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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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H.E. TAO MU'S RESIGNATION,
(Daily Press, 9th July.)
The
[July 14, 1902. HOME INFORMATION ABOUT CHINA.
(Daily Press, 10th July.)
It is a fairly familiar fact, at least in the Far East, that the number of writers about China is by no means limited by the amount of knowledge of the country and its affairs possessed by the literary class in general. We are accustomed to read the products of the pen of the hurrying traveller who has spent a few. months in this part of the world, or perhaps
and
even a week or two only in Hongkong and Shanghai. When therefore we take up a home review and see in the contents list an article dealing with China we do not as a rule expect much enlightenment, high though the standard of the review may be. A reader into whose hands falls the June number of the Contemporary Review, therefore, will not be so surprised at some of the remarks which he will find in an article therein, entitled "The Genius of China" written by Prince HESPER UKATOMSKI, a he might be, were he unacquainted with the readiness with which the public at home
less familiar subjects. With Prince accepts self-constituted authorities on the UKHтOмSKLS main argument, which is that Russia is China's only possible saviour, we need not deal here. Prince UKнтомSKI is a Russian and naturally does not see Chinese affairs as we see them. The Prince naturally finds the dangers which threaten China
foreigne's into the interior of China than arising mainly from the English. There is
from the ten times repeated benevolent
We are destruction of Chinese by our arms, or even " in this our careless government of them." not certain whether "our arms sentence is an allusion to Blagovestchensk
more to be dreaded from the intrusion of
prone to see danger in every move of Russian diplomacy, but there is this much to be said for them that it has been fully proved that this diplomacy requires the An Imperial Decree, published at Peking utmost vigilance, owing to the constant on the 2nd instant, has reached us by way of divergence between profession and practice. Shanghai, announcing that H.E. Tao Mu, The latest news about Manchuria, for Viceroy of the Two Kwang provinces, has instance, will not readily be received as been allowed to resign his post. true until we get confirmation from non- Decree acknowledges the receipt of a thir Russian sources. If Count CASSINI's memorial from To Mu, stating that in assurance to Washington is to be accepted, spite of the additional sick-leave granted by then a very few days' time should bring the Throne his maladies still continue support to the statement. Should it prove unabated, in consequence of which he again that Manchuria has actually been evacuated, prays to be allowed to resign his post in be no hindrance no doubt writers will hasten to ascribe the order that there may move to various causes.
Russia's sup-
offered in the management of the duties of The news of H.E. TAO porters will point to the evidence of Russia's such a high office. good faith, her enemies will suggest a Mu's resignation will be received with the secret compensation elsewhere or refer to greatest regret in Hongkong, for since his the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Last week arrival in Canton early in 1901 he has com- Sir CHARLES DILKE in the House of Commended himself to Europeans by his honest mona maintained that the Alliance was attempts to administer his charge. When hostile to Russia. So in a sense it must be he was transferred from the Shen-Kan admitted to be. But for Russin's constant provinces to Canton, it was felt that he had Aggression in the outlying provinces of a very hard task before him iu succeeding China and her attempts in the direction of the late LI HUNG-CHANG, whose stern, Gorea, the Alliance, though based on the strong will had kept troubles away from traditional sympathies and mutual interests the provinces which be governed. However, of the two nations, as Lord CRANBORNE although he was a Manchu, and therefore said, would hardly have been formulated. not likely to recommend him to the The sympathy in policy of Great Britain Cantonese, on his arrival at Cantou early and Japan would doubtless have existed in 1901 TAO MU soon showed that he was without the common danger threatened the right kind of official to fill so important a by Russia to foster it, but we cannot post. He started at once to cut down unnec- suppose that the position of "glorious essary expenses and to exercise supervision isolation," as it was mistakenly called,, over his subordinates. He was an improve- from outside. Hence Lord CRANBORNE's honesty of his conduct, if not so successful would have been abandoned without pressure ment on the late LI HUNG-CHANG by the phrase about Great Britain not seeking in checking the bane of the Kwang Pos treaties but granting them, apart from its vinces, the ever-flourishing piracy. He has ill-chosen language, must strike the hearer worked harmoniously with the foreign us weak. If the Alliance be beneficial to representatives at Canton and with the Britain (and most Far Eastern residents authorities here, the complicity of the will agree with Lord CHARLES BERESFORD Chinese Government in the Gage Street about this) then it was not bur place murder being, as far as we know, the only to stand upon
our dignity. The only unpleasant incident during TA6 Mu's That his ill-health and age valid reason for postponing the Anglo- viceroyalty. Japanese agreement, if it were necessary to (he is about sixty-seven) have compelled his conclude it, was that public opinion at home retirement is much to be regretted. Some was not, before the campaign in North anxiety will be felt as to his successor at China in 1900, educated up to it, the Canton, a post which requires one of the majority still being content with the less ablest men at China's disposal. To govern mannerly of the missionaries to dismiss the the Cantonese alone requires great talent; Japanese as "heathens." But, as the in addition, to live on terms with the foreign preserve harmonious Times protests, our attitude toward Japan element at Shameen and is not to be interpreted according to Lord relations with Hongkong calls for a very CRANBORNE's unfortunate phrase. Com. strong and prudent Viceroy. The Shanghai munity of interest has brought about the native official rumours designate as Tao treaty and community of interest, should it Mu's probable successor WEI KUANG-TAO, the Yun-Kuei provinces last, will maintain it. The hostility to Russia Viceroy implied in it is only to Russia the aggressor(Yunnan and Kweichau), whither he was and the violator of pledges. The conclusion promoted from the post of Acting Viceroy of the South African War will not lead to of the Min-Che provinces. Little is known any outburst of provocative Bassophobia. of Wer except that he is a conservative, a Those politicians at St. Persburg and qualification which does not recommend him North Eastern Asia who expected to take in foreign eyes as ruler of the Two Kwang. advantage of the protractel struggle in An enlightened official at Canton is an Africa to establish Russia beyond the absolute necessity for the welfare of China. possibility of dislodgement within a short Our senior evening contemporary has a distance of Peking may lament the Peace telegram stating that TAK Sow (for this is Hongkong to stop as long as they are with reason; but thereby they prove their thereby
the usual spelling of the name), who held tolerated, but we do not know that our bad faith.
the deputy viceroyalty between the terms of proportion of criminals is extraordinary, see- office of LI HUNG-CHANG and TAO MU, Irasing how great is the freedom of ingress into the Colony. However, Prince UxнTоMBKI been appointed to the full post now. an appointment would appear better than tells us that these criminals, where in that of a known conservative like WEI danger of being followed up, commit some light offence and get sent to our prison for a short term, thereby escaping pursuit. The hostility between the Chinese, instigated by the Cantonese authorities, and the local "more than once expressed whites has itself in a very aggravated way in the past." True, there have been difficulties, even grave difficulties in the past, but where is there greater harmony between the white and Chinese population than there has been in Hongkong of recent years? Where
The new house and opium taxes which have been recently instituted by the provincial authorities throughout the Empire to help to pay off the War Indemnity, do not seem to be very much welcomed, says the N.-C. Daily News, especially in the northern portion of Klangan According to a despatch received on the 10th ult., from Yangchou, near Chinking
yumber of largs hongs in the former city called upon to pay the taxes have closed heinsbusinessses as a protest, amongst them prominent tea-hongs, furniture-shops. and other dealers of long standing and in Yangohon. Several opium-dealers
followed suit.
- of
KUANG-TAO.
Such
The Rubattino steamer Bormida which together with the Bisagno was on the Bombay- Hongkong run for several years, has been withdrawn from this line and returned to Italy. The Bisagno also returns to Genoa on her homeward trip. They will be replaced by. the new steamers Isola d'Ischia and Isola di Capri, both ships of about 5,000 reg. tons and considerably improved passenger accommodation
or not. But what the writer wishes to
Russia's emphasise is that
chief problem in the yellow East is to guard against the possibility of China becoining what Southern Asin has become under military instruction, "lest precious Russian blood should be spilt, and enormous sums should be spent, in the struggle with oncoming disasters which we must always look forward to and prepare for."
However, it is not to Prince UKHTOMSKI'S theories, but to some of his statements to which we wish to allude. He takes Hong- kong as an example of wrong government of the Chinese, and his remarks about this Colony are interesting, if not exactly in- structive. Into the constituents of the
native population here there enter, he says, to a notable drgree wanderers and criminals, who find it advantageous for a time to escape from prosecution on their native soil, under the shadow of a liberal foreign govern-
ment.
It is unfortunately true that bad characters from the mainland or from neighbouring ports have a way of coming i to
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