*
November 2, 1903.1
There was a rumour current lately to the, effect that the military authorities were weary of their bargain in the Mount Austin Barracks and desired to be rid of it—at u good price. But I think this was only rumour and doubtless originated in the necessity laid upon the War Department of spending a very substantial sum on repairs. I note that scaffolding is up and a large section of the roof is receiving attention. It is said that something like £2,0.0 is to be laid out upon this property. The building is a large one, and repairs at the Peak must neces- sarily always be costly owing to the damp,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
greatly lowering European prestige in the eyes of the Chinese.
BANYAN.
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Port Arthur, 6th October. RUSSIA'S DEFIANCE.
The following is a translation of an article in a recent number of the Novi Krai :— The typhoon-like bloy of the last few days hav. "The phantom of war with its obscure but ing wantonly interrupted the spell of gloriously menacing outline again hovers ove: the befogged fine weather we have recently been enjoying, a hads of the Japanese statesmen, the Japanese short note on a thioy subject will not Genro, and the Japanese journalists, keeping them seem 80 much out of place DOW as it in a continual nightmare and depuiving them of would have done a week ago. I notice in all possibility of exactly understanding their Straits paper a letter from a correspondent who n policy. The mental frame of mind of all pours the vials of his rath upon the head of Japau is expressed in the curious and heart the owners of the rickshus at Penang who furnish their vehicles rith a cheap and unsatis-
affrightening question: What will happen on the 8th of October? factory substitute for waterproof aprons.
But this matter which troubles We so much the young Great Power which longs so are no batter off in this respect in Hongkong. ardently to try its strength and its luck in the The ricksha" waterproof aproa" is a delusion arena of war, and which forces it, much against and a snare, and in a shower of rai is of little its will of course, to discard its pacific tone for a more use than a piece of calico. The Penang warlike one, this matter caunot ruffle in the sufferer invokes the aid of the Superintendent least the ordinary calm with which erouts in the of Jinrikshas. Ferhaps some pushful vendor Far East are rogarded by the mature Great of genuine waterproof materi might accom- l'ower whose path lies straight before it and plish better results for the public.
whose intentions are clar and plain. Only a sense of the righteousness of its actions and a confidence in its strength give Russia the right and the ability to witness calmly the noisy vanity of Japan.
I
:
The Blake Pier is becoming a 8 mowhat popular place of resocin th evenings for the daily toilers of this city, who, after the day's work is over, repair thither for a life-renowing mouthful of ozone. I view of this fact the remark of a lady who was waiting for a launch last evening on that wharf is very pertinent
'Why don't they have sents here?" she said, and many bystanders were ready to echo
Why, oh! why ?" Timber is cheap. and a few well-made banches while costing but little, would add considerably to the comfort of the many who daily have cuss to visit the wharf, many of whom have to whit about for considerable periods for the advent of launches to take them off to steamers, of the arrival of friends from the same.
6.
In this connection there is an excellent chance for the authorities to add to the revenue, by farming out the seating at a yearly sum, the farmer having the right to place a number of seats on the wharf and charge a small rental for same for use per hour, under a necessary stipulation that the seats shall be limited to a certain number, so as not to block the traffic for arriving and departing passengers. This has been done with great success in Manila and other cities in the East, and has proved a considerable boon and would undoubtedly do so here. A charge of eren two cents per seat per evening would bring in a good return, and at the sime time would be prohibitive, as far as the objectionables and undesirables are concerned. And this doue, why not a band ? The landing stages are well in towards the shore enfl of the wharf, so that there can be no reasonable objection to the presence of a band at the outer end of the wharf, on one or two evenings a week. The pleasure to the many would be great, while auy objections raised could scarcely be rusɔnable.
The beachcomber nuisance is one of the most serious problems that confrout the seaports of the Far East, and no place suffers from this class of undesirables more than Hongkong does. Į Periodically every other port in these parts seems to arouse itself and shake from i sshoulders the incubus that it feels to be settling thereon, but not so Hongkong Hongkong indeed is a sort of dumping-ground for the refuse of all other places. We have no remittance men like Australia or Japan. Our parasitical population lives solely on the labours of the honest workers. In a large international seaport like ours it is of course impossible to avoid having a certain number of unfortunates who find themselves on the beach," through no fault of their own, perhaps; but the authorities should prevent the unlimited immigration of deported scamps from other towns who lounge around the ho els seeking whom they may devour and constituting a menace to the public well-being, as well as
落感
WHAT DES JAPAN WANT?
What does Japan want in this connection? Has she any right to offer alrico with regard to any agreement betwen Russia and China? Russia is at present in Manchuria becaus. she is the owner of a gigantic railway under- taking, carried out in conjunction with China. Russia occupies Manchuria because she has a right to protect her interests there is conse- qu uce of the unfriendly action begun by the Chinese at Blagovestchensk. Russia retains her troops in Manchuria because she is not certain that tranquility cau
be preserved in that country without the help of these soldiers; an 1 she doe this in spite of all the hostile feelings of other countries in this matter, but principally of Japan. All these causes lead Russia to desire to concludo an agreement with China, and only with China. The observance of this agreement will be guaranteed only by the contracting parties. Russia and China, and will not admit of any guarantees being offered or any friendly offices tendered by other Powers. What right has Japan to raise her voice in this affair which concerns only China and Russia ?
JAPAN'S INTERESTS.
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The economic interests of Japan in Manchuria ? But these interests can be made to play the same role wherever Japan is at liberty to dump her surplus population, whether in Formosa, Corca, the Philippines, Australia &c.; in a word in every country which the Japanese may choose to send their emigrauls to. Formosa! Here is a territory to which Japan may legitimately send the overflow of her population, but there it is necessary to work, there money is required, and it is not therefore the kind of country the youngest of the Great Powers wants. It would be more convenient for her to send her sons to a country that has been made ready and opened up by Russian money, by Russian blood, and by the sweat of Russian brows-Manchuria,
COREA.
"To Corea Japan is also free to send her emigrants Russia will not hinder her so long of course ав she does not proceed to enslave the Corean nation, and to make any attempt on the Corean sovereignty. Let Japan attempt to put forward her plea of economic interest on account of emigration in the Philippines or Australia and she will find bow, contrary to the hospitable practice of Russia, other nations receive uninvited guests. The sensible part of the Japanese Press, the Kobe Chronicle for example, already sees this and the European Press (Berliner Tugeblatt, Manch, and Alg Zeitung) clearly points out that Russia can now say apropos of her position in Manchuria: J'y suis et j'y reste.
自尊
"J'Y SUIS ET J'Y RESTE."
317
Yes, undoubtedly, the fatal moment has come, and it finds Russia standing firm in Manchuria, fully armed for the protection of her interests there, interests which are dear to her as her life-blood. No threat will be able to disturb the status quo in Manchuria on or after the Sth October.
The N.-C. Daily News Toykd correspondent telegraphed on the 22nd inst:
The lead ng Japanese journal interprets the sentiment of the nation as follows:- Concerning Mauchuria noluing is asked bayond Russia's discharge of her treaty promises of military evacuation and the open door. Japan does not objet to Russia's retention of Port Arthur and Dalny, or to her guarding the railways, which are welcome factors in ma- terial progres. will not suffer any country to lay a finger Concerning Corea, Japan thereon, since ber special position there is generally recoguised. Japan sincerely desires peace, but not peace at any price; matter is the mouthpiece of many nations. aud she reminds Russia that Japan in this The diplomatic situation is unchanged at Tokyo; the negotiations are progressing. B.seless troops to Corea." rumours are current of the despatch of Japanese
The following letter addressed to the Japan Times by Mr. E. J. Harrison, as to the London Daily Mail's information regarding the Russian proposal to Japau of Manchuria for Cores prin- ciple, which has come already to your readers' uotice. is self-explanatory:- "Dear Sir,-I wish it to be distinctly understood that, although I am the duly appointed Tokyo correspondent of the London Daily Mail, I am in no way responsible for the asinine telegram which was sent to that journal by some irresponsible idiot, aud cabled back by Router a few days ago. As a matter of fact the message did not state the exact geographic source of the Mail's information; it might just as well have emanated from Yokohama, Kobe, or Nagasaki is amply sufficient." as from Tokyo. However, my simple denial The regular Yokohama correspondent of the same paper also denies the responsibility for the telegram.
A Chefoo letter quoted by the N.-C. Daily News reports that since the 1st instant every native junk and steamer arriving at that port from Port Arthur and Dalny is filled with owing to the receipt of sure information that native passengers, who have left those ports war is imminent between Japan and Russia. It is estimated that from the 1st to the 20th instant au average of about 180 male and femal refugees a day have come to Chefoo from Port Arthur and Dalny, to escape the horrors of war. Many Japanese traders are also said to have left the Russ an ports about the same time.
The Kobe Chronicle of the 20th inst. says :— It is generally believed the Japanese Govern- ment is in receipt of a mess ge from Port Arthur through Baron Rosen of a very im- portant character, but its nature has not been divulged. The telegram, which is said to be of great length, was received by the Russian Legation on Sunday morning. At 9 o'clock yesterday morning the in
Second Secretary the Russian Legation Foreign Office, in order, it is supposed, attended the
to communicate the
reply of Admiral Alexieff. This appears somewhat doubtful, as such an important communication would pre- sumably be presented by Baron Rosen in person. There is, however, good reason to believe that nothing definite will be settled until the Conference reported by Reuter to-day is held at St. Petersburg.
The same paper states that juvestigations made by the Japanese Government into the present force of Russian troops at Vladivostock and in Manchuria have resulted in the following, estimate being obtained :-At Port Arthur there aro about 25,000 contains 8,000, Harbin 4,500, Fengwhang 800 troops, Liaoyang Antong 200, Nicolsk 30,00), Chita 25,000, and Vladivostock 7,000, in addition to 2000 at varions. place in Kirin and about 10,000 guarding the Chinese Eastern Railway, making a total force of about 110,000. The troops at Vladivostock are stated to be quartered in the houses of private individuals, and the various detachments are frequently relieved, so that it is
very difficult to ascertain their strength with precision. It
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