JTALY'S DESIGNS IN CHINA,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF WEIHAIWEI,
(Daily Press, 2nd August.)
[August 5, 1899.
nese. But the chances seem altogether | against its early surrendeven if it were eventually again giveu to China or Power for a more con-
That latest acquired of Great Britain's / exchanged with somed be no harm in
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seeking to develop its capabilities and pro- venient port, there
mote its welfare. We hope therefore that
before long regular means of communication will be established with Weihaiwei, that it will have its own military government, on the plan of Gibraltar, and including Post Office, Treasury, and Land fe," with a bustling and busy commercial community springing up under the shadow of its fortific-
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OVER THE NEW TERRITORY.
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(Daily Press, 29th July.) The arguments advanced by Mr. J. J. FRANCIS, Q.C., in his petition praying for the reprieve of the prisoners now lying under sentence of death for a murder com- mitted in the New Territory will be real with much astonishment. That the learned gentleman should have been able to give an appearance of plausibility to the ase he advances says much for his ingenuity, but that he should be taken in by his own easuistry or expect the Government or the public to be convinced thereby is most extraordinary. His contention is that English law and the Ordinances of Hong- kong do not run and cannot be made to run in the New Territory, that the territor remains Chinese, that the inhabitants are still Chinese subjects, that if a foreigner committed a crime there he would be sub ject only to his own authorities and would, have to be tried under the extraterritoriality system prevailing in China by agreement with the Treaty Powers, and that British jurisdiction is “limited to the necessities of "defence and protection,"- -none of which propositions, we think, will commend thems selves to the acceptance of the intelligent render.
(Daily Press, 3rd August.) It would appear, by the message sent out by Reater on the 81st ultimo, that Italian colonies, Weihaiwei, seems to be suffering, designs in China have been deferred only, like the Kowloon New Territory from a want not abandoned, as most persons believed. of energy and enterprise in the administra- The Italian Government, having presumably tion. The fault, as in our own case, lies got over the rebuff which met their first originally and mainly with the home Go advances, have concluded to try again. It verument, who will not allow a loan to be is noteworthy that of the squadron recently Issued for the development of the Kowloon sent out to these waters not a single vessel Territory, and who, at Weihaiwei, seem to has been ordered to return to Italy, and restrict the occupation of the place as much now we are told that the cruisers Vesuvich as possible to the establishment of a garri-ations. and Carlo Alberta are being despatched to son on the island of Luikungtao. A vote China to reinforce that squadron. The has been granted by Parliament for the Tribuna also states that the Italian Govern- maintenance of a small garrison and for the MR. FRANCIS AND BRITISH RIGHTS ment intend to secure a settlement of the construction of such fortifications as appear question. This is to be done by the pre- to be absolutely necessary, but beyond this sentation of demands at an opportune British interest in this new Ultima Thule moment with instructions to obtain com- of the Empire seems to languish. There is pliance therewith whatever the attitude not even a British Post Office in the colony, of China may be. In other words, an and the residents are almost entirely depen- ultimatum is to be presented at some dent upon the Chinese Imperial Post, which time when China is pressed, and is to carries the bulk of its correspondence. he persisted in at all hazards, including a Burely there might be a branch of the resort to hostilities if necessary. This is Hongkong Post Office established in this frank at any rate. It remains to be seen new possession if it is impracticable to open how far Italy has the support of the great a local office. Then, as to means of con- Powers. She has the good wishes and sym- munication until some enterprising stean- pathy of Great Britain, but it is doubtful ship Company can be got to call at Weihai- whether that feeling would go beyond the wei, the storeship Humber might be sent expression of mere good will.” One thing is there with a certain amount of regularity, certain. China can now command little and carry the mails on from Hongkong and support, as she has neither the wish to do back again. Efforts should also be made to justice to those she has wronged nor the open up some trade in produce, and this power to protect her own subjects or preserve surely might be accomplished even if it order in her territory. Moreover, she has were done partly at the expense of Chefoo. shown the cloven foot too often of late to As a free port Weihaiwei should possess English merchants and financiers to engage several advantages over the adjacent Treaty much sympathy, which would indeed be very Port, aud if once ships can be got to call much misplaced. If Italy wants a port in there it should not be so very ifficult to China, why, let her have it. Such a attract a measure of the Shantung export port would no doubt become one more trade thither. The beginnings of trade in centre of energy and enterprise in Hongkong were very insignificant, and it an empire the Government of which is was years before the Colony really began always secretly struggling to set back the to flourish. Indeed, Mr. MONTGOMERY clock. It would no doubt be a free port, MARTIN made a report upon its prospects and from it new efforts would be made to in most lugubrious vein, and ended up by open up trade with the vast unopened in strongly recommending the abandonment terior of the Central Kingdom. Italy is, and, of the island altogether. It is fortunate we think, will always be, England's friend, that this advice, most earnestly given, was and the more interests that can be created not accepted. The position of Weihaiwei, in the Further East the greater will become from a commercial point of view, cannot be the common wish of all Powers to keep the compared to that of Hongkong, but there "Let them all come theu. Let is no reason to doubt that, if fair play be Austria follow suit. Let Holland, with given to it, the northern port may in time her prudent and thrifty sons, come to this attract to itself some trade. This can never city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue end of the old world and acquire a stake. happen, however, unless and until the port Let the United States found in the Philip-is brought into regular communication with to exercise jurisdiction.”. The word "does not necess- pines the nucleus of a great and growing the rest of the world. If, for instance, the "jurisdiction," he says, commerce, which shall include trade with P. and O. steamers carrying the mails to "arily imply the power to make or China. If the French, or the Russians, or Japan could be subsidised to call in at "alter laws. It is far more frequently the Germans object to other Powers follow- Weihaiwei with mails, in all probability. applied in the more limited sense of ing their example and obtaining a lease of cargo would soon follow. Let communica administering the law, and that the nature territory, from whence to consolidate their tion only be first established and we believe" of the arrangement made between Her influence and protect their trade, why, they that trade would quickly succeed. It will Majesty's Government and the Govern must do so, but they will at most only protest be argued, no doubt, by the British Gov- ment of the Empire of China for a lease 'instead of a concession necessitates the against the step; they will not actively oppose ernment that this subsidy would not pay; it, Italy has prudently waited until the first that the results would be so small that more restrained signification.” As to the outburst of surprised and virtuous indigna- it would not be worth while; but is provision with reference to Kowloon city, tion at her proposed demand has subsided; this really the fact? Other nations find the correct inference to be drawu there- she is now preparing to carry her resolve, that it pays to subsidise steamship lines from is that the jurisdiction retained by to open communications where they do not the Chinese officials covored the right of exist, and why should it not prove ulti-making or altering the laws, not merely mately remunerative. At present, the the right of administering them, for it The following notification is published in the British Government is not in the mood to cannot be supposed that the intention Tovernment Gaestte-His Excellency the Go- sow seed that another administration may | to prohibit all amendment of the laws for a mor desires to express his warm appreciation reap the harvest, which is a pity. It is, of period of ninety-nine years however much the public spirit shown by the following tlemen-Chesney Duncan, Gershom Stew.couse, quite possible that Lord SALISBURY the circumstances might change during that C. H. Gale, P.. G. Law. W. Nagel, E, and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Duty not feel suf- period. As to “the nature of the arrange- Iphs, who offered, their services in connection | ficiently clear as to the future of Weihaiwei, | "ment made between Her Majesty's Cov ith the suppression of the plague, which it is that they may still be in doubt as to theerament and the Government of the tappily, now unnecessary to accept owing to permanence of the British occupation of the Emperor of China," that the jurisdiction the decrease of the epidemic.
stronghold so lately vacated by the Japa- conferred upon Her Majesty was not to
pence,
into effect.
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The intention of both Great Britain and China was that in the ceded territory British jurisdiction should com pletely supplant Chinese, a reservation (since set aside) being made only with respect to Kowloon city. But Mr. FRANCIS says the word "jurisdiction" is used in the sense of administering not making laws. The learned gentleman bases his contention ou an inference from the following provision of the agreement, namely, that “within the
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