December 7, 1901.1
that of the Tear. A Russo-Japanese entente would certainly conduce to the possibility of this attempt..
(Daily Press, 5th December.)
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We hazarded the opinion two days ago that a Russo-Japanese entente would conluce to the possibility of an attempt, recently advocated by a number of English writers, to establish a better feeling between our Government and that of the Tsar. The remarks of the Novoe Vremya of St. Peters burg, as telegraphed by our London corres- pondent on the 3rd instant, suggest that an alliance between Russia and Japan. iu- terpreted by certain Russian politicians, would have the very reverse effect. When the Novoe Vremyn spoke of understanding third parties' objections to the alliance and of hoping that Marquis Iro would prevent the Japanese from becoming dupes of their alleged well-wishers, it is fairly plain what country was hinted at in the expression
third parties'
and well-wishers.' However, the Russian newspaper, though deprecating Japan listening Great Britain, confesses itself unable to suggest to the Japanese any immediate grounds for
with Russia. alliance an
The two countries must find comuron interests first, it says.
We have already suggested one reason for alliance, if only both Powers are sincere in their auxiety to stand forth as the champions of Asia as opposed to the rest of the world. This would be a very powerful common interest, if, as we say, both Powers are honest in their protesta tions. It is to be feared that the bypothesis is untenable. Russia has yet to give her first indication of disinterestedness, in her behaviour toward Asiatic nations. Japan, in spite of her war against China, has a cer- tain right to pose as she does. Nevertheless, should the Tsar's advisers suffer his declara- | tions and those of his ministers to be carried out, a Russo-Japanese alliance might be capable of realisation. It is such an alliance which might render less distant the drawing together of Great Britain and Russia, for which certain writers in some of the home magazines have been earnestly arguing.
CONCERNING ALLIANCES,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The
military nations into contact and uneon- sciously produced certain groupings, some temporary, others of a more enduring nature. Much was hard some months ago of the cordiality of the Francó-German forces; judging by General VOYRON'S recently published letters, this was much exaggerated. - On the other hand, there is unhappily, no reason to doubt the hostility of the French and British troops, though not of the generals. The British and Russians again came very, near to actual fighting, though in this case it was not me racial antagonism but territorial disputes which occasioned the differences, American and British troops were on the host of terms all through" the canipaign. The Americans received to a less extent, the benefit of the suspicions levelled against the Tine British and other Anglo-Saxons. Germans both acte in harmony with the celebrated “Agre-ment," and in spite of the dislike manifested by German rities for our Indian soldiers no serious quarrel ton's place. The Japanese, notwithstanding anti- Asiatic prejudices, sucrevded in compelling general respect. Since the termination of the China campaign events have occurred to strengthen or modify the teadeuries therein visible. Anglophobia is at present rampant in Germany, and in a less degre in France. Continental feeling toward the United States has not grown more favour- able.
that
The hollowness of Franeo-Gierman. friendship has been demonstrateil. Between Britain and Russia the situation is eon- At a very oppor- siderably less straine 1. tune moment, therefore, an article apɛatreid in the November number of the National Review discussing British foreign policy. with particular reference to the subject of alliances. It is not surprising to hear that the article has created a certain am out of sensation, as, seemingly the work of several hands, it shows
many persons, thoroughly informed about British external politics, have been arriving slowly, and perhaps reluctantly, at the same conclusions. The gist of the article is that Great Britzin would be well advised to attemp to arrive, at an understanding with Russia, abandon ing as hopeless the cherished idea of eliser relations with Germany. This is by no means a new idei, but it is developed by the National Rerier writer or writers more cautiously and with hotter knowledge than by any who have previously lisenssed the question in print. The pres nt' ill-feeling between Britain and Russia, it is declarel, has been perpetually fostered at Berlin; yet, of all the countries in the world, the Power which would have most reason rue the substitution of Germany for Great Britain as mistress of the sea, would "be Russia.
There' is an idea growing steadily amongst Germans that
should
into expand Germany
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why either the one or the other should b
We made the cat's-paw of a third Power.
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"must point out, however, that, while it is true, beyond all doubt, that the raw material for an Anglo-Russian agreement "abounds,' there are doubtful elements in the suggestions which are put forward in the National Revier. The abstention of Russia from any attempt to interfere with "the status quo in Egypt practically con- erdes nothing new, while, on the other
•hand, to give Russia, so far as we are con. **cerned, a completely free band in disposing *o* the Balkan Peninsula would be to “ignore not only the rights of the Sultan. but those of the independent States of Rumania and Bulgaria, which British policy has so largely contributed to estab- lish and develop Po abstain from favour- “ing the development of German schemes of expansion in Asiatic Turkey is another matter Our proposed co-operation in senring for Russia a commercial ontler on the Persian Gulf does not appear to be balanced by any quid pro quo,
By far the most important point, however, in these suggestions is that of an un- `derstanding, in the Far East, between
• Great Britain and Russia. including "Japan and providing for her interests
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the mainland. If such an under- stauling could be arrived at, recognising not in worls only, but in reality-- the predominant authority of the British Em- pire in the Yangtsze Valley, the similar position of Russia in Manchuria and Mongolia, and an exclusive sphere of in-
· Huenee in Corea for Japu, the founda- »tion would be laid, no doubt, of a really
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conservative policy in regard to China." We may cho the remark of the Times :— How far a policy of this kind is within the limits of practical polities we do not undertake to say.
BLAKE PIER.
ཉི་མ་མན
(Daily Press, 4th December. ) On the 29th November, 1900, rather more than a year ago, the Blake Pier was opened with no little ceremony, and in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, by His Excellency the Governor. The occasion ha:l been looked forward to with some expecta- tion. The pier was something greatly superior to its predecessors, the old wooden Pedder's wharves, which had hitherto done duty as the central landing-place in the city of Victoria: It was hope and believed that a pier worthy of the port and the Colony was now to take the place of the short, shabby, and commodious wharves which up to the date of the new Roclamation had disgrace the water-front of the city. rumour had also found currency that the Clock Tower, which, though at some little empire branching from the Bosporns distance, has always been associated with "to the Persian Gulf.
Such the landing-place at this point, was shortly
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(Daily Press, 6th December.) Discussions of alliances, probable or other, wise, are just now popular with magazine and journalistic writers all over the civilisel world. It seems to be felt that the progress of affairs recently has necessitated some re-arrangement of relations between the Powers. Not long ago, it may be remem- bered, we drew attention to the hints given in certain quarters on the Continent of Europe that the Triple Alliance might not be renewed. This rumour was partly due, no doubt, to the warmth of the Franco- Italian demonstrations, arising out of a visit of the Italian fleet to the coast of France. There was also behind it the uncertainty as to the course of events in Austria Hungary when the Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH dies, breaking the bond which at present holds together the German and other elements in his empire. But two occurrences more than anything else have tended to alter the aspert of international affairs. One is the appear-ments in the National Review article against ance of the United States as an Imperial, as well as a great commercial, Power; and the other is the recent crisis in China. The first has brought about among the Continental nations a strong feeling of antagonism to the States, which makes for a closer friendship between them and ourselves, the victims of unreasoning Anglophobia. The Chinese crisis has brought the troops of all the
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the objective of these ambitious ; to be moved down to the new pier, and Sir “dreamers, known as the Pan-Germanic || HENRY BLAKE'S expected speech was there- “League," a body most tenderly regarded fore invested with more than usual interest,
by the German Government, and it em- bolies a policy as antagonistic to Russia as the German naval programme is to England."
We cannot attempt here to give the argu- striving any more for Germany's friendship or for cultivating that of Russia. We may, however, quote an extract from the Times. | dealing with the article in question, whe
not only sketches the writers' ideas, but also criticises them to a certain extent. ", here "no real bitterness of is," says the Times, "feeling to divide the British Empire from the Russian Empire, and still less reason
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not only because the Clock Tower in its present position has ceased to be either ornamental or useful, but because it has become a serious obstruction to the tide of traffe in Queen's Road Central, and is lost amidst the surrounding buildings. There was also in connection with the new pier a great aud manifest want, which it was felt would seriously impair its usefulness, and this was the apparent absence of any provision for the suplier of passengers from the fiery heat of the sun or the pitiless · pelting of summer rains. Former wharves had been disfigured by ciausy but useful matsheds, which, though not always a very
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