The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1898-10-08 — Page 8

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[October 8, 1898.

to find fault with Russia and France if they attempted to benefit their own country by. taking advantage of certain positions-always- with the saving clause that they did not buit the British position. (A voice: "That's it," and cheers). He conld quite understand other countries being a little annoyed. Other coun- tries had all got what he might call the Colonial fever. They were going out all over the world trying to find colonies and trying to improve their trade and their commercial interests. But whereever they went they found a thing like a great hedgehog, all covered with prickles, and

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

the transit dues were admitted by treaty to pay for goods into the interior, the Government should at once inquire why goods were futher taxed by lekin, or octrai, or other imports that were so detrimental to trade. Well, those were the five points that he wished to submit as a plan on which he thonght the Government could materially assist trade and commerce. In an open meeting like that, where he knew very well there were many foreigners present, he would ask their generous opinion in this wise could that plan and the opinions be had express- facted possibly be made a casus belli with any other

nation in China if they were looked into and |

His humble opinion was properly analysed. that that plan would not only work to the bene. He had been there beforehand; and if the fit of British trade but to the benefit of the positions were reversed he did not suppose that whole of the European countries in China; and the British people would be much more agree- unquestionably the country that would beuéfitable under the circumstances than they at most by it would be China herself. His

the Exchequer he was addressed by a chamber; of commerce respecting the fall in prices. It was true, he said, that prices had fallen in in- dividual industries but the volume of the trade of the British Empire was increasing by leaps and bounds, and as long as the volume in- increased in valde he was not very much alarmed by a fall in prices. He (Lord Charles Beresford) was of opinion that that was a very wise remark of Sir William Harcourt. It might be that other countries, in the interests of- their people, undersold British products, but the that their trade was increasing in bulk in such places as China must eventually benefit the trade of Great Britain, because it increased the volume of the trade with them. There was another point he might bring before their notice. They had heard a great deal about, and there was some considerable excitement in the country over,

mere

CONCESSIONS FOR RAILWAYA to other nations. He held this view in regard to that, although again he might be wrong, that if they were going to assist a country, and such a country, with its teeming millions, in their effort to increase their own trade and the trade of the country itself for the benefit of their own trade must also be thought of-when they came to consider the line of transport, they should try and utilize what was there already, and what the people were accustomed

to.

Improve that line of transport and organize it and they would get the people of the country with them. He believed that our Government should, with all their energy, try and develop the great waterways of China. because if that were done they would have the people with them, since the people understood that line of transport. By and by, when things improved, they conld invest their money in rail- ways;

but he would ask any business man if he thought, even when the railways were finished. that he was going to get a very handsome dividend in the near future. First they had a large capital sum to lay down, secondly they had the unquestionable dislike of the people to those railways, and if there was an uprising or any trouble in some locality which the railway passed through the Government might Le weak, like the present one, dud might not be able to quell that rising. From his point of view, he would certainly suggest that their first and immediate efforts should be directed to

OPENING THE WATERWAYS,

:

SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

was that, first, something had to be done and it was the merchants and trading communities to say what that 'something was. He should, so far as his humble powers went, endeavour to for- ward their views home for the consideration of the British people. The second point was that the Chinese should be induced to give adequate security in the shape of proper military and police. Thirdly, there should be the commercial alliance to which he had referred; the water- ways should be opened thoroughly and prac- tically and fifth there should be a strict and impartial inquiry into the matter of the tariffs and transit dues. Now these points, ug he humbly submitted to them. made for the best and greatest interests that the British Empire held at the present moment. Having given them particulars of bis schemes he might tell them a point which was not generally known. Out of the forty millions of people in the Briti-h Isles, there were only 400,000 young men between the ages of 18 and 21 who were qualified by physique. by stature, by health, and by other requisites to enter the British

Το the great credit of army.

the population, he might tell them in four joined the British army at this moment, that was to say supplied the 100,00 necessary to keep the British army going. But be need hardly point out that, in the vastness of the Empire, its responsibilities, and enormous extent, this force was not nearly enough to defend it and police it properly in the event of hostilities or in the event of dis- turbances in the British dominions. He there fore thought that the commercial alliance of which he had spoken would first of all possibly be directed for the benefit of trade, but event- ually be an alliance of a more striking character. But in whatever direction it tended, it must make for peace and be opposed to war. (Cheers). Now, there had been a great number of remarks made at home which be for one, as a public mau having occasionally been asked to speak, deplored very much. He did not like

SAYIME IRRITABLE THINGS

that one

its

to putting proper patrols on these waterways, and to getting tugs and steamboats to increase rapidity of transit of goods from all over China. He could say that that, any way, was a plan and he hoped he had given them some reasons why it would be a better plan, in the immediate future than large investments of money in rail- ways. He might be allowed to allude again to Egypt. The people in the time of Ismail Pasha -he remembered the old gentleman very well were very much opposed to railways. But the old man was a despot and be made up his

He was not indisposed to mind that the people would soon have to like to other nations. railways, so he taxed the people off the canals fight. (Cheers). If they were going to fight, and the Nile and they were forced to put their fight certainly, but let them fight in a big, goods on the railways, That was hardly a straight way, and do their best to beat their method that any business man, who was not a adversary. But there was no object to be gained despot, would recommend his countrymen to in a political man, or a public mau. saying ir- act upon. (Laughter). In reference to rail-ritable flings unless he were prepared to fight. ways in China, he hoped that they would be! (Loud cheers). They had heard a great deal able to enter into an agreement with other about Russia and France in the debates that nations-with those who had concessions and. had gone ou at home. Well, there was intended to build railways, in that country--that doubt that Russia had come into positions of there would be no preferential railway rates--- very considerable advantage lately but, as he that the rates should be the same no matter said again, he bad never blamed Russia for that. which country dominated the railway for the Russia was perfectly right-her Government moment. That would be to the advantage of were perfectly right in taking positions if trade when the railways were completed. There they thought it was to the advantage of their But የፀ also were was one more point on which he thought the people. (Hear, hear ). Government might assist trading interests in perfectly right in seeing that Russia did not our interests. (Cheers). When they China, and that was in regard to the question hurt

he of tariffs. He thought that the Government complained of Russia, thought they ought to at once institute an inquiry as to how should look at home a little. Russia's posi it was possible that tariffs should be placed on tions, so far us she herself was concerned, British goods, directly against the treaties laid were very good, but they were perhaps not so down and agreed on with China. (Cheers), good so far as Great Britain was concerned That was

The fact was that Russia was only doing now what we had done ever since we had been an Empire. We had taken all the best positions we could get, and when we had them we did our best to hold on to them. And be thought we were quite right. (Laughter and cheers). But he did not think it lay well in British mouths

A MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION

and should be taken up at once in the interests of Britsh trade and commerce. There was an- ether point which came closely upon the tariffs and that was the question of transit dues. If

10

LABELLED

Ex

JOHN BULL.

12

present found other countries. (Cheers). He did believe that what they wanted was a strong, resolute, clear policy which was not only clear to ourselves the Great British Empire and its traders but was also perfectly clear to the rest of the world. They were very much more likely to drift into war because people did not understand what they were going to do. than if they laid down distinctly and clearly, firmly and courteously. what they intended to do and how they intended to do it. That was his view. As he said before, he did not think be had said any. thing except what perhaps might increase-if these plans were carried out-security for Bri- tish trade and commerce in China. He did not think that any gentleman there, no matter what nation he belonged to, could find any very ser- ous fault with the remarks he had made that evening. (Cheers). They were made honestly in the interests of peace and because he believed that all trade and commerce was hurt, and very And there was no materially hurt by war, doubt that the country that would be most hurt by war was the Empire of Great Britain. He

much very

for the way thanked them in which they had listened to his remarks, and he was very sorry that he could not stay longer. He was going away the next day in the P. & O. mail and he hoped to go to Peking, where he would lay his views before Sir Claude Macdonald and some members of the linese Government if possible. He be- lieved that at present they were all locked up (laughter), but with a little perseverance he hoped to get through the door and lay his views before that distinguished assembly. Then he hoped to go to Shangbai, where he hoped to get the views of the merchants, and then to Hongkong and perhaps return to Singapore on his way home. (Cheers). He must end tho few remarks he had made as he began them. He was perfectly aware that he was not a commercial man or a financial man. He was only a man with possibly a certain amount of common sense, and he was aware that it rested with the merchants and traders in this colony, in Hongkong, and in Shanghai, to put forward a definite policy, and what he could do to convey that to the British people and the Government And he was certain, if it was a he would do. clear policy and the merchants were entirely at one, that the British Government would have to do what those merchants required.

Lord Charles resumed his seat amidst loud and enthusiastic cheers.

STREET RAILWAYS FOR LONGKONG.

BY J DALZIEL,

PART. 1.

CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING, The completion of the Praya Reclamation will place at the disposal of the authorities a roadway along the water front of this city of ample width to accommodate any system of street rail or tram lines. The standing objection to supplying a long-suffering public with some civilised mode of locomotion-the narrowness of Queen's Road-will then be demolished; and a line along the present Praya would meet all re- quirements.

It would hardly be advisable to lay the lines

along the new Praya, as they might interfere