424
THE CHINA ASSOCIATION'S
REPORT.
(Daily Press, 20th May.)
The report of the China Association for 1900-1901, one item of which we have already noticed, is a long and interesting document. As we are unable to reproduce it in full, we propose to draw attention to some of the salient points brought for- ward. The opening remarks, dealing with the forecasts of previous years and the actual events of 1900, need not detain us. It is generally that the Association's claim to have recognised from the first the dangerous consequences to be expected from the Dowager Empress's usurpation is well founded; and it is hardly a matter of doubt that the statement can be substantiated that the events of 1900 were a natural conse. quence of the coup d'état of 1898, though there were of course other contributing
causes.
In a general review of events in 1900 the Report calls attention to ณ notable feature in the conclusive influence exerted by the great Provincial officials and goes on to say:
It was upon the Viceroyalties of
"A
落落
Two Kiang and the Two Hu that the wave "of the Reactionary movement broke; it is "with them that lies the best hope of "Reform. It follows as a corollary that very much, still, depends upon the purpose of the Ministry in power; for the Provincial officials derive their appoint- "ment from Peking, and it is upon the "character of the selection made that the tone of each Government will indirectly depend; while nothing is more reasonably "certain than that the return of the Empress "and her faction would mean the execution
"
"
of vengeance on the Viceroys and Governors who refused to join in the anti-foreign campaign."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Report there goes on to consider the question of the Emperor's return to Peking, and the suggestion of a regency by his brother until His Majesty returns. The latter suggestion is dismissed on account of the doubt as to the Viceroys' adhesion and the difficulty of obtaining the consout of the Powers to so drastic a measure. The desir- ability of excluding the present heir apparent, P CHUN, from the succession is recognised, and the Report adds: The adoption need "not necessarily be disturbed (although "disinheritance is permissible, by Chinese 'custom, for cause shown): the case would be met by the adoption of a son to KWANG Hsu. who should be recognised as his 'heir, and who should be placed amid surroundings differing from those which "cannot fail to influence a son of Prince
44
K
44
66
TUAN. For the one conclusion which "stauds out clearly is that no member of "the faction which brought about the present "crisis should be allowed to remain in power." Common sense urges the truth of this last remark, but we fear that it looks very doubtful whether such a clean sweep of the Reactionaries can now be made. There has been too much hesitation on the part of the Powers, and the situation has not developed in such a way as to strengtheu their hands.
"
44
F
68
56
"
44
26
"
|
"
[May 25, 1901.
"of the Chinese Empire showed that the existing taxes are capable of yielding a "sufficient income if honestly nlministered, "and the opportunity should be taken to "insist on improved methods of collection "and account; commercial questions being "reserved for settlement, later, by the
随着
“was expressed in 1896, and cannot be too strongly reaffirmed, that nothing would more conduce to the stability of the │"Chinese Government, the increase of its
"6
revenue, and the welfare of the people, "than the improvement of inland com- "munication of all kinds and the relief of "inland commerce from taxation upon its "* movement. It must be reaffirined also, "that no reform of the kind can be effective "that does not provide for the requirements
of the Provincial Exchequers."
C
"which statistics are available-to Hk. Tls. 460,000,000 (sayı £66,000,000), and em- "played 11,000,000 tons of shipping, besides coasting craft. The share of the British Empire in that trade reached Hk. Tls. "286,000,000 (say £40,000,000) and the British flag was represented by 6,700,000 'tons-showing a preponderant interest, in [ "ing commercial Powers. The convict "both respects, not only over any other 'single nation, but over all the rest com- 'bined. It was strongly felt by members "of the Association, both in England and the East, that these great interests re- quired special safeguarding; and that the "ccasion called for the appointment of a diplomatist of the highest rank and "reputation. Semi-official representations "to that effect were made to the Foreign Office, directly the proposed interchange of posts between Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD "and Sir Ernest Satow because known; "and a formal letter was addressed to Lord SALISBURY, in August, when it appeared "that these representations had failed of effect. Copies of the correspondence and of telegrams from Shanghai and Hong- kong were communicated also to the "principal Chambers of Commerce, with the result that the Halifax, Liverpool, London, and Manchester Chambers ad- "dressed the Office, strongly supporting the "views of the Association; while others ex- pressed a sympathetic conviction that H.M. Government might be trusted to "take a step which the occasion so clearly "required. That impression has not, un- happily, been justified; and the Committee feel constrained to repeat the expression "of their regret that representations which "were felt to be of moment were ignored."
44
64
66
**
着握
46
#
The relations of the Association with the new China League are next discussed; but this is a matter which is already familiar to our readers. The American Asiatic Associa- tion's identity of opinion in the vital points of the situation, is stated in the Report, is gratifying to note.
'
On Manchuria not much is said, though the important documents connected with the matter are to be found among the appendices. The definite abandonment by Russia of the Convention was subsequent to the writing of the Report, which is dated the 31st March.
64
[+
of
46
6
14
Turning to the section, "Treaty Revision," we find the Report speaking as follows:- It is anticipated that the acquiescence "of the Chinese Government in the terms imposed as preliminary conditions of peace "will be followed by negotiations for a re- vision of the present Treaties and for certain measures of fiscal and adminis- "trative reforms. The necessity for thèse reforms, and the expediency of Tariff revision, have been discussed in correspon- dence between the Eastern branches, the General Committee, and the Foreign 'Office, at various periods during the last six years; and the suggestions therein “made will, it is believed, furnish the bases of practicable arrangements. The question “of fiscal reform is indeed, scarcely, separ- able from that of the indemnity; and a "recent telegram from Shanghai expresses apprehension lest a proposal be made to guarantee an Indemnity Loan by some such process of drastic Tariff increase as was advocated by LI HUNG-CHANG. The Association recognised, in its letter to Lord SALISBURY dated 2nd November, 1896, that an increased tariff was admissible under “certain conditions; but any hasty action would destroy the only available lever for obtaining redress of existing grievances besides possibly endangering trade expan- "sion. Mr. GEORGE JAMIESON'S well-known Report on the Revenue and Expenditure
C
$6
46
The next point of importance touched upon is the question of our interests and represen- tation in the Far East, The Report says :— Frequent occasion has been taken, also to "urg, the appointment of a special mission, with a diplomatist of the highest rank “and influence as its chief, for the purpose "of safe-guarding the preponderant interests which Great Britain still retains in the East
The Foreign trade of China "amounted, in 1899-the last year for"
Ex
- 44
44
We leave one or two minor points in the Report for future consideration.
THE RUSSIANS AT TIENTSIN.
(Daily Press, 21st
C
May.)
Among the points which we have not noticed already in the Report of the China Associa tion is the section dealing with the Russian claim to a Concession at Tientsin. As this question still remains unsettled, it is worth while to quote a few pertinent sentences from the Report. Pointing out that Russia has made her claim to a Concession on the north bank of the Peiho, based at first on “right of conquest," more plausible by production of an agreement signed by LI HUNG-CHANG the Report alludes to the disfavour with which the claim is viewed at Tientsin on other grounds. No objection," it con- tinues, would be offered or felt to the "Russians marking out a Settlement in line "with the others. The objection is to their "location on the opposite bank. The erec- tion of wharves or landing-stages opposite the British Bund would, it is alleged, s narrow the fairway as to block the river. Parts of the foreshore are already in the possession of British firms, which fear to find themselves hampered in various ways ; "and control of access to the railway station "would be practically in Russian hands. "Russian trade at Tientsin is too small to "afford any. justification for the occupation 'of an area exceeding that of all the other Foreign Concessions put together-an area, moreover, which owes its value chiefly "to the commerce which has been built up "by others on the opposite bank."
"
44
44
64
首醜
་་
+4
"
The general question of the Russian Con- at Tientsin seems to have been cession decided in a practical way by the rush of other Powers for concessions and expansions of previous areas. It seems reasonable to expect, however, that some arrangement will be made as to the fairway of the Peiho, for it is obviously detrimental to the interests of all that this should be further blocked. As to the outcome of the dispute between the railway authorities and the Russians over the strip of land on which the former endeavoured to construct a sid- ing, no well authenticated news is to hand indicating a speedy settlement by Count
VON
WALDERSEE. The New Press of Shanghai, indeed, publishes a telegram professing to give the decision arrived at. It is dated London, 13th May, and states | that the decision has heen given and that it entitled to has been held that Russia is have a Concession at Tientsin, and that, pending the settlement of her claim to the particular piece of land on which the dispute arose, the British ought not to atte
ought not to attempt any such decisive action as they did. It therefore ruled, continues the telegram, that an apology is due from the British to
AT
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.