corruption and other defects of her own Government, rather than in the ambitions of other Powers.
55
EL
Ff
44
"6
41
The point of the Spectator's article, however, is the resistance that might be offered to a European coalition. by an alliance between China and Japan. << If," says our contemporary, "the Chinese "and the Japanese, coerced by the common danger, can agree to any effective union "of their forces, Continental Europe has "not the power at present to make the "effort necessary to conquer the united yellow peoples. She has not the unity, "she has not the transport, and she has not "the men. No Government except that of "Russia would venture to risk its conscripts "audits Treasury in such an undertaking, "and the Russian Government must first complete its railways, and then learn how "to avoid that frighful waste of its trained men which always accompanies its wars. Whether China and Japan can agree or not is beyond our knowledge; but that Japan desires this, and that Chinese "reluctance is yielding under the weight of "the avalanche of hostile circumstances which now press upon Peking we can feel no doubt whatever." In the above extract it will be observed that the term *"Con- | "tinental Europe" is used, whereas elsewhere in the article the term "Europe "without qualification is employed. As Great Britain, however, has declared against the partioning of China, Continental Europe, if it entered upon such a scheme, would have to count not only upon the opposition of China and Japan, but also upon that of Great Britain, and possibly that of the United States. As to the ability of Japan to transform the army of China into an efficient fighting body, the Spectator seems to underrate the difficulties of the task and to overrate the competency of Japan. The success of the latter in Formosa has not been so great as to en- courage hopes of her achieving marked suc- cess in China, even if installed as Mayor of the Palace at Peking, to use the Spectator's phrase. Chinamen may perhaps be capable of being developed by careful training into good soldiers, but the population would prove restive under Japanese domination, and, moreover, the first essential to the es- tablishment of any degree of military power, namely, honesty in the administration of the national finances, is lacking in China.
AMERICAN OPINION ON THE CHINESE QUESTION.
91.
support. If it came to a question of fighting about the matter the probability is that the States would stand out of the quarrel, but while the question remains in the region of diplomacy American opinion must be ac corded its due weight. The New York Herald observes :-" Americans know well "where American interests lie. If Ger-
36
#
66
many, Russia, and France take possession "of any Chinese port or territory, each of "these Powers will set up a monopoly for "its own benefit. England, on the other. hand, will set up free trade, and Ameri- can products will be admitted as freely as English." The New York Times also, after the statement had been made that England would refuse to recognise special concessions by China and would claim for herself under the favoured nation plause the privileges granted to others, in an article discussing the declara- tion says:-" In the position now taken
.cc
(<
up Great Britain is not the champion of "British interests alone. She is the cham- pion of civilization and humanity, and "deserves the support of all mankind, es- pecially of the United States. Our interests in the East are the same as hers." It urges the Administration to assure England that she has the entire and hearty approval of the United States. All this is extremely gratifying and we trust it reflects the views of American statesmen, as would seem to be the case, judging from various interviews that have been published.
THE KOWLOON FRONTIER
QUESTION. :
The insistence with which Her Majesty's Government declares that Great Britain does not desire territorial acquisitions in China is calculated to cause some misgivings as to the carrying out of the scheme for the rectification of the Kowloon-frontier. We hope that the misgivings may be falsified in the result, but in the meantime the prospect. is not so clear as we would like to see it." It will be remembered that a short time ago the Central News published a statement representing that negotiations on the subject had been in progress and had resulted in a satisfactory agreement which was shortly to This alleged offer by Japan is one of the
be formally concluded. The whole state- numerous rumours that have been placed in
ment was categorically denied by Reuter, circulation in connection with the Chinese
but a few days later a paragraph appeared question and must not too readily be ac-
in the Times which would seem to indicate cepted as fact. The national finances of
that the project was at least receiving Japan are not in a condition to warrant the
favourable consideration. After a brief ready sacrifice of the indemnity, and if
statement of the case for extension as it pre- the sacrifice were made it would mean
sents itself in Hongkong the Times says:- difficulty in the carrying out of the scheme
"An impression of the cost of fortification. of naval and military expansion, which is The interview with LI HONG-CHANG re- "and a feeling of assurance that we should already pressing so heavily on the coun- garding Germany's action in China, which
"be able to forestall the action of any other try as to cause the taxpayers to feel we reproduced recently from the New York "Power in case of need have indisposed our the burden unpleasantly heavy. China Herald, is stated to have aroused the "authorities to admit an urgency to which might, however, without such an induce deepest interest in official circles at Wash-"Hongkong is more sensitive. But the ment as the wiping off of the indemnity, ington, and Li's appeal for international- consent to allow Japan to organise her justice, it is further stated, meets with the military resources for her. If the offer is heartiest sympathy from American states- accepted, says the Spectator, "Europe is men. China's case, in our view, is not one "beaten," that is, beaten so far as any that should command sympathy; her diffi- attempt to divide China between the Powers culties have been brought upon her by is concerned. But oh that point Europe is her own wrong-doing, and her Govern- already beaten, by reason of its own rival-ment remains corrupt and possesses ries and divided interests. Great Britain none of the qualities that command respect. has pronounced against the partitioning of China, and Great Britain holds the key of the situation. And even if Great Britain's influence were in itself insufficient to ensure the continued integrity of China, the rival- ries of the other Powers, even though for a time sunk in a common alliance, would come into play when a division of the spoils was in contemplation. The partitioning of China, which a short time ago seemed im-
·
*
"issue seems inevitable, and events are
combining to bring it nearer." The last sentence is significant, for the Times is on friendly terms with the Foreign Office and its statements on questions of foreign policy may usually be regarded as possessing some weight. We take it therefore that at that time-the date of the paper in which the statement appeared is 23rd December- Sentimental considerations are therefore out the Foreign Office was favourably dis- of place in the discussion, and the practical posed to the project, whether actual pego- question for consideration is the course of tiations had been entered upon or not. action to be adopted for the protection of But since then the statement has been made foreign interests and the promotion of foreign and repeated with emphasis that Great trade and commerce. Great Britain has Britain does not desire territorial acquisi- pronounced against a policy of dismember- tions in China. The question is whether, ment, and, that being so, it is satisfactory to that statement is intended to be interpreted. find that the policy receives the support of literally or to be taken in a relative, the United States, that is to say, the moral I sense. The desired rectification of the
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.