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THE BLUE BOOK ON AFFAIRS IN CHINA.
The last mail brought out the Blue Book containing the "Correspondenco res- "pecting the affairs of China." It refers to the Kiaochau, Port Arthur, Talienwan, and Weihaiwei concessions but contains no reference to the Kowloon conces- sion. Asked in the House of Commons why the Blue Book did not contain any reference to the demands made by France upon China, Mr. BALFOUR replied that the reason was that the negotiations in connec- tion with those demands had not reached
their conclusion. Doubtless the same reply would account for the omission of any refer- ence to the Kowloon extension, as that question appears to have been treated in connection with the French demands; but since then the French flag has been hoisted at Kwongchanwan, and it is understood that the Kowloon territory is to come under British jurisdiction almost immediately.
In the correspondence that has been pub- lished there is a good deal of not very pleasant reading, but to say that the Russian Foreign Office simply "walked round" Lord SALISBURY is absurd. Great Britain having lost nothing and gained a great deal there appears no good reason for dis- appointment with the final outcome. Such failure as has attended our diplomacy is to be found in the fact that we did not prevent Russia obtaining certain conces- sions, but for those concessions we obtained an ample equivalent. es to the effect of the Russian concessions Count MOURAVIEFF in a note to Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR dated 1st April last (the closing docuiment of the series) says:"The substitution of the "Russian usufruct for possession by China
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[June 4, 1898.
that of Siangtan, a prosperous commercial Treaty Powers, that Hunan should be city in Hunan on the banks of the Siang opened up. Not only will a troublesome river. The riot at Shasi was, there seems and bellicose province be brought more good reason to believe, organised by a effectively under control, but the develop Hunan mob, led by some anti-foreign ment of its resources will be greatly stimu official or liternti. The Hankow cor-lated, and foreigners will acquire large com- respoudent of our Shanghai morning con- mercial interests there which will help to temporary calls attention to some curious preserve it to the Dynasty. On the other coincidences in connection with the anti- hand, if it be allowed to go on growing more foreign demonstrations at Sungpu against and more arrogant and bellicose its excit the Swedish missionaries and the riots able and ill informed population may give at Shasi.
He says:- ""
By a remark- such serious cause of offence and injury to "able coincidence, on the very day that some great military Power as may prompt "the foreign community were flying it to demand some concession virtually for their lives from Shasi, two mission- depriving the province of independence. "aries were escaping from Sungpu, and The era of bounce and bluster by the man- "still more remarkable is it that though darins is over, and they will in future have "the two towns are distant from each other to fall back on something better if less
some 400 miles, Mr. TJELLSTROM had showy. a narrow escape in the one town while his "wife had to fly from the other. Another "coincidence is that CHANG, who is at present district magistrate at Shasi, was acting in the same capacity at Macheng "when the missionaries were murdered "there in 1893." The former coincidences are remarkable, but may possess no special significance; the latter certainly has sinister look.
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Mr. CHANG did not come out of the Sungpu massacre with such credit as to merit. promotion, but he secured it in the form of the appointment to the same post at Shasi. No doubt he was regarded as a man who had learned how to deal with the missions, and was secretly marked down for promotion. Now we find him, as at Sungpu, signally failing to
Murder preserve order at Shasi. avoided in this instance, it is true, but the foreigners were shown that things could be made unpleasant and unsafe for them if they insisted on futher opening up of the central provinces. There is too much
reason
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of Ports Arthur and Talienwan has not "affected in any way the interests of the "other Powers in those regions; quite on
to fear that the disciples of the notorious CHOU HAN have again been at the contrary,
a port hitherto work, and have inflamed the minds of the "closed is open to the trade of the whole people against the foreigners. It is quite world, and placed under exceptionally time that these attempts to excite the favourable conditions, as it is destined populace in Hunán and other provinces of to be connected with the great line Central China should be finally put a stop "of the Siberian railway." That does
to. If the province of Hunan had been not seem a result that it would have opened up to foreign trade and intercourse been worth Great Britain's while to
as was then proposed, after the long series go to war to prevent. It would, of of anti-foreigu riots and massacres in course, be a mistake to place too much 1890-91, there would have been no further reliance on Russian promises or declarations of intention, for the correspondence before trouble in connection with the missions. The Hunanese are an exceedingly prejudiced us shows clearly the tortuous nature of
race, but this is simply due to the atrocious Russian diplomacy and the lightness with slanders concerning foreigners and foreign which Russian statesmen go back on their missionaries which have for so many years word; but as regards Talienwan, not only been industriously manufactured and cir- is it to Russia's own interest to attract trade culated among them by the literati. Pro- to the future terminus of her Great Asiaticbably, in no province of the Empire would railway system, but Count MOURAVIEFF's note from which the above quotation is taken is in the nature of a binding docu- ment, since it is officially published with the sanction of Russia and may therefore be appealed to and relied upon as authoritative should occasion arise.
THE NECESSITY OF OPENING
HUNAN.
The expected opening of Yochow at the entrance of the Tung-ting Lake may have had some influence in causing the recent outbreak at Shasi. The Hunanese are again in arms against the detested foreigner, and they appear to think that they can deter him from entering Hunan by displays of violence. This little error should be cor- rected at once, and in, a manner that will appeal to their imagination. The British Government should at once demand the opening of Changsha, the capital of the province, as a treaty port, together with
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A PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
An interesting programme of public works to be considered in the future is sketched out in the Hon. R. D. ORMSBY's annual report. The place of precedence is given to buildings, concerning which Mr. OBMSBY says "The new Law Courts, the new Post Office and Treasury, a residence for "the Governor at the Peak, improved and "increased accommodation for the Police both at the East and West ends of the city, and a new Harbour Master's Office "will absorb all available funds for building
purposes for many years to come.
It is therefore unnecessary to mention other "minor wants. The above are undoubtedly "the most pressing."
Of these items it seems to us that only three can correctly be termed pressing, namely, the new Law. Courts, improved and increased accommoda- tion for the police, and a new Harbour Office. With regard to the Post Office, increased accommodation is required, but that can
be provided by placing the disposal of the department when the present Supreme Court building at the
new Law Courts are ready for occupation, and there is therefore no necessity whatever for the erection of a new building for the Post Office and Treasury. With respect to a residence for the Governor at the Peak, we understand satisfactory arrangements for the next few years have been made by way of lease, and those arrangements might very well be prolonged until more pressing works have been provided for.
Mr.
an advocate of the opening up of the colony We are glad to see that Mr. ORMSBY is
by the construction of roads and tramways. The road from Plantation Road Station to Magazine. Gap, now nearing completion. will, as the report states, much. improve the greater progress be made or a better under- latter locality, as affording easier means of standing of western civilisation be promoted reaching Victoria by ricksha and tram, and than in Hunan if the people could only be may possibly lead to further building of brought into contact with it. The difficulty European residences beyond Wanchai Gap, at present is to get into touch with them. to which this road will give access. The mandarins take good care to keep the ORMBBY suggests also that a road from foreign element in the background; it is no Wanchai Gap round the south side of part of their system to either dissipate mis- Mounts Nicholson and Cameron to Wong- understandings or to promote friendly neichong Gap would be a very desirable ad- feeling towards foreigners, nothing will|dition to the roads in the Peak District, and do that so effectually as to open up would open up a beautiful part of the coun- the country to foreign enterprise. Now try, making access to Tytam and the eastern is the time to undertake this necessary parts of the island from the higher levels easy. work. With the ports on the Siang opened The construction of this road was suggested up to foreigu trade, and a railway running by H.E. General BLACK as a memorial of from Kowloon via Canton to Changsha, and the Diamond Jubilee, and although the thence to Wuchaug on the Yangtaze, there suggestion was not adopted in that con- would be a good prospect of the centre of nection we are glad to learn that there is the Chinese Empire being placed in com- now some prospect of the road being con- plete contact with all the resources and structed simply on its merits as a work of teachings of Western civilization. It is for public utility. When the project is the interests of the Imperial Government ried out a demand will no doubt arise at Peking, quite as much as those of the 'for another hill tramway with its upper
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