340
THE SCAVENGING OF THE
PE
Banitary Board ich the|| Government enging contractor carries out his con- at the Peak, MrJE. A HEWETT has good service. This man's coolies, it have made a practice of dumping and rubbish collected at "Craig " on the hillside in the immediate
of the house. If for no other reason- actice should be promptly stopped as
nuisance and defaces the ap the locality. But it also much more "serious" evil. "The the watershed of the Pokfulum and this offendile matter is n luto the valley and is liable and poison the drinking water of There is, too, grave reason for hat the contractors coolies have habit of throwing the rubbish and shes down the hillside in other places. It pposed to be carried down some distance the Aberdeen Road and there tipped in
as a matter of fact, we are in
now thrown down the hillside distance from the last house, * on thất road, and what was pleasant and much sought walk rendered noxious and malodorous in équence of the deposits of unsavoury use tipped along its course. As Mr. ruggested, in his peech on the the manner in which the dirt and vo been thrown down the hill, serve lain the hitherto unexplained, and inexplicable, cases of typhoid ch have recently occurred at the
BIMPI HIWETT was quite within - bounds hen he characterised the letter written by the Beavenging Contractor, in reply to the complaint c aveyed to him by the Secretary
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
refuge for criminals and footpads. It is satisfactory, to note that the Scavenging Contractor's suggestion as to this proposed, camp found no support at the Sanitary Board, which very sensibly decided to write him and request him to employ twice the number of coolies he now employs on the work of scavenging the Peak. We hope that Mr. Hewett, having put his hand to this particular plough, will not relax it until he has secured the effectire performance of a necessary if unpleasant
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ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS.
(Daily Press, 11th May.)
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thus the chance-affair of founded
Ion't
the extent interests with cerned Unfortuna two great powers in struck out for themselve bodes no good for the peace of the and directly challenges their more neighbours. It is but natural that and juncture should dispose the western peoples to a union. What, how ever, adds to the feelings of satisfaction with which we must contemplate ment of past differences is that in an old friendship we are able to do a people who have shown themselves of our confidence. After all, our difficulties with France, as ford Salinnung pointed out, have partaken very much of the nature of "pin-pricks pricks do undoubtedly sung for moment,
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but they leaves, no behind. France's pin-pricks did at the instant smart; but they were but skin deep after all and never really affected the under- lying friendship of the two peuples. The main fact to be remembered in that France and England have had no difference during the whole period capable of leaving any unpleasant feeling in ita wake. “ “Difförenões between nations must exist as long as human nature continues to guide their councils, and France and England in the future, as in the past will have much need of temper and discretion; it is, however, a curious event that the maiu differences between the two are now centuries old. It is not after all thing of evil omen that the two peoples have never permitted their ancient grievan- ces to stand in the way of intelligent co-operation.
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FRANCE AND SIAM.
(Daily Press, 12th May.)
There has seldom been a better exempli- fication of the truth of the old adage that it takes two to make a quartel, than has been exemplified in the case of the relations between Great Britain and France during the last ten years. So intense at one time was the feeling between the two countries that it only required the spark of some real grievance to fan the flame of discontent prevailing into an open quarrel. After all there was really, as events proved, no subject of importance really at issue, and as the cooler heads in both nations all along perceived this undoubted fact, and took these temporary disagreements in han with the intention of fixing them up, time was afforded for the nations at large to look affairs boldly in the face. Looking back on the temporary estrangement, neither people finds that it has suffered any wrong at the hands of the other, nor has either anything, except a few hasty words, to withdraw or be sorry for. Fortunately too in this neither side has anything wherein it eau boast of its superiority over the other; neither has suffered any wrong with which it can upbraid the other, and if the British Government has throughout acted with a wise discretion in removing any overt cause of trouble, so also, truth compels us to add, has the French, Perhaps it was the English people who first commenced to recognise the fact that France had done nothing to their detriment, but once recognised on our side of the Channel the fact very soon came to be accepted on the other. Looking back can again perceive in how many instances the French have behaved with political wisdom and insight, not only in affairs between the two nations, but in their general aspect to European politics at large. We may recull a few instances, bim
very well, as it would save him as at Mytelene and Koweit, where France from employing the number of coolies might, had she had ulterior motives, have required to do the work properly, but advanced claims, which however untenable imably he made the contract with might have raised unpleasant rejoinders. yes open And will have to carry it out So too in China the conduct of France was ]]` ́ ́ It mây bể remarked, however, in marked contrast to that of more than ar that his proposition to establish one of the other nations who actually made of dust coolies at the Peak is not greater pretence of disinterestedness. Nor should be even considered. The when we come to her internal affairs can isa Vanitarium and should be jealously we be less struck with the political insight ed as such. It is had enough to which has guided France through many have to permit the housing of a consider difficulties. We may here recall the sound Body of chair lies Victoria Gap, financial measures that she has taken, and Terminus, but they are the wisdom with which the nation at large
Mus lies are nigt, refused to be led into extravagant expendi ry, in order the President ture, for the mere sake of empty glory. Sanitary Board said to double the France also through the great financialstrug
coolies employed,
I let this be gles of the continent has kept her head would even be better, level, and has not permitted herself to be aght reasoumble, to led astray by the monetary extravagancies soute advance on his of her neighbours. These are things of But it certainly | which a nation may well be proud, and it is Assuredly most therefore with the greater pleasure that
mp, shoull be | England as a nation can reciprocate onkh not only words of King Edward at his reception | moment
an eyesore, in Paris the other day. The renewal of i between. Franco and derelő into friendship between the two countries is not ite under standing
Sanitary Board as a most im ertinent. one. ****The scavenger made papologies for the evils complained he simply said he had always done his set to carry out the conditions of his con- tract, but no doubt the coplies were at ffult. “As a remedy, instea of suggesting ah increase in their number and better rvisión" over them, he requested the to recommend the Government to him a piece of land on which could erect a coolies matshed and provide dustbins for the deposit of the rubbish. This, no doubh would suit
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“Where the Two Empires Mest " is the title of a very useful article contributed to the current number of the National Review by Mr. LIONEL R. HOLLAND, who draws attention to the dangers attending any aggression on the part of France in Siam. The safety of our Burmese frontier, and even the tranquillity of our Indian Empire may, in the view of the writer of the article, be endangered by the develop. ment of events during the next few months Certain of the aims of a section of the French Colonial party are só înimical British interests in Indo-China, he says, that our Government must be prepared to resist them at all hazards. What the policy of Great Britain is in Biam, beyond what may be gleaned from the agreement respect ing spheres of influence in Slám arrived at between the British and French Governments in 1896, it is very difficult to say. Some years ago the present Viceroy of India declared in the House of Commons that it was undoubtedly to the direct interest of England, that Siam should be kept an independent political unit in the Amatic systém, free from the encroachment and aggression of any foreign Power, whoever it might be, and it is this principle which the National Review writer would rish the Government to act upon now. “Our purpose," he says, “ would be attained the guarantee of the Anglo-French Conven tion of 1896 so enlarged na to include whole dominions of Siam.” It that not much is be gained of mere opposition to the clui and his suggestion aboulde
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