July 16, 1898.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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"and by giving explanations unworthy of our dignity and lowering to our prestige. The concessions from China which have "been used to cover these defects are by no means an adequate counterpoise, and, unless there should be a marked change in our attitude, will for, the most part prove eventually worthless."
so, alliances will be welcome, but they will have to be determined by the particular conditions prevailing at the time. Where there is consanguinity of race, as between Great Britain and America, an alliance if formed would offer some prospect of dur- ability-it would be rather a unification of race thau an alliance in the ordinary" sense-but as between nations not bound by such ties alliances must necessarily be ephemeral. One of the countries with which it is suggested an alliance should be formed is Japan. But we could not look for any greater constancy from Japan than England herself bas displayed towards her allies, and on this point the statement of the Navy League is suggestively instructive. We are reminded that in the days of HENRY VIII. England allied herself first with one and then another of the two great contending rivals of the time-now with FRANCIS I. against Charles V., and now with CHARLESV.against FRANCISI. Later, to meet the varying exigencies of the age, we find England allied in the reign of CHARLES II. with France against Holland, while a little later, in the time of WILLIAM III, the situation is reversed, and Holland and England in close alliance are desperately contending against the mighty power of France. Such being our own history it would give small cause for surprise to find Japan allied afternately with England aud with Russia should a series of armed con-
that we must look to our Consuls and Minister. But merchants themselves must be on the alert to put their rights to the test and bring infringements to the notice of the proper authorities.
If they are content to do business through Chinese who are themselves directly or indirectly interested in the farming of squeeze levies they cannot expect to see a very great or rapid expansion of trade. Mr. BOURNE in his recent report on the trade of South China drew attention to the desirability of the European employés of foreign firms acquiring a knowledge of the Chinese language, so as to render the firms inde- pendent of the compradores in their trans- actions with native clients and customers. Mr. BRADY, in the report now before us, though he does not specially refer to the language question, says that what is wanted at Samshui "is the presence of foreign mer- "chants or agents, and until their advent it "is to be feared development will be slow." In closing our notice of an exceptionally interesting and useful report we
must quote Mr. BRADY's remarks on a subject which is now attracting special attention, namely, the rules of inland navigation. After noting that only certain channels are open to foreign craft, Mr. BRADY says: -"Chinese steamers are not restricted like foreign vessels. They may take any channel "that has a sufficient depth of water and "suits their purpose, and they may take
up and set down passengers and merchan-flicts in the Far East take place. England's "dise anywhere along their route, so that they enjoy a great advantage over foreign "owned craft, and, consequently, get most "if not all of the passenger traffic between "this port and Canton." In the revision of the recently promulgated rules for inland navigation it is to be hoped that all in- equalities will be swept away and foreign owned craft accorded precisely the same privileges as Chinese, which was the delared intention when the concession was made.
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true path of safety lies in the cultivation of a sturdy independence and the mainten- ance of a sufficient navy to ensure us the command of the sea, at the same time not going out of our way to pick quarrels un- necessarily either with Russia or any other Puwer. When the conflict comes, if come it must, we are not likely to be left without support, but not knowing against whom we are to fight, or for what, it seems premature to go crying round the world for allies.
SIR WILLIAM DES VŒUX ON THE CHINA QUESTION.
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The concessions gained from China are · not only not viewed with much satisfaction by Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX, but he con- tends that some of them are no concessions at all. For instance the pledge on the part of the Chinese Government not to alienate the Yangtsze Valley was, in his view, no concession, because China could have no desire to part with it, and as her power is inadequate to insure "the validity of her 'promise, our acceptance of it implies an undertaking to assist in the defence of the territory in question; so that, in fact, any concession in the matter was on our part.' Sir WILLIAM thinks, too, that this so-called concession seems to imply comparative in- difference ou the part of Great Britain to other portions of the Central Kingdom, notably in Kwangtung, where her interests are only less important than in the Yang- taze Valley. He thinks this demand led to the French demand in connection with the southern provinces. The pledge exacted from China that Sir ROBERT HARt's auc- cessor at the "seat of Customs" shall be a British subject is iu Sir WILLIAM's opinion only worth the paper on which it is written, for it will not necessarily preclude Russia or France from demanding the right to fill the vacancy whenever it occurs, when we should be in practically the same position As though the pledge had never been given. The occupation of Weihaiwei is regarded by Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX as a useless irritation to Russia and a source of expense to ourselves, and he indulges in the hope that the Government may be induced to leave the port as it is and "to "expend upon it neither men nor millions." He thinks it was only acquired by our Government at the eleventh hour to "face." Sir WILLIAM DES Vœux allows that the opening of waterways and new ports will no doubt prove of substantial value for a time, "it we assume a more determined "attitude than in the past towards local ob- "struction." Though our readers will pro- bably differ from ourold Governor in some of the foregoing conclusions they will be prepared to endorse the last quoted remark. As he truly says:-"If we remain passive benefit "from them in no long time will dis-
THE POLICY OF ALLIANCEŚ. The now famous speech made by Mr. CHAMBERLAIN at Birmingham seems, says We are glad to see one of our former a recently issued statement by the Vavy Governors using his undoubted abilities in League, to have brought to birth a thought the promotion of British interests in the previously latent in many minds, namely, Far East. Sir WILLIAM DES VEUX has that the changing circumstances of the evidently improved greatly in health during world have created conditions rendering the last few years, for we find him engaged necessary a return to the old policy pursued in public matters and he has come pro- by our forefathers of definitely allying minently forward during the recent crisis of curselves with our friends against our foes. affairs at Peking. He has, moreover, This passage strikes us as exhibiting a assumed the presidency of the China singularly confused state of mind. The Association, which is a powerful institution thought of alliances cannot be said to have capable of materially influencing the policy been brought to birth by Mr. CHAMBER- of the British Imperial Government in the LAIN's speech, for it has never been absent. East. Sir WILLIAM DES Vœux evidently In any great war of the future Great Britain does not intend to allow the grass to grow would be glad, as she has been in the past, under his feet. Not only is he militant es to avail herself of the alliance of any Power the Chairman of the Association, but he whose interests lay in the same direction as makes frequent appearances in the Press her own. But before entering into alliances His latest effort, in the form of an article in it would be necessary to distinguish who the Contemporary Review for June, is entitled are our friends and who our foes. At" Our Policy in the Far East." Sir WIL- present we are happily at peace with all the world. The thought brought to birth by Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's speech was that of making an enemy of Russia; and that can hardly be said to have been brought to birth either, for a large proportion of English meu entertain and have entertained almost from time immemorial a violent race hatred towards that country. It was this race hatred as much as consideration for the material interests involved that was at the root of the recent excitement in connection with Russia's action in China. We may sooner or later become involved in a war with Russia, or with any other country, and, if
LIAM DES VEUX, on this subject, un- hesitatingly joins the ranks of the critics of the Government, and though he does not go nearly so far as most of the latter, he thinks the Government has made mistakes. He says:-"I am not one to minimise the "exceeding difficulty of the situation which we have had to face, and I can even recognise the possibility that the Russian "acquisition of Port Arthur could not have " been avoided without war with two, per haps even three, Great Powers. But what "does not admit of doubt is that we have “brought upon ourselves unnecessary “humiliation by making futile objections
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waterways and the interior to foreign appear. It is of little use opening the trade if the local officials are 'to be allowed to levy what squeezes they choose, under the name of lekin or tso-li, upon the goods. imported. Nor can British traders find much opportunity to develop the trade in produce if every obstruction be thrown in the way by the mandarins and the Consuls require documentary proof of every case before intervening on behalf of the trader.
Sir WILLIAM Des Vœux is undoubtedly pessimistic, and he may perhaps be some- what harsh in his criticisms of the Salisbury Government, but he hits the right nail on the head in the following sentences
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What, however, is most immediately required for our interests is Government 'support to British enterprise. Possibly, 'by an amicable agreement with Russia, “and by putting an end to our policy of "useless irritation, we might induce her to cease from her constant opposition. But "whether such an arrangement would be practicable or not, the utmost encourage ment and support should be afforded to
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