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RUSSIA AND MANCHURIA,
(Daily Press, 20d May.) Before we can appreciate the value of the formal denial given in St Petersburg to the reports current in Europe as to the demands which Russia is reported to have
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND any other conclusion than that Manchuria is destined to remain under the virtual if not the actual protection of Russia for a very long time to come.
(Daily Press, 5th May.) ̈
There is a considerable difficulty in as certaining the true facts about what is occurring in Newchwang and Manchuria generally. What we do know for certain --and about which there can be no possible mistake, is that both Russia and Japan are exercising themselves to collect all available supplies while as yet there is the trade in coal, provisions, live stock, and, no political obstacle in the way, and that generally, munitions of war of sorts is brisk to a degree. Practically Russia has con-obtained control of telegraphic communica
tions between Manchuria and the remain ter of China, and little, unless what suits her, seems to escape. The other Powers, if they know anything, are equally reticent, so that except from scattered hints we are unable to form any accurate iden of what is really being done. As for our own Government, judging from the past, it is doubtful if they have commenced to understand the seriousness of the situation; yet the Russians, to judge from the preparations they are making, are, in spite of the pacific assurances given in St. Petersburg, ap- parently bent on some sudden coup- probably without the preliminary of a declaration of war, and with such a foe it is well to be forearmed. It is also well to remember that it is an old habit of that
made on the Chinese Government respect ing Manchuria, it is necessary to know precisely what these demands are alleged to be. It is impossible to believe that all the circumstantial reports which have emanated from Peking of Russian intrigues and demands aiming at a virtual annexation of Manchuria can be entirely without founda- tion. It recalls a somewhat similar situa- tion which arose early in the year -1901 when riports appeared in the press asserting that Russia had cluded, or was engaged in concluding with China, a Convention or permanent arrange ment which would give Russia new rights and a virtual Protectorate in Southern Manchuria. Count LAMBDORFF at that time, when informing the British Minister at St. Petersburg that these reports were “quite untrue" explained that the rumours possibly arose from the fact that the Russian Military Auhorities in the pro- vince had been instructed to arrange with the local civil authorities the terms of a modus vivendi between then for the duration of the simultaneous presence of Russian and Chinese authorit es in Southern Man churia, the object leig to prevent the recurrence of disturbances in the vicinity the Russian frontier and
[May 9, 1903, for conquest's sake, and her only scruple has been as to whether she possessed the necessary force at her disposal. It is hote- worthy that Russia has been ~~ beating about the bush, pretending to want a British loan, now that she has exhausted the galli. bility of France. It is unlikely that she of Great Britain again opening for her her flatters herself that there is any probability purse-strings. Still, Russia seldom makes overtures of the kind without an object; and judging from what she is doing else- where, and the secret manner in which she is wont to lay her plans, we are fully justified in the conclusion that her approa into the belief that she has no ulterior ches are simply meant to cajole England schemes in her head. The paraded conces sions of the TSAR have failed to arouse the sensibilities of the British public, but Russia for some reason of her own is unwontedly desirous of calming British susceptibilities. Is the object to enable her to strike a sudden blow at the only Power that boldly essays to check her dangerous career in the East? Time alone can supply the answer to the question.
PLAGUE PRECAUTIOUS.
to pro the railway from the Russian Power to seek by some treachery at the Other places which have suffered from its
an
frontier to Port Arthu In view of the denial given at St. Petersburg to the reports now current we can only conclude that they originate in similar attempts which the Russian military authorities are now making to arrange a modus vivendi, the details of which are not yet officially known at St. Petersburg. At the time of this conversation which Sir C. Scorr had with Count LAMSDORFF the latter said that when it came to the final and complete evacuation of Mancuria the Russian Gov- ernment would be obliged to obtain from the Central Government of China effective guarantee against the recurrence of attacks on her frontier and the destruc- tion of her railway, but there was no intention of seeking this guarantee in any acquisition of territory or of an actual or virtual Protec- torate over Manchuria, the object being to simply guarantee the faithful observance in the future by China of the terms of the Agreement, which she had been unable to fulfil during the disturbances Article III in the Manchurian Convention of last year, we may mention, provides that the Govern- ments of hussia and China all undertake to instruct the Russian Military authorities and the Dzian-dzians to make an arrange. ment to fix the number and determine the stations of the Chinese troops in Manchuria, as well as the Russian troops which have not been withdrawn, and other arrange- wents of a similar nature. Apparently these are the negotiations which have created the present stir, and it is by no means improb- nble that the Russian negotiators have gone much farther in their demands than the Government, at St. Petersburg, in view of their explicit assurances to the Powers, are prepared for the present to go...
The dental from St. Petersburg must be accepted for what it may be worth. Un happily many previous declarations of a similar character at St. Petersburg have proved not to be worth much and in view of what Russia has accomplished in the province we find a difficulty in coming to
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beginning to render helpless the foe against whom they intend to strike. Of such a character was the treacherous attack on the Turkish fleet in the harbour of Sinope which ushered in the Crimean war, and of a similar nature was the altogether uncalled- for massacre of the Chiuese not three years ago at the town of Blagoveschensk. The Russian fleet, it is well to remember, has just reached its destination and nothing would be more consonant with Russian practice than that, without any previous notification of a state of war, and while the two nations were to all outward appearance at peace, an opportunity should be taken to cripple the Power they most fear. It is fortunate that the Japanese are in posses sion of an intelligence department second to none, and are probably nearly as well informed as the Russiaus themselves as to what is being done. The knowledge of this has apparently led them to unwonted caution, and it is not impossibly connected with some such plot that the Russians are to outer show devoting themselves to negotiations, and are making pretence of offering terms to China. It is not a practice with them to be scrupulous about making engagements, and it is far more likely that the pretended negotiations at Peking are only intended us blinds to bulldoze Japan and England till their commanders see the opportunity of taking some unexpected advantage. may seen a work of supererogation to caution our Japanese friends, but even an astute nation like the Japanese may be taken uuawares, and be led into serious danger thereby.
It
England, according to old custom, being Russia evidently calculates on surprised; being desirous herself of putting off the evil day, and having herself no ambitious designs in the Far East, she is loth to believe that the other is seeking for the sake of mere greed to hurry on a con- test, which once begun must involve the whole world. Russia, however, it is unfor- tunate, has never permitted any such senti- ment to interfere with her lust of conquest
(Daily Press, 6th May.) Are we to have the plague, like the poor, round, brings this dreaded visitant, which always with us? Every year, as it comes appears first in a sporadic then in epidemic form. Since its first outbreak in epidemio form no year has been free from the pest. ravages have since enjoyed some immunity; Hongkong and Canton seem destined to be annually afflicted with it. Even Pak- hoi, which was the first port in Kwangtung to suffer from plague, which is believed to have been introduced there from Yunnan, is clear of it, this year. Colony, where a Sanitary Board watches over In this British
the health of the place, and all the resources of medical science should be available, the plague is rampant every year, and all the efforts put forth to arrest its spread and mitigate its virulence alike seen hopeless and useless.
cases is apparently as high as ever, and the The percentage of deaths to returns show that though so far the season has proved fairly healthy and seasonable, the number of cases is more or less steadily advancing. Why is this? Is it all in vain used disinfectants lavishly, whitewashed that we bave netted and trappel the drains, and cleansel tenemen's periodically, closed number of insanitary dwelling-houses, and waged constant war against filth generally? It would indeed seem so. The returns for the forty-eight hours commencing at noon showed that there were 44 cases, of which on Saturday and ending at noon on Monday 18 were dumped?
upon the subject? We think it does. Does the last figure throw any light The practice followed by the Chinese "of of plague in the dumping the bodies of those who have died streets is undoubtedly practice is resorted to for the double pur a most prolific cause of infection. The pose of getting rid of a serious trouble in house in which he died, and which had burying the deceased and of subjecting the become infected, to proper disinfection by of cours", the chief reason. The Chinese the Sanitary Authorities. The latter is, care little or nothing for the risks of infection compared to the inconvenience and trouble of having their, homes - and' chattels disinfected. They seem to dread the visits of the Sanitary inspectors worse than the plague. Why is this ? It is the result
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