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May 28, 1898.]
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SPIN AND THE PHILIPPINES.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
graph it, for reticence in such matters is not only prudent but essential. The further statement that the United States Volunteers and Militia are utterly unprepared for campaigning also reads strangely. The forces mentioned are, we understand, fully armed and equipped and as ready for campaigning as, for instance, our own Volunteer Corps, which, it may be hoped, would be found ready to take the field at short notice if called upon.. The transport and commissariat department will no doubt require a good deal of organisation, but the Americans are not experience in such matters
without
proved in the past that they are well quali
and have fied to deal effectively with them.
|
419
in the matter. session of the islands has now gone so far The struggle for the pos that the United States could not tolerate having the prize of war snatched from her hand in that manner. practically master of the situation at Manila, Admiral DEWEY is
and will in a few weeks have a force where- with to land and take possessión, two trans- ports having embarked a portion of the 15,000 troops which are to be sent to take and garrison the port. Nor would the sale of the Philippines to France be quietly acqui- esced in by either Great Britain or Germany. The islands, if they became French, might of owners, for they would be less priest perhaps to some extent profit by the change ridden, but it is doubtful whether the natives might not, in some respects, find the transfer only like the substitution of the rule of King Log for that of King Stork, The French rule is milder in some ways than that of the Spanish Government, but the fiscal policy of France has proved very burdensome and restrictive in all her Colonies, owing to the dogged determina- tion shown to convert them into preserves for French trade. cases, prevented the development of the This policy has, in all resources of the various countries France has been so good as to take under her wing, and neither the persuasions of the French traders and colonists nor the tea- chings of experience have availed to drive the lesson home into the minds of French statesmen.
"The Statesman's Year Book," in which we are told that "The commercial inter- course of Hongkong-virtually a part "of the commerce of China-is chiefly "with Great Britain, India, Australia, the "United States, and Germany, Great "Britain absorbing about one-half of the "total imports and exports. There being no custom house, there are no official returns of the value of the imports and exports of the colony from and to all countries, but only mercantile estimates, according to which the former average four, and the latter two millions sterling.' With reference to the statement that the trade of Hongkong is virtually a part of the commerce of China, it may be useful to point out that of the 3,293,503 tons of cargo It may be correct, notwithstanding the discharged in Hongkong in 1896 less than antecedent improbability, that Spain is one million tons were from China, while sen ling out a squadron to the Philippines of the 2,647,476 tons shipped a little over immediately. At present the position is a million and a half were destined for that this: that Admiral Dewey and his squadron country, thus leaving, in both cases, a con-hold the waters of Manila, while the siderable margin for trade with other places. Spaniards retain possession of the city, We would suggest to the Harbour Mas though they cannot say that the country is ter that since Formosa has been added to at their back, because it is in a state of re- Japan it is inadvisable to group "Coast ofbellion, and the Filippinos make common China and Formosa" together, and "Hai-cause with the invaders. However, at the 'nan and Gulf of Tonkin is also an in- moment Admiral DEWEY is not in a position advisable grouping. We can understand to land and attack the city. The Spanish that it may be easier to obtain the returns Government have of course been aware of in that form, owing to the fact that the this fact, and assuming the news tele steamers engaged in the trade make the graphed by Reuter to be true, they are same combination, but the tables would be practically having a race with the American more useful if they disti aished between Government to send out a relief force. The the ports according to their nationality. Americans are preparing to despatch 15,000 ||
men from San Franciscs and the necessary transports have no doubt been secured. the relieving squadron leaves Cadiz at the If end of the month, our American cousins will have to hurry up and despatch the troops as soon as collected. Should their despatel be delayed it might become necessary for Admiral DEWEY to raise the blockade and withdraw from Manila, for it is at least doubtful whether he could hold his own against so superior a force as that which the Spaniards are said to be sending out. No doubt the Spanish Admiral would hope to cut off the retreat of the enemy, but Admiral DEWEY will not be caught When Lord SALISBURY stated in the apping, we may be sure, though he would House of Lords that he did not believe in lose some of the advantages of his brilliant the collapse of a nation of 400,000,000 victory of the 1st May if he had to retire brave people he hardly faced the real owing to delay in the arrival of reinforce-issue arising out of the present position of affairs in China. It is not a question of the collapse of the nation; it is a question of the Power or Powers by which the nation is to be ruled. The Chinese have for centuries considered merely the vast expenditure in past been ruled by alien dynasties. The men and money which the rebellions in present dynasty is now tottering to its fall, Cuba aud the Philippines have already and if it be preserved for some time longer entailed. The political situation in Spain it will not be by its own inherent strength, was not sufficiently considered, the absolute but by the buttressing it may receive from necessity for the Government of Senor other nations, each fearful that its fall would SAGASTA to fight if the reigning monarch result in complications disastrous to them- was to retain his throne. DON CARLOS is selves or favourable to their rivals. What- only too ready to avail himself of any ever political changes may take place the opening to appeal to the passions and Chinese as a race will remain strong and patriotism of the nation, and to offer to lead vigorous, but as the throne has been pos its armies to victory. The conflict with the sessed in succession by Tartars, Mongols, United States having therefore to be faced, and Manchus, so would there be nothing the Spanish Government are clearly pre-inherently improbable in the substitution of pared to run any hazards, make auy sacri- fices. There can, however, be but one ending to the war, and the longer the struggle lasts the greater will be the ultim ate loss to Spain.
ments.
If the news given by Reuter is to he ne cepted as reliable it would seen that Spain intends to make a desperate effort to retain the colouics whi seem so nearly slipping from her grasp. Not only will the utmost efforts be put forth to save Cuba, but the Spanish Government have determined to strain every nerve to drive the Americans from Manila, for which purpose it is stated they are sending out a squadron consisting of one battleship, seven cruisers, and three torpe- do vessels, with 11,000 troops. It should be mentioned, however, that rumours have been current for the past ten or twelve days that a squadron was already on the way, but on investigation the rumours have proved un- founded, and the report in the telegram pub- In any case the active steps now being lished to-day as to the intended despatch of a taken by Spain foreshadow a more prolonged squadron may rest upon an equally dusub-struggle than was anticipated by those who stantial foundation. Until authoritative news is received that the squadron is actually on its way some doubt must be entertained as to whether there is any real intention to des- patch it. The with Jawal of such a number of vessels would weaken the Spanish forces in the Atlantic, and as the real trial of strength must take place there Spain's more probable policy would be to concentrate her forces there, and, should she ultimately prove successful in that quarter, send out an expedition for the reconquest of the Philippines afterwards.
An air of doubt is thrown on the telegram by the first item, namely, the statement that owing to the severe American censorship it is difficult to obtain reliable war news. There is no such thing as a press censorship in America; even at the time of the Civil War there Vas no attempt on either side to interfere with the freedom
II.
The rumour to which Reuter gives currency of the press. If the statement simply to the effect that Spain is negotiating for a means that the Government declines to sale of the Philippine Islands to France, communicate to the newspapers information though under the circumstances it reads 88 to the intended niovements of the rather comically, might be serious if correct. army and navy, and the whole plan of We are not inclined, however, to credit the campaign, it was not worth while to tele- I report. There are good reasons for unbelief
It is for this reason that other nations look askance at French colonial expansion, and for this reason would it be offered promptly (in the event of any such that a very strong protest indeed would be proposal as that suggested by Reuter being made, by the British Government. would certainly not suit Great Britain to sce France installed in Philippine waters, and it is much to be feared that if any real- attempt to transfer the islands be inade serious complications will ensue,
It
LORD SALISBURY ON THE CHINA
PROBLEM.
another foreign dynasty, were it not for the jealousies of the Foreign Powers. As India has been brought under British rule so might China be brought under British, Russian, or Japanese rule. Any oue of the Powers named, in the absence of interference from outside, could establish itself at Peking, and from there rule the country, though it might happen, as in the case of the Tartars, Mongols, and Mauchus, that the conquered would in time absorb and assimilate their
conquerors. And as the country might be annexed wholesale, so might it be annexed
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