army of 200,000 men might be maintained. The Viceroys he had seen had approved of his suggestions for, reorganizing the army, but had maintained there was no money to carry them out The whole system of the administration should be reformed by the adequate payment of the officials. There were seven collectorates in the Yangtaze Valley alone in which the likin had been allocated to pay the interest on the foreign loans and Lord Charles showed this was likely to cause disturbance because there was no money to carry on the provincial Governments, which made the positions of the higher officials very arduous and made them look to the future with fear. Speak ing of the sphere of influence policy Lord Charles pointed out that if we went in for a sphere of influence. France, Russia, Germany, America, and Japan would go in for the same thing, and the inevitable result of that would be that we should have to use
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British troops and have to expend British money at first, and the inevitable result would be that tariffs would be put on, and our trade and commerce would certainly not be in as good a position as if we had the open door. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to the demands of the French consul in Shanghai, Lord Charles said that i persisted in it must cause riots among the Chinese. The French wanted to take the whole
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
paying an additional £100 to the Consul Gen- eral at Shanghai to act as a sort of commercial attaché, and by supporting a test case about the a area of exemption at Canton, where a British trader was to establish a store outside the con- cession in order to test the position. His Lordship, in conclusion, asked for a chivalrous policy towards China on the one hand and towards the European Powers on the other, abandoning any policy of irritating criticism and jealous interference with other foreign powers in China. He called for such resolu tions on the part of the British communities in China as would strengthen the hands of his mission, and he closed with an assurance that whatever question was brought to his notice by any public body or individual would be submitted by him to the Cabinet for consideration. (Loud applause).
a
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[January 7, 1899.
were seeking outlets for their capital factures. On that fact he looked material factor, those four nations, together for the open door, might not for the moment, but that they would ultimately he was convinced. (Loud applause).
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necessity for courteous treatment to the other
LORD BERESFORD replied, again urging thức powers in China.
The CHAIEMAN brought the proceedings to a close by calling for three cheers for Lord Charles Beresford, which were given most heartily, with one more.”
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LORD CHARLES BERESFORD AT THE NAVY LEAGUE
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On Tuesday night the Hongkong Branch of the Navy League entertained Lord Charles Beresford at dinner in St. George's Hall. The President of the Branch, Commander W. CH. Hastings, R.N. (retired), occupied the chair, and amongst the company of about a hundred and fifty who sat down were H.E. the Governor, H, E. Major-General Gascoigne, Major Sir John Car- rington (Hongkong Volunteer Corps), Hon, H. E. Pollock, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. T. Jackson, Mr. A. P. MacEwen, Colonel Elsdale, R.E.. Mr. H. A. Ritobie, Mr. R. M. Gray, Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., and Mr. M. W. Šlade, Hon. Secretary to the Branch. The dinnerwa provided by Messrs. Madar and Farmer. special menu card had been prepared from a design by Mr. H. W. Bird, the principal feature being a blue jacket standing at the charge, with a scroll stating the occasion of the gather- ing, "H.M.S. Condor" appearing above Lord Charles Beresford's name. The Band of HMS.
Mr. GRANVILLE SHARP proposed a vote of thanks to Lord Charles Beresford. Before doing so he made a speech of considerable length. Referring to Lord Charles Beresford's visit, be said there were many who held the opinion that before any member was returned to parliament he ought to have travelled at least once round the world. (Laughter and ap- plause). He then dealt with the blockade of the harbour of Hongkong by the Chinese re- Chinese Bund where the Chinese had expended venue cruisers, which were, he said, inflicting some fifty million dollars, which was illuminated injury, wrong and mischief to British trade in with electricity, and which was one of the few
a way that could never be fairly understood. instances where the Chinese had commenced Dealing with the presence in Hongkong of a great commercial enterprise and had succeeded. the Imperial Maritime Customs, he reminded The French Consul wanted to take over the whole the meeting that Hongkong as a part of Bund from the native town. He must say he free trade country, was indeed a free port, and thought the demand outrageous, and he did not yet we tolerated the presence of an institution believe the great French nation could know which was entirely hostile to free trade. He anything about it. It was not right that in a
trusted this was a question that would be taken cosmopolitan community such as Shanghai one
up by Lord Charles Beresford on his return to part of that community should create dis- England. He agreed with all that his lordship turbances which they would do if their had said with regard to the people of China. The demands were granted--which would jeopardise people of China were good, but the rulers of the lives and property of the whole of the rest the Chinese people were
(laughter and The one pressing and immediate of the community, and he therefore hoped the Ppplause).,
need of China was, he ventured to say, railways. other consuls would stick very strongly to the
These railways would be a great power for protests which they had made to their Govern-
peace and reformation in China. He would ments with regard to the French 'action at
how conclude by proposing a vote of thanks Shanghai. (Hear, hear.) Reverting to the sug
to Lord Charles, whose views he hoped would gested re-organisation of the Chinese army, with perhaps British officers, Lord Charles added that be realised. One thing had certainly been realised. They had been brought nearer to the we must have a quid pro quo. We must have a revision of the tariff. We must take up the home country by such agency as that of Lord whole fiscal system of the coautry, which as the tance that divided us. They wanted to keep
Charles Beresford. (Applause). It was our dis Chairman had pointed out militated against more in touch with home, and they wanted the the traders. We must have some understand- ing that the country is to be opened up-that people at home to understand more about Chins. Lord Charles had rightly spoken mò- any country can send its engineers and capital destly of his acquaintance of a month or two to open up the latent resources of the country with China. Sir Thomas Wade, after 40 years, | gentlemen, I thank
said “1 know nothing of China." He begged heartily and cordially to propose a vote of thanks to Lord Charles Beresford for having taken the labour and toil and given up his time to study the Chinese question on the spot, and they hoped much from his great influence for their representation of their case. (Applause),
If the Chinese did not do this very soon
they would be in a position of poverty, for in another five or six years they would have no money whatever. With regard to the throw ing open of the water-ways, they had not been thrown open in a satisfactory way. The water ways would not be satisfactorily thrown open to the nations of Europe until Europeans had a right of residence in the country, and until they had a different system of allowing those boats which were registered in a certain port to pass any port to go to a destination. (Hear, hear. We should send gunboats up these water-ways--not at all with the idea of frighten- ing the Viceroy, and the Viceroy had told him he would be very glad to have these ganboats up the rivers. Another thing that might be dealt with was the scientific classification of the products such as had been done in India. On the subject of non-respect of treaty obligations by China, he reminded his hearers that a treaty was not only between two Governments but was a contract between the British Govern ment and the British merchants, and therefore every point should be kept. China was not over:taxed, but badly taxed. The reform of China would not be difficult, because there were no hereditary rights, no vested interests, no endal system to consider as was the case in Japan. The Chinese had a great reverence for authority and were honest traders, and these were factors that should tell in favour of reform in the administrative system, for it was the system more thau the people that was bad. He was glad to see that the British Government
Centurion was in attendance and played selec tions during the evening. Lord Charles Beres- ford made two important speeches, buth which were marked by passages of humour, and the other speeches were all good, especially one made by the Hon. H. E. Pollock in replying to the toast of the Navy Leagué,“
The toast of The Queen having been loyally honoured.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, in rising to propose the health of His Excellency the Governor I feel I am voicing your gratification- when I say how pleased we are that Sir Henry practically, the first public function, certainly Blake has honoured us witli his presence at this, the first dinner, of the Hongkong Branch of the Navy League. Gentlemen, the
health of His Excellency Sir Henry Blake. (Applause,)-
Sir HENRY BLAKE said—Mr. Chairman and hearty manner
you very much for the the proposal of my health. As your Chair- which you have received man has said, this is the first occasion
on
which 1, have appeared at a public function in Hongkong. I am at the present moment undergoing the pleasant experience
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of the honeymoon of a Governor, when every- Mr. THOMAS JACKSON seconded. They all thing is expected of him and when he has owed a debt of gratitude to Lord Charles Beres- not had much time to disclose his various de ford for going so thoroughly into this question. fects I only hope that as time goes on yon He had been good enough to locate himself in will not feel as John Brown did of his wife, a temporary office next door (the Hongkong. Before he was married he felt that he could Bank), and he could assure them, from personal have eaten her, and ever after he was sorry he observation, that Lord Charles had not eaten hadn't. (Laughter.) Up to the present moment the bread of idleness during his stay in Hong. I need hardly tell you there has been no oppor- kong. Occasionally his lordship had asked him tunity of telling whether I can or can not do questions, but he might have saved himself the any good for this colony. There are certain trouble, for he knew pretty well the answers to questions awaiting development, and when we all the questions that were put. Lord Charles have decided where the Jubilee Road is to run was a thorough advocate of the open door, a fair(laughter)-and the Lying-in Hospital to field and no favour to all those who come to trade be situated; built a post-office with the re- with China, and not only that, he wanted a well- quirements necessary in a civilized community ordered house inside. He had pointed out the remedy he wanted the country properly po- liced, a standing army, the retrenchment of the public funds, which ought to be well spent. (Applause). There was one thing they most of all rejoiced at, and that was England was no onger regarded as the great selfish, big bully of the world wanting everything for herself. England was the first great manufacturing country, with a great deal of capital at her dis- posal, more perhaps than the ordinary share, and she
(laughter and applause) a Supreme Court in which the Judges may sit with safely. (renewed laughter)—and made roads over which the youth of Hongkong may ride paper chases from Kowloon to Sham Chiun, I hope to be able to come before you, when we may congra- tulate each other upon having done something I assure you that I am most anxions to do whatever I can for the good of the colony. (Applause) I will not detain you longer. I know that you are all most anxious to hear esford may have to say to you in connectiou Navy League, and as you listen to his words you may rest assured that the asme deter
was realising the importance of our position in Now ad naturally to seek foreign markets. | what my noble friend Lord Charles
Chine, by raising a garrison for Weihaiwei, sending out: commercial attaché instead of
countries had increased their capital and come to the front as manufacturing powers, notably America, Germany, and Japan, and they
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