March 30, 1901.]
Corea, the alliance might conceivably be advantageous to both and we might see an Asiatic alliance calculated to influence much the future history of the Far East. Europe would then have the doubtful satisfaction of knowing that she had achieved by her vagaries of policy the solidification of Asia, with no prospect of personal profit.
THE NEW CHINA -BLUE-BOOK.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
as generalissimo of the Allies, the long dis- cussion over Russia's suggestion for the evacuation of Peking after the relief of the Legations, and the events leading up to the Russian bombardment of Newchwang—an affair which appears even more unjustifiable than before. Throughout the volume evidences are plain of the treacherous con- duct of the Chinese Goverument, which at one and the same time was assuring Great Britain, by the agency of the Chines Ambassador in London, of the welfare of the Legations and attempting to bring the Yangtsze Viceroys over to the anti-foreign cause. This behaviour of the Chinese Go- veranent was, on the evidence of all the re- cent official publications, manifested through out the events of last year, and steps ought certainly to be taken that the agents em- ployed by China in this series of base frauds may not have the opportunity of playing such a part again. Personally the Chinese Ambassador in London is no doubt an amiable and an educated man; but he lent himself to a scheme dishonouring to all concerned, and his social qualities do not blot out this stain. A large number of minor questions are dealt with in the Blue- book, but it is not necessary to refer to them here, as practically no new facts come to light.
A NEW SCARE IN COREA.
263
* OUR INADEQUATE POLICE
FORCE.
(Daily Press, 23rd March.)
A little over a week ago, when discussing the Annual Report of the Captain Superin tendent of Police, we pointed out that it was a notorious fact that for quite a number of years past the strength of the force under Captain "Superintendent MAY's command had been much lower than it should have been. We said too that satisfaction would be felt that the force had been materially added to during the last year-the nett addition for the year was sixty-five, of whom thirty-three were Europeans, a proportion which we should like to see maintained--but that the standard of safety had not yet beenTM reached, considering the wide area to be patrolled and protected. The continued insufficiency of the police force, in spite illustrated during the past few weeks, of its large increase, has been vividly
which have seen two daring burglaries at the same shop in Queen's Road, on China New Year's Day and the 21st inst.; a mur- derous attack on Mr. ESROM in Bowen Road on the 3rd inst. in broad daylight, be- tween the hours of 2 and 3 p.m.; and the cruel assault on Mr. REEK on the Praya on the morning of the 14th inst. All these deeds were effected without attracting the attention of the police. We have heard also of several minor cases of assault recently, but as in no cases did the aggrieved persons think fit to report to the police they are perhaps scarcely worthy of notice, except as illustrating the general proposition that our local guardians of the peace are by no means sufficient at present to cope with the work befo e them. In the early days of this Colony violent attacks and robberies by Chinese roughs were an alarming feature of life on the Island. The police force was then, of course, very small compared with what it is now. Much, however, as it has been increased, unless it can bring about a reasonable security for the persons and property of those living in Hongkong it can but be considered quite inadequate. We trust that no time will be lost by the Go- verument in bringing the force up to the requisite numerical standard. If, as has been suggested, the pay and allowances at present are not sufficient to attract enough men of the class wanted, surely it would be better to spend a little more and remove this disgrace of insecurity to person and property which is apparently threatening us
(Daily Press, 28th March.) The Blue-book on China No. 1 (1901), which was issued in London on the 18th February, contains correspondence respect ing the disturbances in China, as the official title styles the stirring events of last year. The period covered by the correspondence extends from the 29th June to the 30th September last year, and the subjects dealt with are of course very various. It cannot be said, however, that there is much that is new among the four hundred and four documents now made public, or that the Blue-book exceeds in interest the average of auch publications; nor again that the reader will be much enlightened as to the policy of Great Britain in China last year. The important negotiations with the Yangtsze Viceroys, whereby the peace of the central pro- vinces was so successfully secured, are more clearly revealed, but the outlines of the pro- ceedings have long been familiar, together with the final result that the British Goveru- ment marked its appreciation of the conduct
(Daily Press, 23rd March.) of CHANG CHI-TUNG by making him an
The information telegraphed out by our alvance of £75,000, through the Hongkong London correspondent is certainly surpris- and Shanghai Bank, for the payment of his ing, but the surprise is not so much at the troops. A number of despatches deal with alarming character of the rumour as at the the question of Japan sending a strong force fact of the Times attaching too much impor- to effect the relief of the besieged Legations tance to it. Certain events of last year at Peking, a course which early in July might have been expected to lead to incre- Lord SALISBURY was warmly advocating. dulity among the leading London papers as He received strong support from M. DEL- to news coming through some Shanghai CASSE, but Russia misunderstood the sug- channels. There is, of course, no inherent gestion and apparently thought Lord impossibility in Russia having ordered her SALISBURY wished Japan to settle the warships in Japanese waters to sail for Chinese crisis alone. Count LAMSDORFF, Corea, but in view of the fact that she writing to the Russian Chargé d'Affaires has already a portion of her fleet in in London, speaks of "a mission given by the neighbourhood of Masampo it seems Europe to Japan, to send considerable forces highly improbable that she should openly to China, not only to save the Legations and court Japan's hostility, especially at a time the foreign subjects, but with a view to the when her own relations with Great Britain suppression of the insurrectionary movement are so strained as they are at present. The provoked by the Boxers and the re-establish Russian authorities are fully aware of the neut of order at Peking and Tientsin." profound suspicion with which Japan re- This, Count LAMSDORFF continued, might gards her approaches toward Corea. They (in Russia's opinion) to a certain extent eu.
have not been allowed to forget it. No croach on the fundamental principles ac-
one would be astonished, least of all the cepted by the majority of the Powers as the Russians, if, in event of Russia suddenly basis of their policy in China; that is, the concentrating her fleet off the Corean coast, maintenance of union between the Powers, Japan were to do as the China Gazette the maintenance of the existing system of apparently states she had done, to mobi government in China, the exclusion of any- lise a squadron for immediate despatch In H.B.M. Supreme Court for China and thing leading to partition, and the re-es- to Corea. Nor would the step be un-Japan at Shanghai, Chief Justice H. S. Wil- tablishment by common effort of a legitimate reasonable. Japan has very genuine in-kinson, on the 19th inst, delivered a long and central power, capable of assuring order and terests in Corea, beyond the traditional and security to China. This misunderstanding historical connection with the two countries; of Lord SALISBURY's proposal took a series and the Japanese statesman who would of despatches to set right. Japan showed counsel the abandonment of these interests herself ready to act, and Lord SALISBURY would finish his political prospects at one on the 18th July intimated that Her Ma-stroke. This latest story of Russian aggres- jesty's Government was willing to assist sion sems most decidedly in contradiction the Japanese Government up to £1,000,000 to Russia's usual wisdom in selecting the if they at once mobilised and despatched an time when to advance, and will require the additional 20,000 men to l'eking. But Ja- very strongest coufirmation before it can be pan, in the absence of any definite scheme accepted as true. of operations on the part of the Powers, showed an unwillingness to accede to this proposal, which accordingly fell through, and in consequence the relief of the Lega tions was delayed to the memorable 15th August.
Among the other matters dealt with, the most important are the questions of the landing of the British troops at Shanghai, the appointment of Count VON WALDERSEE
The Imperial Japanese training cruisers Hashidate and Idzukushima, with the Japanese naval graduates for 1900 on board, are expected to arrive at Singapore at the end of April. They left Japan on the 19th inst. and will They are time I to leave Singapore about May call at Manila, Labuan and Batavia en route. 4th, and will return to Japan via Bangkok, Hongkong, Amoy, Shanghai, Chefoo, and the Corean ports.
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once more.
new.
exhaustive interlocutory judgment in the suit The action, it will be remembered, was insti- of Pickwoad & Co. v. the Shanghai Mercury, tated, inter alia, to ascertain whether the plaintiffs, who are the proprietors of the North- China Daily News, had any remedy against the Shanghai Afercury for publishing their telegrams either on the day of publication or the evening following. There were three issues framed, and the Court in answer to the first and second held that assuming the statements in the petition to be true, the plaintiffs were entitled nuder the Copyright Acts, as extended to British subjects in China, to the relief claimed, but as to the third issue they had no remedy by civil process by virtue of the order in Council of February 2nd, 1899. The costs of the ap plication would be costs in the cause. Com- menting on the above, the N.-C. Daily News the first and most important stage in the action remarks-“It will be seen that we have gained we were obliged to take to protect ourselves from a continuance of the piratical proceedings from which we have been so long sufferers.
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