376
INCENDIARISM AT TIENTSIN.
(Daily Press, 5th November.)
It is little to be wondered at that, as our correspondent informs us. people at Tient- sin are recalling the fires previous to the recent outbreak in North China. The
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
RUSSIA, MANCHURIA, AND THE
POWERS.
(Daily Press, 5th November.) in North China will no doubt be a further One effect of the threatened new troubles
[November 9, 1901.
SIAMESE FINANCES.
(Daily Press, 6th November.) The report of Mr. C. RIVETT-CARNAC, the
120 (ie., 1901-2), the receipt of which we Financial Adviser to the Siamese Govern- ment, on the Budget for the Siamese year
simultaneous burning down of British bar. delay in the settlement of the Manchurian | noted the other day, is a very interesting
racks both at Tientsin and at Sinbo, a little above the Taku Forts on the Peiho, the destruction of large commercial premises, and a number of smaller conflagrations at Tientsin cannot but suggest the work ot incendiaries. The coincidence would, other wise be miraculous. Fortunately the mis- creants, whoever they were, seem to have
until the patience of all concerned has been question, which has already dragged on seriously tried. In Manchuria itself, how ever, in spite of the presence of the large Russian forces, disturbances have never ceased, whereas in Chibli there has been a As will be greater appearance of order. seen from the report of the Times corres-
pondent at St. Petersburg, quoted in another column, there is no denial on the
first of its kind to be issued. document. It is, as we have stated, the its pages amply tends to strengthen the A perusal of opinion that Siam is next to Japan the most progressive race of the Far East.
She occupies a far more dangerous position than does the Island Empire, and even if her very existence is not threatened by one of
the powerful neighbours between whom she acts as buffer-state, she at least has to be
selected their day badly, for the absence of wind saved half the town from destruction. However the practically successful carrying part of Russin that negotiations with respect | perpetually on the watch. Past aggres- out of their diabolical scheme on so large a to Manchuria have been proceeding. Such sions, down to the retention of Chantaboon,
scale argues a wide-spread organisation, and can but cause dismay in the hearts of all re- sidents in China that the costly operations of last year have failed so signally to produce the desired effect on the more turbulent elements in the North. Rumours
she values her integrity. have taught her that there can be no rest if Even now it threatened with the Indo-Chinese Govern- seems that, pessible complications are
vain and would have given an unusually a denial would indeed have been singularly
As the news of the Russian avowal follows plain proof of duplicity at St. Petersburg.
on the announcement of the Dowager Em-ment. M. DOUMER's approaching visit to press's denunciation of the Convention, the Bangkok is hardly likely to be merely a of a forthcoming fresh outbreak have been situation is certainly no clearer than before. diplomatic courtesy, and it is not certainly a current for some weeks now, up to the Meanwhile another Japanese report reaches holiday trip. But, to return to the report, alleged sending of a confidential despatch published, the text of the new treaty and the finances of the Siamese Government are us, giving, in another form than hitherto Mr. RIVETT-CARNAC claims with justice that to Washington announcing the likelihood of a recrudescence of Boxerism. The warn-creating a buffer state in Manchuria between elasticity of the revenue donsequent on stating that Russia was at first in favour of in a satisfactory condition and points to the ings, however, have been of a very age Russian and Chinese territory. Who was improved administration and better govern- more vague than the early to govern the buffer state it is not said, but ment, while the expenditure is well under prophecies of last year's troubles-and we
the position Russia would have held in it.
The attitude of Germany, as explained in what might be expected. our London correspondent's telegram, is Germany is anxious to have the best possible relations with Russia; she has no interests in Man-
nature- far
do not know of any official notice being fairly shrewd guesses could be made as to control. The Estimates for the year 102
""
taken of them. The fires of the 1st instant took place in a comparatively limited area, and it may be found, as will earnestly be hoped, that they were the work of a local gang. They are still
very serious loss of the lives of two British soldiers and churia, but she wishes to see North China in occurrences, and involving as they did the
a state of peace which will leave her to 1,500,000 taels in Tientsin alone, call for very develop her commerce in her own sphere vigorous punishment. It seems evident that there. Provided therefore she can assist the proximity of Tientsin native city, a
Russia without offending Great Britain and refuge of the worst characters, to the foreign Japan, she is quite ready to see Manchuria Settlements is a perpetual menace to the safety of the latter. It is difficult to ima.bsorbed into the dominions of the Tsar. gine whence otherwise the murderous incen- dieries were able in security to commence the operations which have cost the foreigners 80 much. A thorough cleansing of the native city is urgently called for, if the whole course of recent European policy in China is not to be stultified. Tientsin should be put in such a state that it can no longer be an Alsatia menacing the lives of foreign residents and peaceful natives. The Powers have still at Tientsin enough troops
The
to see that this is done at once. Chinese Government cannot refuse to co- operate. If the perpetrators of the latest
It
Moreover, as is pointed out, Count VON BULOW sees an excellent chance of playing will be remembere·l the grateful rôle of "honest broker."
that Marquis Iro during his late visit to New York expressed exactly the same wish on behalf of his own country for the advancement of the peace of the Far East. It is perhaps unnecessary to state that Japan, unhampered by Euro- pean complications, seems far better cut out view. She is at least not striving to profit to play, the part, from the British point of
Germany has already taken a long step by the dismemberment of China, while
the
construction
**
sum
had been made up to show a small surplus of 25,712 Ticals, when the award in the case of Messrs. MURRAY CAMPBELL v. the Siamese Government for prematurely closing contract for the Korat Railway
came in, requiring a of £161,000 being paid to the firm. deficit of 2,774,288 Ticals therefore had Mr. RIVETT-CARNAC, "thanks to the fore- to be entered in the budget.
But," says sight of the Government in taking advantage of the favourable rate of exchange to remit to London in 1899 and 1900 for temporary investment a considerable portion of our surplus Tisal balance, we shall find no lifficulty in meeting the award on due date." Moreover, owing to the above-mentioned elasticity of the revenue, it is not certain
that the year will not, like its predecessors,
close after all with a small surplus.
The report goes on to take the estimated figures of the sources of revenue and ex- penditure, compared with past years. Into but a few heads are especially worthy of most of these we do not propose to enter,
Adviser takes the opportunity of sounding notice, and under two of these the Financial
outrage are not speedily caught and made toward that end and is apparently willing the note of warning against too rapid pro-
to undergo the just penalty for their mon- strous crime, that Government will be suspected with good reason of another display of treachery such as will make China's best friends despair altogether of her future.
The late doyen of the Diplomatic Body in Peking, M. de Cologan, left on the 21st ult. As the representative of the Spanish Govern- ment, and not specially concerned in either the commersial or missionary aspects of the negotiations, he could take a fairly neutral position, says the Peking correspondent of our Shanghai morning contemporary. Personally he has been agreeable to all. In some questions he took the mild view held by Russia and the United States. It is thought he may not return, and the Spanish Legation will be given
up.
As the Philippines are now the possession of the United states instead of Spain, Spain has really no issues in China, while Americans find that their duties are extending. The temporary doyen is now the Austro-Hungarian Minister, Baron Czikann de Wahlborn, who, however, intends to leave soon.
?
that Russia should take another. What
gress.
44
The former of these is that of Post
will actually be the next move in the Man-Office and Telegraph Revenue. Increases churian question, it is impossible to foresee. of 19,383 and 52,134 Ticals respectively are Great Britain and the United States might expected, but nevertheless the working of do not seem inclined to say it, while the have much to say, but their Governments the Department is not looked on as satis- The net losses for the years factory. inerchants, whose trade is threatened with 118, 119, and 120 are 295,371, 638,424, and extinction, are impotent.
739,238 Ticals, and the report says:-" Al- though it cannot be expected that the 'Department should work at a profit for some years to come, it is quite out of the question that the loss should continue to "increase at the rate brought out by the 41 The figures. The telegraph system of Siam 'has been enormnously extended during the past few years, and telegraph stations have "been apparently established in the interior "without due regard as to whether they "would pay or whether the political and "commercial advantages to be derived from "them would compensate for the expenses
The members of the Manila Board of Health are now busy searching the highways and by- ways of Manila to find a suitable locality for the institution of a plague camp, whither all suspected cases of plague may be immediately removed for observation and treatment. idea is to secure an open space of ground and thereon erect a sort of village. A. hospital for plague patients will be the chief feature, and nipa huts will be erected for the accommodation of those families in which plague has broken out. It is proposed to have water and light laid on and to have everything done to make the village an independent community. Every effort will be made to have the camp as far advanced as possible by the time the plague season again sets in.
"L
*
2
T
of their construction, working, and main- "tenance." There are six new lines plann. ed in the Budget, and Mr. Rivett-Carnac
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