September 1, 1900.)
opportunity thus presented to them. This right of navigation pressed home, as it should have been two years ago, may even yet be made the means of extending British inter- ests and the British sphere of influence, and what of a necessity follows free trade prin- ciple. But before that can be done the attitude of the Government towards our merchants must be changed from that hitherto adopted; an attitude which was exemplified by Lord Salisbury's deliberate declaration of policy and which the Shanghai correspondent of the Times justly characterised as the old policy of the repression of the British mer- chant.
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THE QUESTION OF CHINA'S PARTITION.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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when it is to be feared that there are many being unable to understand the action of waverers from the policy of non-partition the Japanese, and though some alleged in England. As M. LEROY-BEAULIEU says, the Powers recoil before the consequences Japanese are accused of having posted these Boxer" placards have been produced the of a partition, but they fear that if they do up themselves. Moreover, the burning of not hasten to appropriate what they wish the temple is also laid to the charge of the for themselves some swifter rival will mark Japanese themselves with a view to having out for itself the lion's share. This is the a pretext to land. Our correspondent seems possible explanation of the Japanese action inclined to agree with the Chinese view and at Amoy. It is not so much that any one points out that the natives are perfectly nation wishes to cut up China at once (un- quiet. It may be remembered that earlier less it be Russia, and she is not yet ready, in the month it was reported that some with the Trans-Siberian line incomplete), turbulent Foochow secret society men had but none wish to be left out when the cut- been arrested at Amoy. Nothing, however, ting up takes place, if it must. All the appears to have come of this affair, as we more necessary, therefore, is it for those who have heard no more about it. It is possible see the inevitable ill results to come from a that the Japanese, who take a peculiar dismemberment of China to be firm. If interest in Fohkien, may have seen enough Japan has been frightened into deserting appearance of unrest in the neighbourhood the " to believe), still more it is incumbent on and the possession of interests in any part open door" party (which we are loth of Amoy to cause them genuine uneasiness, Great Britian to maintain her position. The of China has a wonderfully quickening effect United States have the seme interest as our- selves in supporting this policy, but in elec plain from the Japanese Press that the on the power of detecting danger.” It is tion time the States are proverbially uncer tain.
British action in landing troops at Shanghai France are ranged on the other side.
Russia and therefore, of course, has had a considerable effect on public and Austria are bound by the Triple occupation by the Russian troops of New- Italy opinion in Japan. Nor was the earlier Alliance to Germany, and Germany's action chwang native city overlooked by Japan. is very problematical. Commercially Ger- It is certain that a strong party in the many's interests point in the same direction Island Empire is watching for signs of a known that Germany's political attitude to which they do not intend their country to as those of all trading nations, but it is well coming scramble for Chinese territory, in ward Russia has been growing recently more be left out. and more friendly. In event of a decided which the European Powers look on one In view of the suspicion with split between the Powers it is not easy to another's proceedings it is hardly possible predict what Germany's action would be. to expect Japan to manifest more trustful- The desire to avoid European complications ness in the disinterested action of the would weigh very heavily with the German Europeans. Emperor.
Since the departure of the and the state of affairs has made many re-entirely under Japanese protection in case The position is very delicate, U.S.S. Princeton Amoy has been left almost gret that it was considered necessary to of emergency. The last European warship land the Indian troops at Shanghai, a step to call at the port was, as far as we know, which has led to considerable misconception. the French gunboat Alouette, which reached Since, however, the authorities, with the Amoy on the 21st inst. on her lesson of Tientsin before them, decided after Shanghai. H.M.S. Isis left our harbour way to long deliberation that the step was necessary, yesterday for a cruise. Is it possible her it must be admitted that they erred, if error cruise can be extended to Amoy ? there were, in the right direction. tunately at the present time motives are
Unfor- suspicion is rightly entertained of Japan- bound to be misconstrued, and fears are too of some European nation would have a ese motives, the presence of a man-of-war frequently taken for realities. With fore- reassuring effect on the minds of the Amoy sight, good faith, and patience only, on the residents. part of the rulers of the Powers, can the present crisis be handled to the honour of all.
(Daily Press, 30th August.) At the present period of the Chinese crisis it is interesting to read certain remarks on the future of China made by M. PIERRE LEBOY-BEAULIEU in an excellent little volume entitled La Renovation de l'Asie, recently published in Paris. M. LEROY- BEAULIEU is an exceptionally clear-sighted and impartial observer of Asiatic affairs and his book may be read with profit by all interested in the Far Eastern question. The part of it to which we wish to draw particular attention is the final chapter, in which he discusses the possibility of a division of the Empire. We must be pardoned if we make a rather long extract from the author's re- marks on this subject. “Are we destined," he asks, soon to see a dismemberment of the Middle Empire? No one at heart really desires this. The division of this heritage over which at least five or six heirs are watching will not easily be accomplished by friendly arrangement, and the law-suits of nations are decided by artillery. For twenty-five years continental Europe has trembled at the idea of a war. What wonder that the whole world shrinks before the war caused by the break-up of "China, which would be far more terrible, "would indeed be universal, for Great Britain, Japan, and the United States would participate as well as the continental Powers? Even granting that it be possi- ble to settle the whole matter peacefully, what country feels ready to govern eight or a hundred million Chinese? It may be said that it is enough not to govern "them overmuch. But is not this pre-
cisely the most difficult task for European administration, whose policy "is always to pay close attention to the "details and to act by rules? To-day if "there are in some corner of China a few
(Daily Press, 28th August.) "bands of brigands, scarcely any attention Amoy on Saturday and Sunday last is now The puzzling news which reached us from is paid to them; but when such a corner supplemented by the letter from our cor- "becomes an European colony, the rulers respondent which we publish in to-day's "will desire to re-establish order, and in so issue. From this it appears that early on doing may perhaps provoke an insurrec- Friday morning, the 24th instant, a small “tion. The introduction of our European house in the city, which had been converted "methods cannot but disturb a number of into a temple by the Japanese Buddhists "old customs, shock many of the traditions who carry on their propaganda in Amoy, "to which the Celestials are so firmly at- "tached." M. LEROY-BEAULIEU points to at 4 a.m., some sixty armed Japanese sailors was burnt down. Within two hours' time, the tact required in the government of were landed on Haimun Island, on which Hongkong and Singapore, and the serious Amoy is built, from one of the Japanese troubles in connection with the French warships in the harbour-the cruiser Taka- Settlement at Shanghai, and continues: chiho, it may be noted, having arrived on In a larger area the prolonged difficulties the 18th inst. These sailors, after marching felt in pacifying countries imbued with to the scene of the fire, returned and crossed Chinese civilisation, as by the English in the harbour to Kulangsu Island, about a Burma, the French in Tonkin, the Ja-third of a mile away, where nearly all the panese in Formosa, show against what "obstacles each foreign nation will run in "its slice of China."
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The author's point of view, though not a new one, is the only sound one, and nothing can be lost by a reiteration of such argu- ments as he advances at the present time,
THE JAPANESE ACTION AT ΑΜΟΥ.
foreign residences are to be found and where the Japanese Settlement itself is. During Friday the Settlements were paraded by the Japanese sailors with bayonets fixed. On Sunday, apparently, one hundred and fifty more Japanese were landed and entered the native city. The Chinese are described as
If
A LESSON IN COMBINED ACTION.
(Daily Press, 27th August.) It is sometimes instructive as well as interesting to look back in the pages of history, and find what under very similar circumstances has been done in previous times. The Marquis de MOGES's account of how two great nations with common wrongs the war in China in 1857-58 is an instance of
to redress can, by a little yielding on each side, conduct to a successful issue a question comprising so many different interests as a war in China. had in 1856 wrongs to redress in many Both France and England respects not unlike those agitating the two nations to-day. "Between Great Britain and the Celestial Empire there had long been differences and disputes, which, increasing "terminated in a sudden rupture.
in importance from day to day, at last
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The French could not remain inactive while “events of such magnitude were taking place in the far East. It was proper and necessary that they should take a part both in the diplomatic and military pro- ceedings. They had besides, on their own "account, insults to avenge and just causes There was here as good a ground for quarrels " of complaint for which to demand redress." and jealousies as in the present trouble, but the way in which France then set about her task was very different. Both nations deter-
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