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January 14, 1899.|
As regards Lord Charles's appeal for the chivalrons treatment of China, it is only a proposal for a continuation of that foolish, weak policy inaugurated and maintained by the three notable Irishmen mentioned before, the first of whom, like Lord Charles, was well intentioned but who greviously erred. The two latter de- serve no consideration for they only served their own ends and conserved their own interests.
Finally, as to the open door, Eugland by the allotment of spheres, as above, would, whilst not receiving as large an area of territory as other Powers, get that in which is centred 90 per cent of China's trade and as a free trade country would bold it in the interests of the world, till such time as a strong rative administration could be established there. Russia would receive an immense area for colonization by her surplus European population. Germany would, like Russia, receive a great area which is capable of development by her own people, and the wrongly named Desert of Gobi (for it is an extensive prairie capable of cul- tivation but at prese..t occupied by a pastoral people) would be converted into a land of farms and the valley of the Yellow River would no longer be afflicted with floods, for the river guided in a suitable channel should be a high- way for commerce. France would get a great expansion of her Indo-China Empire. She would not be satisfied, but that would be a trifling matter, as she never is. Japau's aspira. tions would be satisfied likewise, and all would probably agree to waive special tariffs in their new possessions; if not, England and the world' need not care, with 90 per cent. of the trade open to all on equal terms.
WIDEAWAKE.
Hongkong, 9th January, 1899,
I have omitted to mention that Germany, as a great military power, would have no fear of Russian aggression and would bar further Rus- sian advance, for should Russia seek to over- whelm her in the Far East Germany would strike a fatal blow to Russia in Europe. land would, or should, support her in Chius.
Eug-
10 THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
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SIE-In your leading article on my letter under the above heading you point out two in accuracies; first in crediting Lord Charles with saying that there was no trade in Man churia, and second, in saying that France had successfully defeated a concession for a British railway between Cauton and Kowloon. In looking over the report of Lord Charles's speech, now lying before me, I find that the wording is as follows: "It is said the Chinese will do the same thing, but the Russian railway in Manchuria is essentially being made with Russian capital for strategical purposes. There 18 no trade there at present." In the above it does not state that "there is no Russian trade at present," the words are There is no trade there at present." It is possible that his Lord. ship meant to say Russian trade," but he did not say what he meant. if that was so. Assum- ing. however, that such was his intention he is again astray, for surely no one will deny that railway material comes under the head of trade. It must likewise be remembered that Russia does a big caravan trade with China, via Mon- golia, and it would be but natural for her to avail berself of the quicker and cheaper trans- port by rail for this traffic, which will of course ba diverted, in due course, to the Manchurian route. We pride ourselves on opening up new markets and developing old ones. Surely we will allow Russia credit for her attempts iu the same direction. Are we not going to "live and let live as regards her effor's to open up trade routes ? There was no overland trade between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America before the trans-continental railways were built; the railways made the traffic, both in goods and passengers.
As to the second inaccuracy in my letter, the concession to build the Canton-Kowloon rail- way had practically been granted when France intervened, and it has not come off. he state ment "And when the railway in question is undertaken it will be as a British enterprise" is good enough to cover up a defeat to British diplomacy, another indication of the want of backbone in the British Ministry at home. The bare fact remains that the French Minis- ter in Peking sat on the concession and, for the time being, quashed it,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
You next pas over the general attack on China's Irish advisers, saying it may be taken for what it is worth. Possibly it is a matter whichwill not stand too much investigation. so it may be left at that. Facts are often unpalatable.
FORMOSA:
35
Professor W. K. Burton writes as follows from Taihoku (Taipeh):-
in
We are doing fairly well as regards improve. You then assume that my strong advocacyments here, in the north. I have been unable for spheres or influence is a plea for direct to see any other part of the country, for I have annexation. I clearly say in my letter that spent the whole of the time since mid-summer Britain should control her sphere till a strong here, except for a day or two now and then native government could be established there, the hospital-a most excellent, and well built That is not annexation. Finally, in speaking and well organized hospital, but only one storey of the proposition I put forward, you say that high and situated in the middle of a great swamp! the item in the receipt for cooking a hare And this is perhaps the most malarial place in first catch your hare-should be remembered. the world. I do not know who is responsible Well, that item is equally applicable to the for the site. I fear it was Dr. Goto, whe was united effort proposed for supporting the in- here before I came for the first time... tegrity of China, possibly more so.
I have been down with Formosan fever," which is bad, with acute inflammatory rhenma- tism which is worse, and with dysentry, which is worst of all. Of 12 of us who were attacked with dysentry in the hospital at the same time, I am the only one alive.
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It cannot be too strongly pointed out that the marking out of spheres of influence does not necessitate the closing of doors to trade, but it undoubtedly is a better guarantee for the main. tenance of order. in the house than that all should be responsible for the whole of China. "What is everybody's business is nobody's business" is a proverb very applicable to such state of affairs as would result from au attempt to control China under the united direction of Europe, Japan and America. One might certainly then look out for squalls." As for making the Chinese patient obey the pumerous doctors' orders, how is it going to be done?
Я
WIDEAWAKE.
Hongkong, 11th January, 1899.
P.S.-The case of Egypt is not applicable to China, for there England acts alone and has full powers.
H.M.S.
"C
WOODCOCK.”
This light-draft twin-screw gunboat, of which we (N. C. Daily News) gave full particulars at the time of her christening, went for her steam trial on the 29th Deceniber. The party on board consisted of Commander Cochran, R N., Lieut. Forbes, R.N., etc., H.M.S. Phoenix, Lieut. Watson, R.N., and Dr. Keith, R.N., of the Woodcock, Mr. Guyer, who has been putting her together, Mr. Mobsby, the pilot, and a few invited guests. They left the Phenix at 8.45 a.m. in the Fuyun for Tunkadoo, and at once went on board the new craft, which will be completely ready iu about ten days' time. Cast off from the pontoon at Tunkadoo at 9.45 a.m., attended by the Fuyun, and steamed rapidly against a strong and bitterly cold wind to Woosung, passing the Red Buoy at 11.25 a.m Duffel coats were now served out from the ship's stores and found most comforting. Steamed a short distance up the Yangtsze, taking advantage of the opportunity to try the two six-inch guns and two of the Maxims. For the following particulars we are indebted to the kindness of Mr. Guyer :-Revolutions, 300 per minute; Steam 135 lbs.; Vacuum, 26.25" inches; Low-pressure receiver pressure, 38 lbs.; Air-pressure in stoke-hole equal to 1.25 in. of water. I be vessel's draft was 2 feet forward and 1 foot 6 inches aft, mean I foot 9 inches, there baving been no time to put her in proper trim. She was thus down by the head, and she holds a terrible quantity of wind, not withstanding which she made 12.6 knots, her speed on trial at home, in best trim, and with no wind, having been 13.6 knots. She made a complete circle under full steam in about 24 times her own length, 145 feet. There was very little vibration when she was going at full speed, and though there was quite sea enough in the Yangtsze to thoroughly test her, not a joint or a rivet showed a sign of leaking, everything working perfectly. On the return voyage she anchored at Woosung for an hour, when an excellent tiffin, provided by the kindness of Captain Cochran, was very much enjoyed by all hands, who were only kept from freezing by the geniality of the funnel. The journey from Woosung to Tankadoo was made very quickly, with fair wind and tide, and after the Woodcock had been made fast again to the pontoon, the party returned to Shanghai in the Fuyun. Although the weather was atrocious the temperature that of the Arctic regions the trip was very much enjoyed, and proved beyond a doubt the thoronghi fitness of the Woodcock for river work in China,
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This city (intramural) is likely to become a model city. It is difficult to imagine it the same place that I first saw nearly three years ago, when, in spite of w.de principal streets, it was squalid and filthy, the main thoroughfares used: 8 markets for all kinds of indescribable and stinking abominations, the side walks (covered) unusable for their proper purpose as every shop-keeper displayed his goods on the part of the pavement forming the frontage of his shop. The eternal shouting and screeching and chattering of Chinese as they tried to make bargains was quite awful.
Now it is a decent, clean, Japanese town. The Chinese, except for coolies, mostly jinriki- sha
men, have simply gone. It is difficult to say why, for so pressure was put on them. Per- haps it was because they were offered very good prices for their property; perhaps, be- cause they resented the regulations about markets in the street, und the monopoly of the side walks (a remarkably good site being given them for a market place just outside the walls); perhaps because of strict vetoes against throw- ing garbage indiscriminately into the streets &c., &c.; perhaps, because they could not exist away from what seems their natural pigginess, By the way, all pigs get the order of the sack! They have, for the most part, withdrawn them- selves to Banka (or Manka), now a suburb which might well be called the Old Town," as it existed under the name Banka, or Mauka, long before Taipeh became the capital. Of all the many Chinese towus I have seen it is about the most squalid and filthy. The Japanese have been tinkering at it, but with little effect, and 1 think I gave good advice three years ago when I said that it was hopeless; that there was nothing to be done but to destroy it, com- pensating the proprietors (as has been done in Hongkong, in places) and then looking to do something in the way of establishing a "New Banka."
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In the city there are several imposing, if not very beautiful buildings, notably the Post Office (which would-or should-make that of Tokyo blush with shame), the meteorological observa- tory and the hospital-albeit it is only one story high: There is an efficient sewerage system constructed on scientific principles. If Dr. Goto can carry out his loan scheme, -next year will see the beginning of a splendid modern water supply system. Streets are being made that would shame Tokyo-though that is saying mighty little. We have a road-roller.. It is a legacy from the Chinese. It had been bought, I presume, for the sake of a “squeeze that some official could make, for I understand that through several years never once did the wheels go round." When I discovered it, it appeared to be in a pitiably hopeless condition, half buried in the ground. I was surprised, however, to find ou examination that no organic disease could be diagnosed, so we got her ont of the mud and had her repaired, and now she marches up and down the street proudly accom- panied and followed by a vast shouting rabble, mostly children.
Macadam is well enough known bere, though Telford is not despised. The streets are being made of broken stones graduated over a stratum of shingle, no gravel being used except as top- dressing-a mere sprinkling of very small stuff.. I think this will turn ont model streets, but of course it will take a year or two to know,
b238།།ཀློ་དག་ན་གར་ཚུག་པ་དག་494et!
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