January 7, 1899.1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
iden that a Minister's duty here is not only to hostile tariff put against us. You must remem- regard to the future, are. Now, sir, with
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purposes.
sion is a commercial r
you know, my mis- peaceful mission, but one or t
mission, and therefore a or two of my critics
his mission is commercial?" I most respect have said, "What does he talk politics for when fully submit that it is absolutely impossible for from the commercial questions of the future. you to separate the political question of to-day Upon what your political thought is now will depend your commercial future, whether it is successful or a failure. Therefore it is absurd to talk only of shirtings and samples and trousers buttons.
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think that that is quite fair or chivalrous. Sir | fere with a commercial enterprise, and therefore | threatened, and they are threatened certainly Claude is the first Minister who has grasped the the door is just as shut as if there was a most if things go on as think of diplomatic arrangements but of tradeber we have in the Treaty of Tientsin got and commerce as well, and he is a man who has equal rights with other nations in all parts of worked as hard as any man could work in the China. Those equal rights do not exist at this interests of the trade of Great Britain. (Hear, moment in Manchuria where the Russians have hear.) Sir Claude is after all but the accredited this military domination. agent of Great Britain. He is not responsible. the military domination, when the Russians are With regard to The Cabinet at home is responsible (Hear, ready, when they have their bases of supply, hear) and the proper people to find fault with when they have a great many troops there. are undoubtedly in my opinion the Cabinet; and there is no reason in the world why they should for this resson: the Cabinet can defend them-
not put on a tariff. It is always wise to judge selves, the Cabinet can give reasons for their of events which are coming by what has pre- policy if the British community find fault with coded in history. If in the ease of Merve and that policy, whilst Sir Claude MacDonald has no Batoum the Russians had taken up their right of reply, and has no method whatever of positions at once there would certainly have arguing against those who argue with him. There- been war, but they waited and did it after fore the proper people to censure are the Cabinet. the British people had calmed down. There Possibly you may think as I am an Irishman has been something said about the railway and would be against authority in any event- the Russians are making from Nowchwang. (Laughter)--that that is the reason I make I explained to the people of Shanghai that the that remark, but it is not so. Governments are Russians were ignoring the Customs. That created to be criticised, and no Government in was a thing I saw with my own eyes. Steamers the world, however strong, can carry out mea- came in and passed the Customs Honse and sures involving an entire change of policy discharged their material at the Russian wharf, or which might lead to war, unless they and the Customs Horse officials were ordered that the communities and the great not to interfere. The Customs House officials electorate are behind them. (Hear.. hear.) do not go on board at all. I hold that as the Therefore, I say the proper people to send Maritime Customs are part of the security for resolutions to, and to censure, are the Cabinetand what Germany and England have lent to China | not your minister, who is doing his best under that security should not be interfered with. It difficult circumstances. But let me bring this is said the Chinese will do the same thing with home to your minds by an incident in my own regard to other lines, but the Russian railway country. There was a certain landlord who in Manchuria is essentially being made with ordered what we call a banging gale" of Russian capital for strategical rents that all the rents on his property. There is no trade there at present, but the other were to be doubled. The agent wrote back railway which the Banking Corporation has that if he carried out his landlord's orders provided the capital for is a Chinese railway for he would be shot, to which the landlord trade-altogether a different matter-and the replied, "Please inform my tenants that if Chinese railway for trade reverts to the Chinese they think they are going to terrify me Government in, I think, 35 years, but the Rus. by shooting you they are very much mistaken." sian railway does not revert to the Chinese (Laughter). Now, Sir, I do not modify at all the Government until the end of 80 years, and I views I ventured to express at Shanghai. From don't suppose many of us will live to see whether my point of view we have two dangers in the it does or does not at that date. There is future with regard to the security of our trade another point about this Russian domination in and commerce-one is the dominant military the north. We ought to ask ourselves, what are all position taken up in the north by Russia, and these enormous preparations in Manchuria for? the other is the effete condition of the Chinese Not to protect trade, because there is no trade. Government. When I speak of the dominaut Anyone can see what are the claims and aims position of Russia in the north I speak of what of Russia, and I do say that we should say what Iknow and of what I myself saw, and if a foreing
our claims are and what our aims are. There country takes up certain strong positions with is no necessity for any antagonism to Russia, regard to what they think necessary for their there is no necessity in the world to make use own people, it is for us to see that they do of irritating language; but there is every nothing which hurts the interest of our people. necessity to put down a clear and definite (Hear, hear.) I think if I was a Russian I policy in the most courteous way and to let should do exactly what the Russians are doing Russia know what we think of the future, and only I should do a great deal more. I am not how we are prepared to support what we think. at all sure I should not have been in Peking That, hold, is not an irritating line to pursue; before now, and I am absolutely certain the it is not an aggravating line, but an honest Russians will be in Peking before very long, statesmanlike line, and I do say with regard to when once they have secured their military the policy enunciated by certain members of positions, if they find no more remonstrance or our Government at home with regard to the opposition than they do at present from the affairs in the north, that it is much better other great countries of Europe. There was
to do as I say to be courteous and put one thing telegraphed home with regard to down something definite and do something some remarks I made at Shanghai which was than it is
be irritating and telegraphed incorrectly.
do It said I remarked nothing. (Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I have been that the open door was being everywhere closed called anti-Russian. I entirely demur to that. against us. I never said anything so foolish, I am no more anti-Russian than anti-anything or so untrue. What I did say with regard else. I am perfectly friendly with the Russians, to the policy of the open door and British and I have the greatest admiration for their trade in Manchuria was that it was worse for diplomacy, for whenever they have met us in our countrymen and our traders to have a com- diplomacy they have invariably beaten us. What mercial enterprise interfered with-not to be their methods are I do not care to enquire. allowed to conduct commercial enterprises- I am not at all anti-Russian; but I am pro- than it was to put on tariffs or preferential British, and when I see things which may en- rates. If another country puts on a tariff the danger our trade and commerce in the future I British trader knows where he is. It goes like to state in the most courteous way, but in a into his profit and loss account but eventual- broad, plain, and honest way, what I think ly falls on to the consumer. He can go may happen in the future if we do not do any on trading, but if a merchant is stopped thing. (Hear, hear.) I am not one of those who altogether, I say the door is shut more firmly believe in the security of our trade and com- than if you put on a traiff, and I cited the merce unless we bare that defence which is Shanhaikwan-Newchwang Railway. As you adequate to meet whatever may occur in the know our Government told the Russian Gov-future with regard to other nations. (Hear, ernment they would not be allowed to interfere hear.) Another point in regard to this ques- with
any commercial enterprise which British tion of the Russian occupation, or military merchants might undertake, but the Russian domination. I read in one paper that I was Government did interfere, and they said we very indiscreet and that I ought not to say should not have the security for the line such things, but I think you will agree with which went beyond Shanhaikwan. That me that it is always best to tell the truth right was a direct interference with a commer- out. You need not be discourteous. (Hear cial enterprise, and I hold here, as I have held hear.) It is not indiscreet to tell the truth, before, that the British Government should not more particularly when the great trading and have allowed the Russian Government to inter-commercial interests of this country may be
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(Laughter). Upon the political question depends the whole future of the trade and commerce of this country—certainly indisputably as far as Germany, Japan, and as far as Great Britain is concerned, and America are concerned. (Hear, hear.) Now, sir, there are only three policies open in the future. One is the polioy of the open door, another is the policy of the sphere of influence, and the other is the policy of drift. I believe cial alliance between America, Germany, and the door can be kept open by having a commer- Japan and ourselves. I mention these countries because each one of these countries has the same interests that we have. It is just as important door should be maintained as it is for the British for everyone of these countries that the open merchants. Therefore let us keep together. The British nation cannot fight for the open door by itself, but it could very well ally itself with these three countries. You know what occurred in Europe when Germany, Austria, and Italy formed an alliance the basis of which was the Europe for 29 years. That is absolutely certain. peace of Europe; they kept the peace of (Hear, hear.) Whether that alliance if tested. by war would have succeeded or not is not the point. The point is that the alliance was based for 29 years. The greatest interest we can hold on a definite object, and it attained that object is the interest of peace. have an alliance of the same sort here. Ameri- Why should we not
bounds, and she must have an open door. Japan ca's trade with China has gone up by leaps and certainly wants population and ber
an open door because her enormously in Korea. If the door is shut in trade are increasing Manoharia it is not very unreasonable suppose it would be shut in Korea, then there is the great empire of Germany. The Germans must have an open met have been most friendly and sympathetic door in this country, and the Germans I have
cousuls and on this question. When I have asked both their their traders Germans have said to me,
"Your great country opened out the trade of China. You made our trade possible first, and we ought to support door a definite and determined policy in the you in trying to keep this policy of the open whole of China." (Hear, hear.) Well, then, that is the first and foremost suggestion I would make to you, but then that would be no use because, as a friend of mine said to me to-day, it is no use having an open door unless you have the house in order inside. You must have what is the basis of security of all trade and commerce, the basis of life and content. ment, which is only to be provided by an efficient military
and an efficient police throughout the country. Yon know very well what the state of the Chinese army and police is at this moment. I knew it was bad. Some of you know it is bad, but I never had the shadow of a suspicion that it was as bad as I found it. They absolutely have nothing at this moment. in the whole of this empire. They have no navy, their ships are not worthy the name, and of their armies there is only one army of 7,000 men that is at all properly trained in the whole of this gigantic population of four hundred million people. That is not enough to preserve life and property. The first thing for the alliance to do would be to induce the Chinese Govern ment to organise their army on suitable methods and suitable grounds, Since I have been in China I have seen everyone of the armies, arsenals, dockyards, forts, ships, and naval and military schools of China and found them in a deplorable state. Lord Beres- ford, continuing, gave instances of this and said that with the same budget, if waste was obviated, he was of opinion that an
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