May 25, 1901.]
the Russians for having made a display of armed force when the Russians stopped the railway work from proceeding. The British, moreover, are stated to have apologised for the act in question, while the main question, as to the possession of the land and the right of access and of railway facilities, is not yet settled. There has been absolutely no confirmation of this story as yet, and it is safer therefore to attach no undue weight to it. It reads very like a journalistic fore. cast based on a study of the past.
GREAT BRITAIN AND THE
INDEMNITIES.
(Daily Press, 24th May.) Lord LANSDOWNE's statement in the House of Lords this week made public the suggestion to the Powers, of the British Government as to the raising by China of the indemnities demanded from her. Following on Viscount CRANBORNE's state- ment in the House of Commons last week as to the unwillingness of the Government to sanction an increase of the Tariff, unless this were accompanied by the abolition of the lekin dues, we have at last ад important declaration of policy. To commence with, Great Britain is in favour of a reduction of the huge indemnity demanded by the Powers. The demand has been swollen to its exorbitant proportions by claims of France, Germany, and Russia, and there is perhaps little chance of these Powers reducing their demands, though what special title they have to exacting the uttermost farthing from China is not obvious. If it may be presumed that the sum demanded cannot be reduced, in spite of the desire of three nations at least, Britain, the United States, and Japan, there only remains the method of collection to be settled. China, as we have seen, proposed to pay 450,000,000 taels in thirty annual instalments, 10,000,000 taels to come from the Salt Revenue, 2,000,000 from the native Customs, and another 2,000,000 from lekin dues. Certain of the Powers are in favour of a loan jointly guaranteed by the nations interested. The British Government opposes the latter proposal, and suggests as an alternative that certain sources of Chinese revenue, not yet specified apparently, shall be earmarked and bonds issued to the amount required for payment of the in- demnities. A receiving Board would be constituted to collect these revenues and to
pay
them over to the creditor Powers. The advantage of this plan, it is contended, is that if China should default, the Powers affected can concert together and compel China to pay. Thus no Powers will be unduly favoured to the exclusion of others. It is hardly possible to pronounce definitely on this plan, until we know how the money required is to be raised-what sources of revenue, in fact, are to be earinarked. In itself, the constitution of a Board to collect the money and distribute it again to China's creditors secures fair treatment for all con- cerned if the original demands are fair. But this of course is not yet guaranteed; on the contrary, some Powers are claiming very much beyond their fair shares. Some adjustment of claims should precede the adoption of the British proposal, if it is to be adopted. This point is precisely the one on which we have heard nothing whatever of a trustworthy nature. It is impossible therefore as yet to feel that we are yet within e easy distance of a real and lasting
settlement.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. SOME JAPANESE VIEWS ON" CHINA.
(Daily Press, 23rd May.)
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integrity of China, is capable of realisation, we cannot venture to say. But it is certain that the present situation can only be developed in the direction desired by Great Britain by the assistance of the other Powers with the same wishes at heart.
THE VITRIOL CASE.
(Daily Press, 22nd May.)
In the second number of the new Japanese fortnightly magazine The Toyo, which is partly bi-lingual-in the sense that the principle articles are either translated into English or summarised-occur two interest- ing contributions to the study of the Far Eastern question. The magazine, as
It cannot be contended that the result of stated in noticing its first appearance, is the enquiry into the vitriol-throwing out- the organ of Prince KONOYE, and the rage, the last act of which apparently was opinions expressed therein call therefore for concluded on Monday at the Criminal some attention. The first article in the Sessions, is of a satisfactory nature. A great number before is certainly a rather remark- amount of public interest has been aroused. able production. Entitled "Pride and over the case, as is but natural. A crime Prejudice," it commences with a defence of which the Chief Justice on Monday des- Japan alike from her enemies and her cribed as a dastardly offence, meriting the injudicious friends (not the less dangerous fullest punishment, was committed by class of the two), and ends with an
two Chinese employees in His Majesty's impassioned appeal to England and America Naval Yard against an Englishman, the to stand by the Anglo-Saxons on the chief storekeeper in the Yard. Corrosive Orient" in their struggle for the right, that fluid was by these men thrown on Mr. REEX is, against the aggressions on China of in a public thoroughfare, thereby disfiguring France, Germany, and Russia. The him for life, and seriously endangering his language of the article, it must be confessed, eyesight, though this catastrophe has is high-flown, even hysterical-we speak happily been averted. For this abominable solely of the English version. Neverthe outrage the two miscreants have received no less, the conclusions arrived at are in more than three years' imprisonment each the main just. The protest against "the with hard labour. It is instructive to notice imposition of an impossible indemnity on that at the same Sessions and on the same beggared China is one which will be day, the 18th ult., on which they received endorsed by Britain, for the last declaration their sentence, two Chinamen were sentenced of Government opinion, as formulated by to five years' imprisonment with hard Lord CRANBORNE, expresses the desire for labour for robbing a woman of two silver a moderate indemnity which will not bangles! We are aware, of course, of the infringe commercial interests; and most traditional relative values of property and certainly it will be approved in the United person, against which Truth has been carry- States, who have all through been opposed ing on a crusade for many years. But the to a heavy indemnity. There is, however, present case is of a different nature. It is no sign on the part of France, Germany, obvious, we think, to those who read the and Russia that they are likely to forego their account of the trial of YEUNG KUN and Lo "pound of flesh," as the Japanese writer Tsor last month that the astonishing light- calls it. He proceeds, with considerableness of their sentences-for the maximum violence of language, to warn the "tripartite penalty is imprisonment for life-was to a harpies not to exhaust the patience of large degree the result of the impression Japan, and then concludes by invoking that they were agents of some one else. The Britain and the United States to stand prosecution fixed on Mr. GEORGE ALLEN, on the side of justice.
storehouseman in the Yard, as having procured Lo Tsor, through the agency of YEUNG KUN, to throw the cor- rosive fluid on Mr. REEK. The result of the case at the Criminal Sessions was the acquittal of Mr. ALLEN, and the two Chinese remain the only known offenders.
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The other article is an essay by Count OKUMA on "The Middle Kingdom," and, being signed, is far more soberly written. Its theme is the necessity for the continued independence of China. The writer con cludes by saying: "What shall we, then, "do with China? Restore the Emperor's sovereignty and see him seated firmly on the Dragon Throne. Abolish the present system of competitive examina- tions, and see that a good system of education is introduced and enforced. Inport the benefits of Western civilisation. Reform the army and police-system. Build up a strong government, that peace may be insured within the borders of the Empire. And stop all attempts at a 'partition of Chinese soil, which can only dia urb the peace of the Orient and "render abortive all hope of tradal profit." And,” says Count OKUMA, “if any nation "attempts to size Chinese territory, we Japanese will not be slow in taking steps "to render all such attempts a failure." It may be said that these remarks savour too much of the Jingo spirit. But it cannot well be doubted that to a great extent they voice a deep feeling in Japan, and that, moreover, the policy which they uphold is that which meets with the approbation of nearly all Britons and Americans com mercially interested in China. How far
带着
"
The upshot of the whole affair therefore appears to be that for a dastardly offence on an English official, two Chinamen are to get off with a mild sentence of three years' imprisonment. They must indeed be congratulating themselves that they did not recklessly break in through a back-window in Mr. REEK's house and steal a teaspoon. As far as can be seen, the whole incident is now closed, and no attempt will be made to sift the matter any further. In this event, there is nothing to be said beyond that a dastardly outrage has been committed at a ridiculously cheap price. One point, however, shows up very prominently throughout the case. It appears to the ordinary mind incomprehensible that no higher officials in the Naval Yard were called upon to give evidence. It seems to have been cheerfully accepted as a fact that Mr. REEK was in supreme command of all matters connected with stores. Was this the case? We should be very surprised learn so. Surely there are in the Naval Yard men in higher posts whose evidence was at least worth hearing. Yet neither
confined to his room at Oiso, and is reported to dream of uniting Great Britain, the prosecution nor defence thought fit to call
Marquis Ito, the Japanese statesman, is
have had a fainting fit on the 7th inst.
United States and Japan in a league pledged to uphold, by more than mere words, the
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upon them. We confess that we cannot understand it.
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