August 10, 1901.]
would offer his life in sacrifice, but before so doing he presented his dying address. "The birds sing mournfully before they die, and the words of a dying man should be words of wisdom." He told of the misfortunes of his master, of which this last was the crown, and begged the Regents to take into con- sideration his piteous accents; after which he sealed the petition with his life. Though no immediate result has ever come about from Wu's devotion, the incident_ever afterwards cast a gloom over the life of the boy KWANG HSU, and has been doubtless one of the things which have tended to make his life sorrowful. It has by the Confucian faction been cited as a judgment that his childlessness has left him no immediate issue to offer the sacrifices to his ma nes ; and that as an intruder he will have for the ages to wander-a restless forgotten spirit through the realms of Hades a fact that
has doubtless tended to sour his mind.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
RUSSIA AND TIBET.
(Daily Press, 8th August.)
123
ANGLO-JAPANESE RELATIONS.
(Daily Press, 9th August.) Lord LANSDOWNE's statement in the House In spite of what we have heard of the of Lords on Tuesday as to the necessity of entirely non-political character of the recent Great Britain maintaining most cordial Tibetan mission to St. Petersburg, we are relations with Japan is interesting as being now told in REUTER's telegram, published the most authoritative declaration on this to-day, that the effect of the mission is point made in either House of Parliament already noticeable in the eagerness of the for a long time. Whatever may have been Chinese to renew negotiations concerning the feeling of the majority of Englishmen Manchuria. We do not, however, learn toward Japan before the China-Japan War from any other source that the Chinese are most writers agree that the expectation, eager to renew negotiations about Man-though possibly not the hope, in Britain churia, and it is difficult to see why they was that China would be victorious-it is should be so. As a matter of fact, it can-certain that the result of the war was to not be said that the Chinese have at any induce an entirely different attitude of mind stage shown any anxiety to negotiate about toward Japanese progress. It was no longer the northern province. A small clique of open to say that Japan's remodelling of her self-seeking politicians, almost entirely army and construction of her navy on Mauchu, have proved themselves willing to European lines was merely superficial. The listen to Russian advances in the matter, rapidity of the Island Empire's success was That from an European standpoint and La HUNG-CHANG has displayed his so marked that it was clear that the Oriental the band ablest SUCCESKOr to the usual pro-Russian proclivities. The enger- method of warfare has given place to the Throne, in the event of the death with-
ness has been all on the side of the Russian new style without impairing the martini out issue of KWANG HSU, would be diplomatists who have taken advantage of energy of the people. The eyes of the whole our recent visitor, the Emperor's brother their sovereign's peaceful and non-aggressive world were then turned to Japan, and the TSAI LI, by succession Prince CHUN, there declarations to make his promises worthless presence of a new factor in Far Eastern is no doubt; but from a Chinese point of in the face of the world. Among the politics had to be recognised. The way in view the succession of brother would be an Russian public men whose words and which the European Powers turned the actual impiety, in this case aggravated by actions are always worth studying, from the changed state of affairs to their own the fact that his brother's accession as a fact of the influence which he is known to advantage is too well known to require TSAI, where a Pu should have been chosen, possess, Prince UKнтоMSKY occupies a pro- comment. Russia with her usual diplomatic had been against the conscience of the more minent place, and certain remarks which ability made a substantial gain at no rigid Confucianists. There are, however, occurred in a recent article in the Viedomosti | cost
to herself. France and Germany numerous descendants in the direct line of of St. Petersburg, the Prince's organ, have not supported her, and Great Britain looked the Emperor TAO KWANG, any of whom unnaturally attracted considerable attention.ou. while her stateamen made ami. might have a title, in the proper generation The publication of the article was directly able remarks about Russia's claims to to the Throne, but so serious has been the due to statements widely published in the an ice-free port. Japan, however, though degeneration of the stock during the present Russian Press to the effect that the Tibetan robbed of a large part of the spoils of century that it is understood that there Embassy had come on a high political | victory, was henceforward in a very different was little room for choice in the case of mission, and in particular for the purpose position from that which she had ever Prince PU CHUN selected by the Empress. of bringing about the establishment of a occupied before, and the possibility of her TAO KWANG's eldest son, Prince I WEI, is permanent Tibetan diplomatic representative alliance with any of the Powers was no represented only by adoption; his fifth is in St. Petersburg. The article commences longer in onceivable. There was even at represented in the person of the present by remarking upon the extravagant and this period no want of advocates for a closer rebel, the infamous Prince TUAN; his sixth absurd statements of the newspapers with union between Great Britain and Japan, but is represented by the present Prince Kusa, regard to the Embassy, and remarks that | unfortunately the grossly exaggerated but neither he nor his brother is spoken the stories told as to the prospect of close stories, for the most part circulated by of in favourable terms. Going back to an relations between the Dalai Lama and people who had not been on the spot, of earlier generation, there is of course Prince Russia are simply impositions on the public, Japanese barbarity after victory had con- KING, but as he belongs to the I genera and have the further disadvantage of fur. siderable weight with the home public, tion, neither he nor his sou could legallynishing Eugland with a pretext for interven-The events of 1900-1901 have enlightened succeed. Altogether the succession to the tion in Tibet which Russin would find it the world as to the boasted superior human- disgraced throue of K'ANGHI is a subject | very difficult to prevent. The idle talk of a ity of European warfare, and it is not likely beset with difficulties; and while we must Russian protectorate over Tibet, continues that crities will again have the courage-to acknowledge that its present occupant, the writer, can only be productive of harm dignify the quality by such a name-to though not so strong-minded as is advisable to Russian travellers going to the country, compare the behaviour of Japanese troops to restore the former prestige of the House, besides irritating the Chinese, and inciting unfavourably with those of other civilised and unfortunately of rather fragile constitu- the Anglo-Indian Government to a more nations. The question of Occidental and tion, is yet a clever and well meaning young active policy. The only desire of the Japanese relations has therefore, we may man, it is the best interests of China that Tibetans is to preserve themselves from hope, been cleared for ever of cant. The the title of Crown Prince should be bestowed foreign invasion, even the invasion of handling and conduct of the Japanese army on some prince with a cleaner record than scientific expeditious, one of which recently has been the admiration of those who the bad-dispositioned son of the infamous went so far as to shoot twenty-one persons fought with it as allies, and military critics TSAI I, the present TUAN SIN Wang, in the territory of the Dalai Lama. "Before have not been slow to express their opinions. the appearance of this article in the Viedo. It cannot therefore been wondered that the mosti Prince UKнTOMSKY is said to have] Powers have all been reconsidering the sub- had a long interview with the Tibetan ject of their relations with Japan. envoys. But whether this gives any special Lord LANSDOWNE, in his reply to Lord significance to the concluding remark in the SPENCER, remarked that it was all the more article to which we have been alluding it is easy for Great Britain to maintain cordial difficult to say it is not safe to deduce relations, inasmuch as Japanese policy was much from either official or semi-similar to British, referring of course to the official, much less from individual expres. constantly expressed desire of both nations sions of policy from Russian politicians. for the maintenance of the "open door" in We quote, however, the final words, China and the freeig of Chinese trade if merely as a matter of interest : "Know- generally from the numberless hindrances ing, then, the truth regarding the pretended which at present act so prejudicially on it. gravitation of the Lhassa hierarchy It cannot be denied that the interests of towards Russia, one asks oneself whether | Britain and Japan in China run very much indeed the Ambxissadors have not been in the same direction, and that there is "sent to request us to interest ourselves | more reason for intimate relations between “rather less or in a less aggressive form in the two nations than between Japan and "the destiny of a country which, through any other Power. Nevertheless it must "its geographical position, is certain to not be forgotten that there are various
points on which there is a divergence of
|
A. Loo
The Eastern Extension Telegraph Co.'s party to establish a station on Direction Island, one of the Cocos Group, left Singapore on the 1st inst. by the 8.8. Giang Ann. The number comprised Mr. A. Cameron (Superintendent) Messrs. A. E. Spriggs, J. Ingram, Macartney, and J. Wishart, and about thirty Asiatics. There are at present no buildings on Direction Island and the Giang Aun is convey. ing thither materials for erecting temporary quarters, etc., also stores and provisions to last the party during the remainder of the present year. The station will be a connecting link in the cable between West Australia and the Cape, and the ships engaged in the work of laying that cable, the Scotia and the Anglia, are expected at Direction Island some time during September. These vessels will also bring out supplies and building materials from home for the station, which," it is expected, will be augmented later on, as regards staff, eto.
46
5+
** remain res nullius.'
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