July 20, 1901]
ominously, and the Foreign Ministers will need to exercise all their wits and keep well posted as o the temper of the populace and the disposition of the Government during the next three years. Happily the Powers are not so blinded by their trust in Chinese submission as to withdraw all their troops; a few thousand still remain in garrison at Shanghai; but this force is small, and will be some distance from the scene of possible future operations. A garrison will also, we presume, be maintained at Tientsin for the present, and those at Weihaiwei and Tsingtau will doubtless be kept at very full strength. These are precautionary measures, of course, and will not be without their weight, even perhaps with the reactionary mandarins who influence the Empress Dowager and the Government. At the same time, it will be wiser not to trust in anything but a show of material force for some years to come, unless a new Govern- ment animated by a desire for reform and progress be evolved, and the Empress Dowager with the corrupt Palace rule be relegated to obscurity.
FOREIGN · RAILWAYS IN CHINA.
(Daily Press, 19th July.)
The statement made by the Brussels cor. respondent of the London Standard, to the effect that a syndicate of Belgian, French, and Russian capitalists is being formed for the purpose of constructing railways in China hardly sounds new, for, as a matter of belief, if not of actual fact, it is generally
allowed that Russia and France have had a
W
F
1
THE PLAGUE IN HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, 17th July.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the mouth of the Canton river and represents the toil and endeavour of more than half & century of successful trade and enterprise. It would be sheer The occurrence at last of a period of folly on the part of France to seek to esta- twenty-four hours without a single case of blish over-lordship in Kwangtung, for this plague or a death therefrom will be hailed with would mean the ruin of British trade in a general feeling of relief by every resident in China, and would be resisted with all the Hongkong. It would be premature, perhaps, might of British arms. Why, therefore, our to say that this year's attack is ended, but French friends will persist in trying to reap at any rate the disease in its epidemic form where they have not sown is to us a source has died completely away. Last year two of wonder and perplexity. The same energy fatal cases occurred at the end of November, devoted to the development of Indo-China while in the previous month there were would probably, if accompanied by a thirteen cases and an equal number of liberal fiscal policy, result in the attain deaths, and in the July-September quarter ment by that colony of a high degree of both cases and deaths were over 800. We may prosperity. But the French Government, in reasonably therefore congratulate ourselves their overweening anxiety to afford protection that we seem this year to have passed to French manufactures, hedge trade about through our troubles much more rapidly. with such high tariffs that it dies from sheer, The intensity of the attack has been nearly inanition. The colonists suffer, the natives double this year what it was last. At noon suffer, the Government does not gain, and of the 16th July last year the cases for the foreign countries are estranged by this year had just passed 900, while the deaths illiberal policy. A large army and navy, were over 840. This year the record stands have to be maintained to protect a commerce at 1,562 cases and 1,489 deaths. During which was blighted at its birth, and the the week which ended on the 14th July, home Government have to furnish funds 1900, there were 57 cases and 58 deaths. to assist to carry on the administration. Such Last week there were 26 cases and 21 ¡ is the result of the French Colonial policy, and deaths. As, moreover, the past three it is not to be wondered at, therefore, that weeks' record together amounts to 135 cases all their efforts to widen the area under the and 127 deaths, it will readily be seen tricolour are regarded with an utter lack of with how much greater fury this year's i sympathy if not with downright distrust or epidemic has raged than in 1900. The total hostility,
figures for last year reached 1,082 cases and It is to be feared that the movement now, 1,034 deaths, the mortality therefore being on foot to obtain rights for the construction considerably higher than it is this year-a of railways will be regarded with equal fact which is accounted for by the larger hand in the Belgian Railway Syndicate all coldness and aloofness by other Powers. number of non-Chinese attacked this year. along. That the capital of the syndicate No one is desirous of seeing the colours of In 1900 only 28 cases and 15 deaths were will be one thousand million (1,000,000,000) France and Russia floating over any con- among the non-Chinese. This year there francs is, however, a new fact that is worthy cession in China, ou account of the selfish have been 28 cases and 9 deaths among of note by all interested in the advancement attempts made to secure monopolies by the Europeans alone, and among the non- of China commercially. It is clear that a these Powers. So far as the actual benefits Chinese altogether 79 cases and 49 deaths. great effort is being made by the Franco- resulting from such concessions are cou- It is too early at this period to draw any Russian Alliance to secure a predominant cerned, no one need grudge any syndicate conclusion from the figures or to make voice in China by every means within their what they can get out of them, and it would sound comparisons with other years of power. Politically Russia is striving with matter little, perhaps, by whom the railways epidemic. But it can be stated that thể all her might to obtain complete ascendency were made so long as they were introduced attack from which we seem just to have in Manchuria, and that she should be into the Central Kingdom. The main recovered was of an entirely different nature surrendering Talienwan and intends to make objection to these monopolies being obtained from that of last year. It has been much Vladivostock the terminus of the Trans- by the Powers named is the political more violent in kind, and we trust it will Siberian Railway, in no way indicates that account they would seek to make by it. If prove to be much shorter in duration. those efforts are being relaxed. Talienwan French and Russian capital is employed is to be abandoned simply because it has in this manner it will be the part of the disappointed expectations, and the selec- other Treaty Powers to see that Chinese tion of Vladivostock as the terminus of sovereign rights are respected, but it is the great railway is no doubt a measure of obvious that the seeds of serious complica- precaution, so that communication may not tions may easily be sown while these rail- be so readily closed with the coast by an ways are being laid. The best thing, were enemy in case of hostilities.
Moreover, it it practicable, would of course be to lend is known that these concessions to Chinese China the money, and let her make her sentiment are to be paid for by other own railways, under foreign supervision. concessions, which will probably be found Foreign investors would not, however, to possess substantial value. In the south consent to advance money for such a and on the west, France is pertinaciously purpose upon such terms; therefore that pushing her supposed interests, by deciding proposal is not within the scope of practical Prince Chun leaves Peking to-day on his to spend a vast sum in constructing a rail politics. Perhaps the most satisfactory way to Germany on the mission of apology. way from Laokay in Indo-China to Yunnan- arrangement would be for the capitalists of fu; by placing gunboats on the Canton and all the Great Powers to meet and agree West Rivers; by seeking to establish French upon their plan of action, each under- interests in Canton (including the opening taking the construction of some main line of a Post Office there); and by endeavouring within their sphere of influence. This has to develop trade at Kwanchauwan. We been done to a certain extent already. Russia do not say that these are not legitimate is making the Manchurian Railways and aspirations, so long as they are confined to contemplates connection between her own the development of trade, but unfortunately Central Asian Railway and the line to Pe-
SHANGHAI, 16th July, 5.15 p.m. Prince Chun landed in Shanghai to-day there is always a suspicion of political king; Germany is constructing those in Shan- motives lurking behind. Great Britain tung; France is projecting one into Yunnan; and proceeded in a chair, escorted by could have no possible objection to France none of which have been opposed by England. mounted Municipal Sikh Police and Chinese developing a valuable trade with the It should now be the turn of the latter to soldiers, through two miles of the British southern provinces of China, but she must claim her right to lay a main line, and this Settlement to the Taotai's foreign house in always regard with hostility any attempt should most certainly embrace the country Bubbling Well Road. The Prince is very to secure political influence with a view to lying between Hankow and Kowloon, via small and slight, pale and intelligent in establishing a protectorate over Kwang Canton-which we believe has been conceded face, with perfect manners. The streets tung. The British Government have never to an Anglo-American Syndicate--and also were crowded with Chinese, and the Maloo decorated from Bought this for themselves, although the any railways contemplated in the Yangtsze or Nanking Road colony of Hongkong has grown up
up at Valley region.
beginning to end.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS, [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 18th July, 8.7 a.m. The Governor of Shansi telegraphs that a party of eight Protestant missionaries have reached Taiyuanfu in safety.
Lieutenant-Colonel Powell, of General Barrow's staff, has arrived at Newchwang. The Russians now deny having arrested him at all.
SHANGHAI, 15th July, 8.20 p.m. Prince Chun arrived in Shanghai to-day. His official landing takes place to-morrow. He lodges at the Taotni's house in Bubbling Well Road. His only escort is the Muni- cipal Police.
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