242
RUSSIA AND CHINA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March 23, 1901.
PROTESTS.
cise those powers of allurement in which | MANCHURIA AND THE POWERS' she has ever proved herself a past master. (Daily Press, 16th March.)
England especially cannot plead ignorance Day by day it is becoming more evident of the character of the means she condes- that Russia never intended to fulfil the cended to use.
(Daily Press, 18th March.) The character of Lr HUNG- promises so liberally made that she did not CHANG was well known to her, as likewise magazine of diplomacy is certainly the pro- One of the most useless tools in the whole desire to take part in the partitioning of his pro-Russian proclivities; she Chine. Given at first with all pretence of cautioned by her own agents, as well as by quently used. Russia has been quietly acting was test, yet it is perhaps the one most fre- sincerity, there were deliberately left loop- all who had means of knowledge, of the in Manchuria as if it belonged to he, and holes, which took the form of guarding, danger in store, yet she contentedly threw England, Germany, and Japan, we learn, communications, and these have grown to in her lot with a man who betrayed to her are "protesting," and, adds the telegram, such an extent that Russia's present aspira- worst enemy every step in the long process it is unlikely that China will be de.erred tions cannot be assessed at less than the of negotiation. She wilfully cl ged her eyes from completing her proposed convention possession of the entirety of the Manchurian while negotiations between him and the with Russia. Why should she? England provinces of China. The allegation that Russian Minister were going on with little has been protesting for the last forty years, Manchuria is not part of China is one of more than the thinnest veil of concealment, and China has been snapping her fingers at those subterfuges in which Russia, in fur- and now exhibits surprise that the inevit- her protests, and why should she now rate therence of her avowed policy of dominating able, which every one but herself foresaw them at any higher figure? On the other Asia, has ever indulged, and it remains for all the while, has come to pass, and in the haud there are certain drawbacks attaching the Powers interested to face the inevitable. end she has now to assume the role of to protests, inasmuch as they point out to Diplomacy in such a case has ever proved a either acting for once and all with firmuess the unfriendly state just such things as one rotten reed to rest upon, and unless an or else of having to retire to an indefensible considers most inimical to his own interests. agreement be made in set terms defining position, with all the lost prestige of defeat The history of our communications with the actual limits of extension, it is hopeless staring her in the face. Nor even in minor China from the very first was of this nature. by mere generalities to seek to bind an un- matters has her policy been marked by even When Sir JOHN BOWRING protested against willing party to come to any terms other a modicum of common sense. Above all it the disabilities put upon Hongkong-owned than by compulsion. When Mr. BALFOUR was necessary that in her actions in Chibli vessels he unwittingly let the Viceroy at stated in the House of Commons that it was and elsewhere she should have sought to Canton into a secret by showing him how in the interests of all that Russia should maintain the good-will of the large and he could most effectively injure British have access for her Siberian railways to the growing section of Chinese statesmen who trade. The Viceroy was not long in learn- Eastern Seas, he undoubtedly roiced the pray for the regeneration of their country, ing the lesson, and carried its teachings universal feelings of the Nation, who were and were willing that England should take only a little too far, bringing on thereby the well disposed to give that empire every faci- the lead. She held out in the beginning the Second China War. These feeble protests lity for developing her vast possessions. promise of support to the Yangtsze Vice- against China signing LI HUNG-CHANG's Con- In this England acted in a generous spirit, roys, who were willing to throw themselves vention, which would relinquish the whole and followed out her policy of assisting in into the breach if honestly supported by her. of Manchuria to Russia, are of a similar na- the development of her rival. Those feel- How has she discharged this debt of hon- ture ings have undergone no change and even
If we sought for a method of inform- our? Has she strengthened in any way te ing China what we really reckoned most now the nation is prepared to afford every hands of Liu KUNG-YI, the one man who important we could not have lighted on a facility for the industrial growth of Russia. had the interests of his country at heart? more effective means. This, however, is a very different thing from Has she inspired any sense of confidence in what in doubt as to our earnestness with China has been soine. placing in the hands of that empire beyond the mind of the Emperor himself, whom she regard to pressing the little affair about the control the possession of a continent, valu. left to bear the ignominy of being made a murder of a minister and a missionary or able from its extent and the richness of its prisoner in his own Palace? Ugly rumours two. We spoke pretty big, it is true, but. soil, as well as of supreme importance from too are about of the mixture of ignorance we have accustomed China to that sort of its putting in her power for good or and presumption with which she has stood thing; so that China's advisers have good evil not only the control of the coast by while the German troops have been turn- reason for the remark, of China but the practical command of ing Chihli into a hostile province. Where words, I assure you, Madam," and our Words, mere the North-eastern Pacific. Russia in the it was above all things advisable to work friend the Dowager Tsz-HI has beard that past has not proved herself so good a with those forces which were tending to con. sort of thing so often that she has come to neighbour that we can afford to look upon vince the rulers of China that while she was place much the same value on it. Uncon- such an advance with complacency; we have resolute in demanding the punishment of sciously this little protest has let the cat. already by one display of weakness given the real authors of China's downfall, she out of the bag, and shown our amiable hosts Russia the opportunity of interfering in no was ready to support every movement which where the shoe most pinches. There is no friendly spirit with our own policy intended to restore a good fe ling on the part insincerity about the protest; it is the wind- Eastern Asia, and the experience of the past
up of a series of goadpricks which has teaches us in unmistakeable terms that with
momentarily evoked a grunt from the pa- our rival
every such unchecked advance
tient ox, and disclosed the most tender has been inevitably taken advantage of
point of his skin. The party which was still further to forward her powers of
sufficiently hostile to try on its amiable plot annoyance. It may seem that the pre-
of getting rid of the barbarian by direct sent is not a time to press our rights to the
violence has now learnt a much more ready furthest limit; yet we may reasonably ask
method; it does not love him any the better ourselves, Is any better likely to occur? Sooner or later the contest may become one
that he is prosecuting its leaders in the of life or death, with this difference too to
Court of Nations, so it has engaged the big Mr. A. de P. Barros, purser on board the bully for the defence, and the sufferers have our disadvantage, that, however we may be Canton steamer Pocan, was shot by a Chinaman protested. The curious portion of the thing situated, Russia will inevitably be in a able to glean the following details:-Mr. Barres on Saturday evening last at Canton. We were better position.
is that the prosecutors fail to see that they As things stand at the loft Shameen at half-past eight on the night in have afforded China the information she moment Russia from being a secret enemy question to go back to the steamer, which was is now almost openly directly hostile. She lying alongside the Company's wharf,
was most in need of; the very fact that the has practically thrown down the gauntlet, opposite the Custom House, only a few yards game with Russia is a clear admission that When protest has been evoked against her little and tells us that she has no interest in the from the steamer, he was shot in the right leg, she has at last touched the tender point; settlement of affairs in China, and that it is the bullet penetrating right through the leg, and yet our Governments are simple enough a matter of the most supreme indifference The night being dark, Mr. Barros could not to believe that their protest will induce her to her what China does with regard to and he escaped in one of the numerous JOHN CHINAMAN is not the bird to be recognise the man who fired the shot, to pitch her new found champion overboard. Europe, provided that she obtains her lanes near by. The wounded man managed coveted extension of a territory already too to get on board his steamer, and at once caught by such palpable chaff. Our wise huge for her to manage with profit to reported the matter to the captain, who Governments have shown him the course, herself or advantage to her neighbours. sent for a doctor to have the wound attended to. and he would be a very degenerate Son of It has not been the policy of Russia in the The Powan arrived here on the 18th inst, and HAN did he fail past to adopt hostile measures when craft Dr. Stedman was sent for at once. He, and fan, to tak
take advantage of the will suit her equally well, and the present nounced Mr. Barros to be seriously but not and Japan awake to the fact that if they sooner England, Germany, dangerously wounded, but he appeared to be Government Civil Hospital. The bullet was found in his socks. It is thought that it was a case of revenge.
A
of the people of China, yet all our most re- cent advices go to show that the tendency of the recent measures being taken is to raise up a feeling of wrong and injustice amongst the millions. In all this she has been but playing Russia's part; and has undoubtedly been earning the gratitude of such enemies of their country's best interests as Li HUNG- CHANG and his crew.
Į
44
is no exception to the rule. Here the suffering intensely and was removed to the wish to get out of the mess into which they
European Powers are to bl for having placed themselves
a position as to afford an opening to Russia to put in exer-
have allowed themselves to be inveigled something very much more effective than protests is required the better.
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