The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1900-06-23 — Page 3

June 23, 1900,]

THE RIGHTS OF THE EMPIRE IN CHINA.

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point, found the Englsh public unwilling to subscribe to its last issue; which was in consequence thrown back on the hands of the individual Englishman has retrogressed; the undertakers. It is not pretended that indeed the events of the Boer war prove him to be as ready as ever to come forward when he finds his Government in earnest. Whence then his apathy? We have no reason to disbelieve that it is the immediate result of the weak and listless policy that Lord SALISBURY has throughout pursued in China. When then the pacification of South Africa shall have been completed, some thousands of Australian and Canadian troops, not to speak of the home forces, will be set at liberty. These great Colonies are beginning Great Ocean are being frittered away. It to see how grievously their interests in the is impossible but that they should look to some profitable return for the services they have so freely rendered to the Empire.

THE GARRISON OF HONGKONG.

CHINA, OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. chiefest care. To the continental Powers the successful issue of the Boer war indicates that the period for further encroachment in (Daily Press, 21st June.) The fourth act of an exciting drama is well from its very beginning their eyes have been Africa has been indefinitely postponed, and nigh completed, but before the curtain falls assiduously turned to China and the rest of to the completion of the play, it is well to the Far East. Unfortunately the strange remember that much business remains to be womanlike vagaries of the usurping Empress got through. The capture of Johannesburg at Peking afforded them just that stepping and occupation of Pretoria has changed the stone which they in their heart of hearts most external aspect of the South African contest desired. Russia and France, of course, in from a war, almost legitimate, to a guerilla this forward policy were hand and glove; strife;

hereafter we cannot look with the but Germany was by no means indisposed to same chivalrous eye on the struggles of a take her share of what a woman's folly brave people for what they have called might throw in her way. But Russia had liberty-the right to oppress others more in view further aims in which she did not civilised than themselves. In the future intend her good friend France to have a any attempt at taking up arms will more part. With and more partake of the ugly nature of re- Afghanistan has preserved her character, true Oriental persistency bellion, and that not only in the interests of and in nothing is this more marked than in humanity, but from those wider reasons of her inability to get rid of that curse of justice which have rendered the Government Asiatic states-the impossibility of es- of the South African Republics a blot on tablishing rules for the succession. the civilisation of the nineteenth century. than most Asiatic kingdoms, Afghanistan One lesson of the war can, however, never has suffered from this weakness, and in the be forgotten as long as the Empire lasts present instance, when the life of the Ameer and that is the unerring instinct with which is known to hang almost by a thread, there

(Daily Press, 22nd June.) It is eminently satisfactory to learn, on the the various portions of the Empire, of their is especial danger. There is no international authority of REUTEE, that an expeditionary own motion, at the very beginning grasped code of honour that would prevent a foreign force is being despatched from India for the true significance of the issues at stake; Power taking advantage of such an op- service in China, that reinforcements are and recognised that although England was portunity to foster her own ends, and Russia being sent out to the Fleet in these waters, in the forefront the war was in its essence has long been intriguing with one or other and that arrangements have been made to an Imperial, and not a mere British con- of the claimants. Russia too, with a per- station additional gun-boats in the Yangtze test; and that on its satisfactory settlement sistence that does her credit, has been for the protection of the riverine Treaty rested the wider question of the well-being pushing her railway system through the ports. It may be of interest, likewise, to of the nation in its whole expanse. It is heart of Central Asia, and has now brought our readers to know that Colonel Bower the penalty of greatness that it has ever to her lines into the neighbourhood of Herat, and 200 men of the Chinese Regiment have stand prepared to resist encroachment the northern gatesway of Afghanistan.; actually left Weihaiwei for Taku, after the wherever attempted from the pole to the and, it is evident, intends to make use of various contradictory reports which we have equator; the icy mountain chains of the her place of vantage to push her ends in received. It is also reassuring to hear that Yukon equally with the burning uplands of India. It is quite possible that Russia has the Washington Government has ordered the the Soudan demand our anxious care. In no ulterior end in view in India, but she despatch of three regiments of regular troops no part of the world, however, are national has so far committed herself to a policy of from Manila to Tientsin. With these the interests becoming of more importance than absorbtion that it is more difficult for her Anglo-American forces will be not less than along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean; and to stand still than to advance; and recently, 10,000 strong, after allowing for the detention here, as in South Africa, these interests are having extended her frontiers to China and in this Colony of two regiments of infantry, not so much British as Imperial. Australia Corea, she has been showing unwonted which we gatehr is the intention of the War and New Zealand are essentially Pacific lands, activity at Peking and Seoul. The situation Office. With reference to the latter item, it but Canada herself has in British Columbia is one that threatens a distinct danger to is only common prudence to reinforce the and Vancouver the strongest and most im- the Empire at large; it is not that Russia Garrison of this all important base. Already portant outlook on the Ocean of any nation, herself is more to be dreaded than at any it has been weakened by the despatch to the United States scarcely excepted. Aus- previous period; but the danger is, that Taku of some 700 men, and though we are tralasia and Canada balance one another in taking advantage of a temporary preoccupa- not at all disposed to cavil at the action of the northern and southern seas respectively, tion she may contrive to create à diversion the Government in sending them to the and to each of them, even more than Great when the Empire is seriously engaged; and assistance of Vice-Admiral SEYMOUR, it is Britain herself, is the maintainance of Bri- this on account of the retrogressive com- obviously necessary that their places should- tish power and British prestige a matter of mercial policy of Russia is a matter of be supplied as soon as possible. It may be literally vital necessity. Twenty years ago serious consideration, not for Great Britain objected by optimistic onlookers that, the we were accustomed to look with com- and her colonies only, but for the whole of provinces of South China being now practi placence, if not with pride on the position we the civilised world. had attained to in the Pacific; and had our Canada and the United States deeply gram bears witness to this-itis perfectly safe-

More especially are cally quiet and unmoved-our Canton tele- statesmen only been able sufficiently to com- concerned in this new possibility. It to leave the Colony with its reduced garrison prehend the importance of our interests in is unfortunately the case that, owing to the to take care of itself. Quite possibly this these regions, we might have continued to recent laisser faire policy of the British could be done, and we hope the gallant troops occupy the same leading position in which Government, British subjects in China have who constitute its defenders would be able we were found on the death of Lord PAL- been compelled to look on while the rest of to give a good account of any number MERSTON. Unfortunately a later generation the world were advancing everywhere along of undisciplined Chinese rioters. But in of statesmen have never been able to grasp the line. In every department the English- these days, with the political situation the importance of the situation, and have man finds himself hampered by his foreign precarious everywhere, it would be ex-- little by little permitted the hold we had on neighbour, who has a sympathetic govern- treme folly to leave anything to chance. the Far East to be whittled away; we need ment at his back which does not fail to see Even in the piping times of peace the gar not recapitulate the story, it has often been that the road of advance for him is kept rison of Hongkong should never be suffered told, but of late it has assumed an impor- open. It is notorious that, even in the to fall below five thousand of all arms, inas- tance greater than ever. It was no chance ordinary occurrences of the day, the English- much as the Colony is more than three thou- circumstance that led the war with the man is at a disadvantage; and this disadvant- sand miles from the nearest British base, South African Republics to meet with no good will on the Continent of Europe: it issues.

age is emphasied when it comes to larger India, and lies close to a populous empire,

Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK stated a teeming with lawless and desperate charac-- was indeed a challenge. The continental short time since in the House of Commons, ters, while its defences are, to say the least Powers had, in fact, been pursuing in South that Englishmen had not taken up the con- of it, inadequate and armed for the most Africa the very same policy of encroachment cessions which they had acquired, and part with obsolete guns. Being as it is, the that they have set in motion in Eastern attempted to thrown on the shoulders of great Naval Station for Eastern Asia, the Asia; fortunately they had stronger Eng-private individuals, the blame really attach-visible centre of British power, and the com lishmen to deal with, and in Sir ALFRED ing to the Government. This attack, as un- mercial centre of South China, we have for MILNER and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN the nation just as it was ungenerous, has apparently many years past constantly insisted upon found more energetic defenders of its pres- I had the opposite effect from that intended; the immense importance of Hongkong tige than in our amiable and talented Prime for it had evidently had a deterrent result. and the necessity for it being con. Minister, who has made Eastern Asia his The Peking Syndicate, as an instance in stituted a first class fortress and place