18
THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Doily Press, 4th July.) The fecess of the present Chinese Government and the want of capable or even strong men among the ruling class is undoubtedly a misfortune for the Empire, as well as a serious impediment to its political and material development. Prince CHING, to whom has been entrusted the negotiations with M. LESBAR, the Russian Minister at Peking with regard to Manchuria, is displaying a weakness that is deplorable and a plasticity that is alarming. Not only is he proving to be a reed shaken by the wind, but one that is always inclining towards Russia, and it is now asserted that he has received substantial Muscovite favours and has thus greatly committed himself to the Bear, Under such circumstances the negotiations can have but one end. Probably they would-without a serious stiffening of China's back by the other Powers conclude the same way in any case, but it is pitiable to see the manner in which Bussin-the while protesting ceaselessly to the contrary-is gradually preparing to swallow Manchuris and digest it at ber leisure. The Empress Dowager cares ap- parently for little beyond the gratification of her caprices, and, instead of considering state policy, only plans her birthday cele bration on a lavish scale. The Emperor KWANG HSU appears to have really become --what he has long been reputed to be -a negligeable quantity in politics, and to have no power to make his ideas or wishes respected. CHANG CHIH-TUNG is not trusted by the party in power, who would gladly draw his teeth or relegate him to obscurity. YUAN SHI-KAI, the Vice- roy of Chili, though holding a position of importance, has little of the influence or prestige that attached to his great predecessor in that office, Li HUNG CHANG, and can exercise no great weight in the councils of the Governmeut. Prince TSAI CHEN alone seems to have any courage or administrative ability. He seems to be animated with a more patriotic and less selfish spirit than the mandarins g nerally, and if foreign affairs wers confided to his hands instead of being left the somewhat senile care of Priace CHING there would, we think, be a little more hope for China's future.
[July 13, 1903.
Over
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
remembered that the gun foundries_and | done, and why, instead of quarrolling small arms factories at Tientsin and Hsiku | Manchuria, cannot the Rowers agree to were taken possession of by the allies, who take up this great measure of financial carried off all the machinery, as in the case salvation for China? They would soon of the Russians, who removed all the have their reward in a largely augmented machinery from the large Eastern Arsenal trade with China, and through the develop- to Port Arthur. The Chinese Government ment of the whole of Eastern Asia that have accordingly erected a new arsenal au1
would ensue. big gun and small arms factory in Techou prefecture, Shantung province, on the southern banks of the Grand Caual, and a few miles north of the city of Techou. The
(Daily Press, 7th July.) machinery of the works near Chefoo is also Rumours are coming thick and fast from to be removed to Techou. It is likewise the North now, all proclaiming the im- stated in native official circles that the minence of serious trouble between Japan Kiangnan Arsenal, near Shanghai, is to be and Russia. Some of the gravest of these partially removed to some inland town, in stories are worth recording, even though view of the facility with which that establish- we are unable to judge upon what founda. ment might be raided or captured by an tions they rest. The most important is enemy. Beyond such more or less passive that of a private telegram, dated the 30th measures, however, the Chinese are incap- June, having been received by a Chinese able, we believe, of any great effort to resist official in Shanghai from another official the pressure of Western Powers. They in Peking, stating that the special agree- undoubtedly have the will, and they possessment between Russia and China concerning resources in meu and material which in the Manchuria was signed at the Chinese hands of even an uncivilised but active and capital on the 18th ultimo, the signatories organising Power would prove very formid- being M. LESSAR and Prince CHING. The able indeed. But there is an utter absence telegram ad led that as soon as the agree. of the military spirit in China which, joined meat has been sigued by the Tsar and the to a most complete and general dishonesty Empress Dowager the evacuation " of in the administration, renders all attempts Manchurian by the Russians will begin; at resistance to invasion hopeless from the the Emperor of China, it is to be noticed, is outset. The only possible hope for China, not mentioned. A second rumonr is re- so far as we can see, is that the victors in ported to have been current in Shanghai the late campaign will quarrel over the on the 1st instant, according to which spoils, and that a war between them will a number of officers and men of the yet arise out of the difficulty of reconciling Japanese Reserve, now living in the conflicting interests.
Settlement, have received orders to rejoin It is sad indeed to think that such a their regiments in Japan. This is taken contingency is even possible. It would be to point to Japanese war preparations, as a great moral descent for the great Powers is but natural. Then again a Masampo of the West, who represent Christianity and (Corea) telegram of the 26th ultimo reports modern civilisation, to let loose the dogs of the arrived of the Russian cruiser Rossia war in this ancient Empire in order to and three torpedo-boats, bringing the satiate their unhallowed lust of territory Russian force there up to five large warships or greed of gold. How much better might and seven torpedo-boats. At Port Arthur they be employed in seeking to find a means on the 16th June fifty-seven Russian war- of assisting China to rise from the slough ships, twenty-three of them of a large int which she has fallen, to help to maintain size, took part in a review before Admiral unimpaired and undiminished the grand "ALEXIEFF. This great squadron is all "on empire which has for so many centuries the spot," in connection with the Manchurian owned the same flag, possessed the same and Coreau questions. It is significant that literature, customs, and manners, been the acute stage in these questions seems to peopled by one homogeneous race, and which have been reached at a time when the is capable of such great development if Russian Pacific fleet is at its record preserved intact and governed liberally and strength, while the British China squadron well. It may be objected that China is is temporarily depleted. Doubtless this is practically derelict and will in any case a coincideuce. From Coren we reported drift rather to disintegration than make for the most serious story on Saturday, that of consolidation, but we have no right to leap the anti-Japanese demonstrations at Nansan to such a conclusiou, and should at any rate and Seoul, the result of the attempts on be ready to extend a helping hand rather the life of YI YONG-IK as well, no doubt, than assist her to promote national destruc- as of the previous trouble about the bank- tion. The first step in the direction of notes and the sale of n warship, about both upholding China would manifestly be to of which affairs we have already given. assist her to pay the in lemnity, and the details. The Chemulpo correspondent of next to relieve the stagnation which has the Shanghai Mercury gives a clearly_pro- fallen on her trade by aiding her in the Russian account of the agitation in Cores establishment of a national currency on a which has culminated in the hostile attitude gold basis. It is positively inhuman to of a section at least of the Corean populace desire that this vast Empire, with its swarm- toward Japan. That correspondent appears ing but for the most part poor population, impressed with Russin's benevolent conducti should be converted into a dumping-ground Experience in the past might have taught for the white metal discarded by the whole him whith such benevolence is wont to civilised world, with the one exception of lead. But we should not be surprised to Mexico. The currency used by the vast learn that many Corean_stasesmen are majority of the Chinese people is copper quite prepared to recognise Russia's friendli cash; silver, whether in sycee or in dollars,ness-on the same terms as those on which only penetrates the mere outer skin of this the late Lt HUNG-CHANG and other Chinese broad land, and the consumption is but politicians welcomed Russia's kindness in mode ate. A gold standard, with bank- | Manchuria. notes and silver token coins, could easily be established with the guarantee of some of the great Powers, and worked by a National Bank managed throughout by foreigners, on similar lines to the Imperial Maritime Customs service. This could be
As things are the prospect is dark indeed. Crushed down by the weight of indemnity -righteously demanded as punishment for the outrages and massacres of 1900-to the Treaty Powers and faced by a terrific full in the value of silver, which practically greatly augments the indemnity, as that has to be paid in gold, with bad trade, famines in two or three directions, and political embarrassments on several frontiers, the Chinese Government may well feel sorry for themselves. They do not rouse them- selves to face the difficulty: they leave it, with true Oriental apathy, to adjust itself. They know, or suspect, that matters are con- verging to a crisis in some way, how or what they probably care little, but they will do nothing to avert datastrophe, believing that to be finally unavoidable. Meantime, however, they are tacitly preparing, in their own way, resistance to further pressure. Taught by the experiences of the campaign in 1900, when their arsenals and foundries fell an easy prey to the invaders, they have for some time been quietly transferring some of these establishments from positions where they are particularly open to attack, and have been shifting them to inland centres, where they will be more remote and less liable to easy capture. It will be
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The sum of the rumours which we have, mentioned above is perhaps only that the feeling of alarm is widely spread in North- East Asia. Nevertheless, such a state of feeling is dangerous, especially because it tends to heighten the effect of any incident,
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