July 30, 1898.j
MR. PARRY ON THE CANTON-KOW- LOON RAILWAY AND THE SQUARING OF OFFICIALS.
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Mr. FRANCIS PARRY, who was a member of the Legislative Council of Hongkong in 1867-68, at the time that he was the resident partner of the firm of BIRLEY & Co., writes to the Times advocating that the Kwangtung Government should be brought over to the Kowloon-Canton railway scheme by the allotment of a number of shares. The favour of LI HUNG-CHANG to the French and Belgian projects was, he says, "not gained by pressure, rather by the "conciliatory method of inducements held "out-a system of leading, not driving, making it worth while to put forward "the propositions of the iron-masters, and enabling him to enlist the services of "other Chinese officials. The mandarin of high degree, when asked to promote an "idea likely to be lucrative, says now, as "would a Congress man, 'Where am I in "it?' The days of patriotic opposition being past, the seductive dollar is more potent "than the sword in China. Shortly, proposed lines of route will be traced out from "Kowloon, and in projecting them what "irregularity would there be in offering shares to the local Government of Kwang- tung, if done openly?" Certainly there would be no irregularity in such arrangement, but, as shown by Mr. PARRY in the earlier part of the above extract, what the mandarin wants is not shares for the Government, but a secret commission for himself, and a very handsome one too. Shares given openly to the Government would not benefit the mandarin individually and consequently would not exercise the power of the "seductive dollar," which has recently been so ably and unscrupulously used in certain quarters in the North. Great Britain by declining to resort to such devious methods in her diplomatic contests has had to face difficulties that have been conveniently smoothed away for others; whether in the long run honesty will prove to have been the best policy remains to be seen. As regards the Canton and Kowloon Railway project, how ever, though bribery might possibly make the negotiations run more smoothly, we believe the end can be very well attained without it, the Imperial Government having recognised the expediency of the scheme, which we think will be found mentioned in some form or other in the recently signed Kowloon Convention, when that document, at present so strictly guarded from non- official inspection, comes to be published. When the scheme is fairly launched the Kwangtung Government may want a pro- prietory share in the line, which would not be unreasonable if the terms were equitable. There is a wide difference, however, between making terms with the Government and giving backsheesh to individual mandarins, and it is rather surprising to find Mr. PARRY confusing the two things.
APPROACHING END OF THE WAR. Spain baving formally sued for peace, the end of the Hispano-American war may be regarded as almost in sight. There is of course a possibility of the negotiations breaking down, but that is scarcely probable, for Spain evidently feels her resources ex- hausted, while on the other hand the United States will not be inclined to impose severe terms, beyond the liberation of Cuba and an arrangement with regard to the Philippines. If America should be unwilling herself to assume the responsibility of
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
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governing the latter the final disposition of such as it is there is no doubt it is consider the islands will be rather a delicate ques-ably in advance of British enterprise in the tion for President MCKINLEY to solve. same field. Yet the field is an exceedingly Having espoused the cause of the insur- promising one. For many coming years, gents and entered into an alliance with them says the Manufacturer,- Siberia will offert the Washington Government cannot uncere-
an immense outlet for all kinds of machin.ba moniously throw them over. AGUINALDO, ery special attention should be paid the insurgent leader, aims at the establish- mining machinery and agricultural ma ment of an independent republic, but, apart chinery and implements. The country also from the question of whether the natives offers a market for wood-working and are capable of self-government, there seems match-making machinery, flour-mill and but little probability of the Powers in gen- brick machinery, paper machinery and eral according their recognition to such a brewer's and sugar machinery, Hardware, republic, unless America formally extended tools, cutlery, and fire-arms would also find her protection to it, and that would involve a ready market. The Siberian Railway is the exercise of an active control, for there is now completed and in operation as far as no saying what the natives might do or in Irkutsk, on the Baikal Sea, to the west, what disputes with other Powers they might and Vladivostock to Khaborovka, on the become involved if left to their own devices. eastern portion. Goods could find their Even if the islands be handed back to way into Siberia from both sides, from Spain, however, great changes must of neces- Vladivostock as well as from the European sity take place. The rule of the friars is a border. thing of the past which can never be restored, and large and sweeping reforms in the civil administration will have to be conceded, which will lead to the gradual opening up of the country and the development of its magnificent resources. But the aspirations of the natives for political independence will remain a factor to be reckoned with, and the country will remain liable to distraction from time to time by civil strife. The United States could probably establish order on a firm and lasting basis, but the experience of Spanish rule in the past affords little hope of Spain's being able to do so.
SPAIN AND THE COST OF FOREIGN INTERVENTION.
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The principal barrier to the development of Siberia has hitherto been the absence of regular communication. When this barrier is removed by the completion of the railway vast tracts of now barren country will be laid under cultivation, mines of all descrip- tions will be opened, and numerous pros perous settlements and towns will spring into existence which will afford a market not only for the description of goods more: particularly referred to by the Manufacturer, but also for articles of daily consumption and of luxury. In the supply of those articles, so far as the eastern portion of Siberia is concerned, Hongkong ought to occupy a prominent position. With the populating of Siberia a considerable interchange of commodities will spring up between that The Madrid Imparcial publishes a long country and the tropical and sub-tropical article in support of the view lately ex- pressed by Señor ROMERO ROBLEDO in the regions of which Hongkong is the natural Chamber, that when the moment for mak-outlet, which will not only contribute to our commercial prosperity, but will also add ing peace arrives Spain ought to make pro-
to the comfort of life in the tropics by posals to the United States directly and avoid using the good offices of the neutral giving us a cheap and ample supply of various Powers, who would make her pay dearly for articles of consumption produced in temperate climates. In another respect also the Possibly Senor any services rendered. ROMERO ROBLEDO and the Imparcial have Siberian Railway, when linked with the taken note of the heavy price China has projected Chinese Railways, will effect an had to pay for the so-called good offices important change in local conditions, in asmuch as it will give us a daily mail, the of certain of the Powers in the set- tlement of terms with Japan after the weekly mail day becoming a thing of the war with that country. The interven- past. It does not require much thought to ing Powers, in the improbable event of realise how great a revolution that means. their succeeding in depriving the United The whole of Shanghai was up in arms the States of the fruits of victory, would in the other day in consequence of a change in long run probably present to Spain a far the departure of the mail which it was bigger bill for the consideration due to thought would materially interfere with old themselves for their good offices. Spain established arrangements, and in Hongkong will undoubtedly be able to make better the same question has from time to time terms for herself by dealing direct with the formed the subject of anxious discussion. The United States, and the sooner she opens of that kind for us, will bring us our letters Siberian Railway will solve all difficulties negotiations the better will it be for her
and newspapers regularly day by day, and own interests.
will allow us to be governed as to our time of writing by inclination or the re quirements of business instead of by the inexorable exigencies of the weekly mail service by steam-packet.
THE OPENING OF SIBERIA AND ITS AFFECIS ON
HONGKONG.
The Board of Trade Journal for June re- produces from the Manufacturer an article on the opening up of Siberia. The same number of the Journal also reproduces from the Iron Age an article on German trade methods in Russia, in which we are told that "the net of German representa "tion covers the whole of Russia and is "already extending over some parts of "Siberia. The German foothold on the "Pacific is already a very strong one, and "there are many German firms in Vladivos "tock who have their own steamers run-
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A Washington despatch of the 8th June says:-A United States post office may be established at Cavite, which will have the dis offices of this Government. This proposition tinction of being the most remote of the post grows out of the condition described by Consul General Wildman at Hongkong in a despatch sent to-day to the State Department, reports that the mail matter intended for the officers and men of the Asiatic fleet has becosisé too voluminous for him to handle, and at his suggestion a postal clerk will be designated för duty at the Hongkong Consulate. The port office address of the ships under Dewey is still the Amoor." This passage Yokohama, whence all mail matter is sent to conveys perhaps au exaggerated idea of the Hongkong to be called for by a despatch extent of German enterprise in Siberia, but sent by Admiral Dewey at convenient
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