August 24, 1903,1
effects hoped for, beyond perhaps restoring some sort of order in the country. It has not braced up the officials to undertake the reforms needed to save the country; it has not endowed them with the resolution to so administer the affairs of the Empire as to restore its credit and develop its resources; nor has it stiffened the Gov. *ernment to resist the pressure of ambitious neighbours scheming for their own aggrandisement. The so-called Chinese | Government has again been tried in the balance and found woefully wanting. By its weakness it is not only preparing the way for its own speedy dissolution, but unhappily while so doing it is imperilling the peace of the world Russia is openly absorbing Manchuria the ancient seat of the present Chinese dynasty, and is set ting an example that sooner or later will be followed by other Powers. The Peking Governucents both too weak and too indifferent to resist; it is more likely to become the creature of Russia than to oppose an effective resistance to her advance. What then is to be done? Is it not time the Treaty Powers took counsel and reviewed the situation? They should set aside mutual jealousies and endeavour to come to some arrangement whereby the partitionment of this ancient empire may be averted and its commercial and industrial progress assured.
NEW RUSSIAN APPOINTMENT.
+
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
*
139
K
bunded, and with twenty feet of water at low by a narrow winding creek, dry at low tide, while Tatuagkou is only approachable water. The Russians have recognised the strategic importance of Antunghsien, for they are contemplating a railway line thither to Liaoyang via Fenghuancheng. As usual, their intelligence department has served them well.
(Daily Press, 18th August.)
It might naturally have been thought that the decision come to in the matter of the ' Supao affair at Shanghai would give satis. that port. faction among the European residents in
matists. Admiral ALEXIEFF may be trusted to make full use of it. appointment we may expect to see more As a result of his unwarrantable aggressions in the Far East coupled with the issue of bland and worthless assurances from St. Petersburg. Really it is high time that the Powers ceased to treat the St. Petersburg Government as a civilised authority with an elementary notion of honour or truth. The Tsar himself is no doubt an estimable man, but his word, as it | A PETTY VIEW OF THE “SUPAO”. proceeds through the mouths of his ministers, cannot be reckoned as good as that of the
CASE. Sultan of Turkey or any of the other Oriental despots whom it is usual to decry. It might have been thought that after so many years of experience of Russian ways European nations would have learnt to judge Russia by her acts alone. Particu- larly with reference to Chinese affairs has her treachery been exhibited. Yet we see assurances about the coming evacution of Manchuria being listened to with polite attention and apparent credulity. The question which is of most interest just now is whether Sir ERNEST SATow's return to Peking will be coincident with a firmer British attitude toward China, for.of course diplomatically it is still to China that we must apply about the opening of ports and the rights of traders and travellers. Useful as no doubt were Sir ERNEST SATOW's visits to Simla and Rangoon, we cannot help regretting that his return to his post had to be delayed for them. Never was the presence of a strong British Minister, trusted by his Government and his fellow countrymen in the East, so much required at Peking as it is now and in fact has been for months past. It must not of course be expected that all will become smooth as soon as Sir ERNEST is back in Peking; but at least we have the right to expect that Great Britain will take up an attitude toward affairs in North China which will compel the attention of the shifty intriguers who have so far had things all their own way.
RUSSIA'S POSITION IN THE
NORTH,
•
14
10
FL
“
"
求情
There was a danger that six Chinese reformers, trusting in the protection afforded by residence in an European settlement, might be handed over to the Chinese authorities to be summarily decapitated according to Imperial edict, perhaps after the horrible preliminaries which occurred in the case of SHEN KE-WEI at Peking. This danger has been averted, thanks to the action of the British Govern- nent, on this occasion fortunately well posted by its advisers in China It might have been expected, we say, that the European residents in Shanghai would feel satisfaction. But what do we find? The French paper in Shanghai, L'Echo de Chine, in its issue of the 9th instant came out with a leading article, signed by (Daily Press, 17th August.)
the Editor, in which it angrily resented the REUTER'S telegram of the 13th instant
action of the British Government. The states that the Tsar of Russia has issued
opening words of this effusion were to the an ukase appointing Admiral ALEXIEFF
following effect:-"Mr. BALFOUR bas been Viceroy of the Far East with supreme
good enough to speak. In answer to a power, responsible only to a special Council at St. Petersburg, the Viceroyalty compris
question put by Mr. H. NORMAN, he has "declared in the House of Commous that ing the Amur and Kwantung territories.
"Sir ERNEST SATow has received telegraphic This ukase appears to be the first official
instructions not to surrender the Supao recognition by Russia of the practical
"prisoners. We would ask one simple annexation of Manchuria, for though the
question: what has that got to do with Kwantung territory only comprises the
"us? Is Mr. BALFOUR in change of the extreme south of Manchuria it is obvious
policing of the International concession of that Russia is not going to treat the
Shanghai ?" The word "international " Liaotung peninsula as an isolated depen.
is printed by our contemporary in large dency unconnected by land with her
capitals. L'Echo de Chine goes on to say North-eastern Asiatic possessions. Of
that the British Government's conduct course it is still possible for Russia to put
(Daily Press, 18th August.)
provokes the other foreign Powers to show forward the old diplomatic evasions. A The North-China Daily News states upon that they are in Shanghai for other pur- fortnight ago the Paris Figaro quoted the authority of a "well-informed cor
poses than supporting British policy. M. KUROPATKIN, the Russian Minister for respondent in the North" that there is now After an attack on Mr. MANSFIELD for War, who had just returned to St. no immediate prospect of the threatened war authorising the China Gazette to reproduce Petersburg, as having declared that Russia is between Russia and Japan, but that there his views
on the case of the Supas willing to evacuate Manchuria excepting the is reason to think that the Russian military prisoners, the French journal proceeds t zone in proximity to the railway. Naturally, authorities in Manchuria are anxious state that it is well known that in Kwantung as a whole is regarded as in force a war on Japan in the autuma; but, Hongkong a welcome is exten led to proximity to the railway." But what the it is added, it is a matter for the politicians those who conspire against the re-estab- other Powers would like to know is how to decide whether they will be allowed to do lishment of peace in Suth Chins and strive much of Manchuria is not in proximity to
so or not. This, of course, has been the to upset the Manchu dynasty-an accusation the railway, either the lines already built question all along. Russia's military meu which will be heard with no little surprise or branches projected and to be built have been, in the popular phrase, "spoiling down here, where we are still wondering in the future. It to be noted that for a fight," but it has not so far suited the whether any penalty at all will attach to in spite of the Russian Minister's statement book of the diplomatists to give way to the promoters of the atrocious murder in quoted by the Figaro the Cologne Gazette then, although military preprations have Gage Street. Finally our contemporary of about the same date published a St. been proceeding apace. The correspondent expresses its great astonishment at the Petersburg telegram which asserts that the of our Shanghai contemporary says that intervention of Mr. BALFOUR in a question Russian Government is resolved to probi- Russia is still strengthening her position in where he has not the sole right to speak. bit the residence of foreigners in Manchuria Manchuria and towards the Yalu by col- Such intervention, declares, the Echo, is during the ensuing six years, pending the lecting stores at Liaoyaug und Fenghuang-particularly untim sly, since it is nt at the restoration of order. That restoration | cheng, improving the roads, etc. There was moment when the solution of a difficult of order " is aphrase which is only a small garrison at Antunghsien, he question (that of the Supao prisoners) becoming very wearisome. Russia does
demands the co-operation of all well-disposed not permit China o attempt to restore
people that another very grave question order nor does she attempt it herself except
ought to be raised, namely, that of the to the extent of keeping the territory in
international character of the foreign conces proximity to the line quiet. There does not,
sions at Shanghi, on which question, therefore, seem any particular reason for
concludes the writer, compromise is imagining that restoration of order will
impossible. We can only express our take six years rather than one year or
surprise that an experienced man like Mr. twenty. The phrase is merely a weapon in
LEMIERE, the Editor of L'Echo de Chine, the hands of Russia's unscrupulous diplo-
an take up such a position, which is in
to
says, according to last raports, and a small party of reservists in plain clothes, but with their rifles, at Yong-Ampho. With regard to Antungusien, the same authority states that a great mistake has been made in asking for Tatungkou as a new treaty port on the Manchurian side of the Yalu river. The place that should be chosen is Antunghsien, which is a fine accessible town, with a bank that could be easily
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