February 10, 1900.j
wion of the EMPEROR, and it was a fact well'| known that she would look with displeasure on any attempt to use personal violence. This position of affairs doubtless had its in- fluence in stiff ning the viceroys; at all events the two most powerful, CHANG CHI- TUNG and LIU KWEN-YI, expressed their dissatisfaction, and the EMPERSS Dowager, doubting her ability, and finding threats and persuasion both equally ineffective, dropped for the time the farther execution of her plan. Circumstances. however, fav oured her. LIU KWEN-YI, the Viceroy at Nanking, had passed the age usually meted out evin to n Viceroy in China and only, a sense of duty kept him at his post. The Inission of KANG-YI, sent to extort contri-
CHINA OVERLAND TRÅDE REPORT.
revolution at Peking, it behoves us to warn' | we send a large army to Africa guns are our English confreres that the interests forgotten, and we find the enemy better pro- concerned are far more than the substitution vided than ourselves. Now there in every of a Pur Sing for a KUANGSU, and concern sign that our next war will be in or about the very existence of China as a state, and the Pacific, and we may fairly ask have we the continuance of our prestege and our made any preparation ?"We have a fine navy influence in Eastern Asia,
but is this all we want ?. For our own navy to be effective we require stations where it may refit and coal. We have the stations, but are they fit? and will not the navy find that its work will be cut out in protecting the even for a month unprotected by the fleet? stations? Is Singapore fit to stand a siege I not our own Hongkong mainly dependent for fleet, we take it, other than lying on our ships of war. There are UROS still, and permitting our ports to be block-
THE OPEN DOOR.
(Daily Press, 7th February.) the United States in regard to establishing The information concerning the action of the policy of the "Open Door" in China, From the news cabled to the Far East from is not so definite as many would wish. London many inclined to the belief that the
butions from the provinces, convinced her United States Government had made some | nded, but unless we vastly augment our that their was no man of sufficient inde. / official statement in connection with the fleet, or fortify own stations, this seems
pendence of character prepared to resist her demands, and CHANG CHI-TUNG, finding himself alone, permitted himself to be con- act on KANG-YI's report and recall LIU to verted. All that was require then was to Peking, to leave the coast clear and this
matter. Such has not been the case. The in Washington of two London morning news emanated from the correspondents
unofficial papers, who obtained their in- information does not carry the weight of an formation from sources. Consequently the
we find the same negleet rampant. Look sailors: When me look' away from Chinn, likely to be the only prospect before our
at Sydney, or at Esquimault for instance, are these important naval centres any better thun Hongkong or Singapore? Have either
even a gunboat unassisted? Have either a disabled float? Could either turn out the means of accommodating a garrison of
was accordingly done. With regard to the official utterance, but there is much reason to | of them the means of refitting, for instance,
absolute official secrecy is not easy to compre credit it with accuracy, though the reason for hend, Great Britain's reply was the first to be received, which is interpreted as ad.
foreign Powers, neither France nor Russia, were likely to throw any obstacle in the way, both in fact have been looking anxiously for the reversion of the sick man's heritage, | ditional evidence of the friendliness and say ten thousand men? If we looked noross
Britain.
and would hail with satisfaction anything almost identical interests in the Far East likely to hasten the end. Another possible between the United States and Great obstacle was LI HUNG-CHANG, Although before the war with Japan, Li was a persona grata with the Empress Dowager, he has of late been evidently de trop. Although no- minally restored to favour after the coup d'etat of September, 1898, his absence has been evidently more agreeable than his presence. As one of the first fruits of that measure, he found himself sent into honour- able banishment to the Yellow River, where all his recommendations were quietly shelved. Some three months ago, he was appointed, nominally, Minister of Finance, and told to amend the Tariff, but before any opportunity was given him of setting to work, he was remitted to the Liang Kwang to clear up some of the mess left by TAN CHUNGLIN. His older brother HUNG
certain conditions and dealt in generalities, Russia is said to have raised which naturally are to be distrusted. The scandalous action is ample support of euch recent backing of the EMPRESS-DOWAGER'S distrust. Finnliy it is interesting to note that the United States Administration is highly gratified at the result of its endeavour to in China, and is actively proceeding with the preserve unrestricted commercial conditions development of its plans to provide for the bably no power is in a better position at working of the " Open Door policy. Pro- the present to undertake the task than America, as Great Britain upon whom the work would naturally have fallen, is too burily engaged elsewhere. The undertaking is not so easy as it appears on the surface and its progress is not likely to be facilitated by any more Imperial edicts such as the last. of every commercial man having business That it may be completed soon is the hope
with China.
NEED OF PREPARATION IN
THE PACIFIC.
(Daily Press, 8th February.)
United States Government in a position to the water to San Francisco we find the
our own ports should be behind hand? turn out line of battleships directly in to her Pacific waters, is there any reason why Vancouver Island is admirably situated no the oublier of a great nation, and only needs of strength instead of a source of weakness. a little encouragement to become a tower Many years ago we started at Esquimault foundations of a great naval station. In in the Pacific, and it was amply sufficient those days the British fleet was paramount for the purpose; but what was ample forty or even twenty years ngo, when an odd possessed in the Pacific by any nation but wooden cruiser was all the naval strength ourselves, is ludicrously insuficient now when every European state keeps a large fleet in these waters. Last year we were indeed informed that that the War Office had it in contemplation to strengthen the station. That a British garrison was to be regiment stationed there, supported by large permanently maintained, and a home
But
CHANG, hid made the name of Lt stink in the south, and the experience that Pechili had had of his Own administration was little recommendation for the appoint- ment. The EMPRESS DOWAGER, however, felt that his presence in Peking would be
detachments of the Caundian militia. Like like the death's hand at the banquet. He
most things contemplated by the War had done her dirty work but he was of no
Office, it remains in a state of contemplation. further utility, aud prudence reminded her
Esquimault is a pretty little harbour; it is that, as he still had a following, any open
easy of access and easy of egress, bat it display of ingratitude to her quondamı It is apparently hopeless to convince the may well be doubted if it be not too much henchman might be resented in an up-military authorities in England that there is exposed as a first-class unval station, pleasant way. So he was sent to Canton in any use in being prepared for eventualities, there are iu Vancouver abundance of har- the full knowledge that, do what he might and the consequence is that on the outbreak bours almost equally accessible and admir- in that hot-bed of corruption, the result of every war of consequetice something of ably adapted for the purpose. Vancouver would be the loss of the small fragment of first-class importance is discovered to be possesses abundant supplies of coal alrendy his reputation still left to him. Such were missing, and while it is being put in order worked and is known to possess great some of the factors that pointed out to the thousands of lines are sacrificed, and the deposits of iron only waiting development. ambitious and ignorant woman, who had country jeopardised. It was so at the British Columbia is becoming one of the eujoyed for upwards of thirty years the beginning of the Crimean war when during | important metal-producing countries of the delights of power, that the time has come, actual hostilities the whole had to be swept | world, and has all Canada at its back. Van- when she must either make # bold out; it was so at the beginning of the Egyp-couver is, in fact, the outlook of England bil or retire to obscurity; if she could tian campaign, and now in South Africa we indeed look forward to being permitted to find a similar unreadiness sitting like nu live in obscurity. Nor were instigations incubus upon our army. We heard much from without wanting. The influence of for instance a few years ago about the want England at Peking under incapable repre- of mounted iufantry, and the Horse Guards sentations in China and ill-informed ministers gave us to understand that the want was at hoine has been steadily declining. Lately being supplied, and yet when we find our France and Russia have been steadily selves opposed to a country of horseriders pressing these facts on the Tsung-li Yamen, the cavalry arm has been well nigh forgot and every advantage has been taken of the ten. So of artillery; most of the modern present position of affairs in Africa to drive improvements of the arm have been initiated it home to willing ears. When then we in England; we possess all the means for hear by telegraph of the general apathy of manufacturs, and our guns when made will the Europeau Press on the subject of the bear competition with the first. Yet when
|
over the Pacific. From it she can strike at any point; it is but twelve days steaming to Japan, three weeks to Hongkong, less than a month to Australia. With the exception of the United States no_nation is so favour- ably situated on the Pacific, connected us Vancouver is with Eastern Canada, and England by the Canadian Pacific, one of the best appointed railways in the world. It is on a jar with the usual state of unpre- paredness of the War Office to find" ell these natural advantages neglected. No minister has indeed ventured to bring them forward, and they are probably waiting,
+
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.