180
absconded, leaving the shop, which was found empty of valuables, in charge of a few servants. The partners were all absent.
THE KEROSENE TRADE.
It is probably not generally known that Messrs. A. Schomburg and Co, have a spacious godown in the extreme west part of the beach, specially built about two years ago, for storing keroseno oil, of which they are the chief importers. Mr. A. R. Marty is now erecting an identical building and 'for the same purpose. The building is fast approaching completion, and I expect then to see ken competition between the two part'es. The chances of fire be in the midst of the populace will considerably reduced hen the bulk of this highly inflammable oil is isolated in the beach.
JA PA N.
ere
14th August. It would be saying too much to assert that the Japanese expect war. They are fully prepared for it, it is true, but I cannot say that they generally expect it. It is possible, of course. that a few or the reteran statesmen who stand nearest the Mikado's throne may have decided that now is the time to crush Russia, but
takon that all precautions must be the blow is delivere lest Euro 6
take fright or offence at the audacity of a heathen nation giving a
Christian nation a bad beating. However that may be, the fect remains that the average Japanese believes that Bussia will, in view of her almost invariable practice when sufficient force has been brought to bear on her, and especially in view of the present serious trouble in Macedonia, perform a complete climb-down in a mouth or so. conviction has emboldened Japan to go very far indeed, that is to open negotiatious direct with St. Petersburg où the Manchurian question. It is not impossible that Russia may soul Japan by referring her to Peking, but though such action on Rurs a's part would increase the gravity of the situation, the Japanese believe that no matter how bad and apparently hope less the situation becomes they have always got a trump card to play in the Hague Court of Arbitration to which the Tsar cannot refuse to refer the matter in dispute if called upon by Japan to do so
THE BELLIGERENT SECTION.
This'
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND could not cling to Manchuria even as long as the Chinese did.
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[September 7, 1903.
**
against the folly of expecting much active help from England." England, it says, does not feel Why, asks the Kokumin, another very able the same interest in Manchuria that Japan and thoughtful paper, do the people remain so feels, and consequently Japan's ally cannot be calm in the midst of so serious a diplomatic expreted to go quite to the length Japan may be Whatever the terms of the complication ? In one sense, their apparent induced to go. quietude signifies, in the Kokunin's opinion, Alliance may say, it would be mean, it continues, the deepness and streu-ik of their determina- for Japan to expect from England more than At the same time it shows the confidence her learinterest warrants her to do. "Ibis tion. the people repose in the Gover ment's ability nation," says the Asahi in conclusion, “must be and resolution to satisfy their aspirations. resolved to settle the difficulty singlebanded. the Government deserve such Now that the danger point is approaobing, we Wbother
must not turn for assistance to our Allies; we confidence on the part of the country, your contemporary does not undertake to say. must not rely on any one except ourselves." but it entertains DO manner of doubt as to | N.-C. Daily News Correspondent,
relies on the the fact that the country Government to guide our foreign policy in a satisfactory
When."
the says Kokumin in conclusion," the time arrives for the nation to show its resolution in a material form, no hesitation will be falt even in turning the whole country into one huge barracks. Should it fail to satisfy the people in its conduct of the foreign policy, the Government must be prepared to receive on its d voted head the determined blow aimed at the possible enemy of the country."
manner.
..
The Mainichi thinks that Russia is not in a Her troo S are ill-dis. position to pursue. ciplined, ber commissariat arrangements are deplor bly weak, and her navy is hardly prepared for fighting. This Tokyo paper sets in the ostensibly warlike preparations on Russia's part ouly attempts at intimidati g China into ceding The Mainichi sesms some privileges to Russia. to think that Russia is a huge bubble only waiting to be pricked by the Japanese swo.d!
THE QUESTION OF EXCHANGE,
As the Tokyo correspondent of the Loudon Times pointed out in bis latest letter to that paper, some Japanese are in favour of exchang ging-so to speak-Mauchuris for Corea, that is, of giving Russia a free band in Manchuria in return for a similar privilege in Corea. Now that England has practically washed her hands of the Manchurian question, I should not be surprised if the final settlement, whether it is arrived at with or without war, be based on some such arrangement. At pres af, boweyer, the opposition against it is very strong,
5
PASSIVE ENGLAND.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
CRUELTY IN HONGKONG.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS
Hongkong, 28th August. SIR-I sincerely hope that the time and money of the society now being formed for the prevention of cruelty to animals will not be spent in endeavoring to prosecute the per petrators of the heinous crimes referred to by your correspondent "A Hearty Supporter" (of the Society, or of the thieves and drunkards ?) in your issue of to-day. While dumb animals suffer through no fault of their own, the thieves, suspicions characters, drunkards, and other protégés of your correspondent bave only them- selves to thank for the treatmeut they receive and richly deserve.
44
After the numerous instances recently re- corded in your columns, in which ladies have been the victims of robbery with violence at the bands of those whom your correspondent speaking animals" it is correctly describes as difficult to summon up the benevolent and merciful feeling" which we are now asked to extend to the perpetrators of these and similar crimes. Personally I must confess to feeling grim satisfaction when I see a really effective kick administered or heads "pulled right back with their faces skyward," and my only regret is that such treatment is not meted out on a more extensive scale. But I of course am only an Englishman, living in a British Colony, and
A FOREIGNER.
TO THE DITJR OF THE "DAILY PRESS
""
Hongkong, 31st August. SIR,-The letter signed by "A Foreigner" and published in your yesterday's paper ander the above heading was written in a tone quite uncalled for especially by one who claims to be an Englishman, a subject of the Great King of England--the Nation of Freedom and Fairplay. It is exceedingly surprising to find that “A Foreigner's" only regret was that "such treat- ment (as described by your other correspondent A Hearty Supporter") was not meted out on Commonsens› will a more extensive scale."
It is rumoured, not without some probability, | termed that Japan had approached England some time last week on the question of taking stronger Meanwhile a considerable section of the measures against Russia than auy that had Japanese have undoubtedly worked themselves been tried so far and that England bad thrown cold water ou the scheme. Whether this has into a state of great excitement and seem determined on forcing_on & War. At the anything to do with Sir Claude MacDonald's head of this section I should be inclined presenco in Tokyo during such a terribly bot summer as this is and with a recent visit to place the famous "seven professors," who want the Government to fight Russia now as which he paid to the Foreign Office, I can- she will be too powerful a year hence. Then not say, but it must be admitted that the comes the "Stro g Policy League "which is Japanese very sensibly recoguise the fact that also thirsting for gore-and wants it quick. England cannot afford to go to war about Undoubtedly a perusal of the accounts of the pro-Manchuria and profess to expect nothing more ceedings of these jingoistic societies is calculated to make an outsider think ometimes that, after all, this trouble in the Far East is simply a question of whether Japan or Russia will have Manchuria and Corea, not whether Manchuria and Coroa will remain under their rightful rulers. The manifesto issued by the Strong Policy" gentry lays it down as an axiom that the great Empire of Japan bas a divine mission to maintain the peace of the Orient and that it was with a view to fulfilling this "divine mission' that Japan chastised China and supported the independence of Corea." The manifesto then goes on to point out that it is also apparently part of the divine mission for Japan to fight Russia.
17
THE RESS,
.་
The newspapers must also, I am sorry to say, be classed with the jingoists—at least a large proportion of them must. It is disconcerting, indeed, to find papers with a reputation for sobriety such as the Jiji possesses, telling Russia that its menacing preparations_for_war, its military and naval forces in the Far East, will not frighten Japan, which could sweep the Russian fleet off the seas as soon as war is declared and could drive every Russian soldier! out of Manchuria in two months. During the war with China the Japanese never completely cleared their opponents out of Manchuria and it is really too much for a very moderate and thoughtful paper to say that, in spite of their long preparations for the conflict, the Russians
of their ally than that she stand by to see fair play, supposing there is a row between Japan
and Russia.
The Tokyo Asahi, referring recently to a London telegram in an American paper, remarks that the message in question correctly describes Japan's attitude when it states that Japan is not satisfied with the indefinite assurances which Russia had given to the Washington Government in connection with Manchuria. The telegram is however, in your contemporary's opiuion, incorrect when it proceeds to say that Japau's invitation to England to co-operate in a stronger line of policy in connection with Manchuria had been rejected by the London Cabinet. Whether or not that Cabinet was approached by Japan wi ha proposal of the kind, the Asahi cannot say, but, eren supposing that such a proposal was made, it sees no reason why it should be rejected by the English. The Anglo- Japanese Alliance was concluded because the interes s of these two countries in the Far East are identical, and the actions of Russia in Man- churia are clearly opposed to the fundamental principles of that Alliance. circumstances your contemporary thinks it quite natural that some common line of policy should be pursued at this juncture toward Russia by both Japan and England. The Asuhi will, therefore, in the absence of some proof, hesitate to give credence to the alleged rejection by England of Japan's proposal for joiut action. At the same time, it warns its countrymen
A Foreigner" that such a statement is ridiculous and could only tend to encourage barbarity and incite murder among mankind. How could "A Foreigner" expect to become a member of the newly-formed Society for prevention of cruelty to animals if he does not understand what is
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
CIVILISATION.
DAILY FRESS."
12
Hongkong, 1st September. SIR-I heartily endorse the opinions of Foreiguer" as set forth in his letter appearing in your issue of the 31st ult. and would suggest that in order to confine the sympathies and efforts of the new society to the creatures really deserving of them, it should be styled "The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Dumb Animals,” on which condition only could it meet with my support.-Yours, etc.,
ANTI-HUMBUG.
Under these THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLAGUE,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
11
Hongkong, 28th August. SIR,-According to H.E. the Governor's Memorandum, the contacts with the plague patients are not, as a rule, infected with the disease, and in the blood of healthy persons there are bacilli apparently harmless. So, after
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