448
THE SITUATION IN THE NORTH.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
grandson has been more successful in the acceptance of the bait than his ancestor.
In the circumstances it seems, then, likely enough, as reported, that some sort of a preliminary arrangement has been entered into between Japan and Russia on the conditions that Japan is to shut her
[December 19, 1903.
and in the last century. The people of this Colony consider this quite ancient history; (Daily Press, 18th November.)
they want now to see something done. Nor Without professing to have access to any
are they content to have this railway rele- special source of information, we are justified
gated to the tail end of the Corporation's in the conclusion that the long drawn out
schemes; they wish to see it placed in the negotiations between Japan and Russia
forefront. The various other projects of have at length reached some sort of a settle-eyes with regard to Russia's occupation of the Corporation, such as the Nanpiao Coal ment, however little confidence we may have Manchuria. Indeed it is difficult to under- Field, the Pookoo-Sinyang Railway, and the in its permanency. The fact of course is stand what other course was open to Japan, Shanghai-Nanking Railway, are all, we feel that neither side sees its way to seriously unless indeed she were upheld by the convinced, most laudable, and no doubt will hurting its adversary, and a war between unanimous consent of all the European prove very profitable undertakings, and as the two Powers would certainly be pro- Powers. Japan certainly could not, nor such worthy of the interest and support of longed and resultless. Japan seems all indeed could any other Power acting in the shareholders. That the latter are quite through to have insisted on Russia's ac- dependently, forcibly prevent the occupation content with the management of their affairs knowledgement of her practical protectorate of the inland territories, especially when is proved by the unanimity with which the over Corea, while Russia has equally pressed China, whether from utter weakness or report and accounts were passed and by the her claim to freedom of action in Manchuria; from direct treachery, has agreed in the vote of thanks accorded to the Chairman and as no middle point where both could occupation. The resolution has evidently and directors for the able manner in which agres seemed to offer itself a deadlock occur- | been swallowed with a considerable amount they had conducted the affairs of the Cor red, neither side being willing to withdraw of compunction, and the extent of the salve poration. Those affairs are certainly in a from its first position. Russia has been for this compunction is clearly the subject somewhat inchoate condition; the welcome having recourse to her usual weapon, and that has bitherto stood in the way of any announcement that dividend warrants were has bullied alternately China and Corea, settlement. On the other hand, Russia has ready was not made; but the shareholders with hints thrown in here and there as to been carrying her game of bluff to a limit were evidently satisfied that the ground hap the weakness and inutility of Japan and beginning to be felt inconvenient to herself. been prepared, and plans laid, whereby sub- the folly of trusting to such a rotten reed; An exhibition of naval force in the Farstantial profits are to be reaped in the and it has needed all the diplomatic skill East suggested itself to Russia as a ready future. Hence these thanks and this con- and good taste of Japan to counteract, with implement, which without going to war would | fidence in advance.
But if the shareholders, who for the most out dominitting herself to ill-considered convince Japan as to the utter iuutility of measures of retaliation, these injurious as- resistance. The result has been distinctly part "live at home in ease," are satisfied sertions. The difficulties of the situation disappointing to Russia, who after twice to wait developments in the full confidence have been increased rather than dimiuished putting up finds herself in the somewhat that though their harvest may be delayed by the injudicious interferences of Germany, ridiculous position of having left herself it will assuredly be gathered some day, who in the pretended interests of peace has without sufficient number of ships to show the colonists of Hongkong and the mer- In the second chants and traders of Canton are not in a been putting forward bogus reports of her flag in European waters. impending agreements, and tendering offici- place Russia finds her "only friend" not position to view the flight of barren years ous advice to Japan to make peace within the same way disposed to give her unli with equal placidity. Time to them is of Russia while her enemy was yet on the way.mited credit as three years ago, inconve- importance, not alone because they want to It is to the credit of the diplomatic skill | nient questions are suggesting themselves see the Colony develop and progress, but also and knowledge of outside nations possessed as to what Russia has done with the money because they cannot afford to stand still, by the statesmen who guide the affairs of supposed to be applicable to industrial In the race for trade in the Far East there Japan that they have from the beginning improvements, and Russia has nothing bet-is no time for halts by the way, or rumina- been able to clearly see through the extreme- ter to show than a financial condition tions on the past. The competition of nations ly self-interested motives that underlie verging on bankruptcy, and a nation and and individuals is alike keen and constant, Germany's action. By the convention le army honeycombed with sedition. Russia and that merchant or that nation who tween Great Britain and Japan, the has in fact been forcing the pace, and the hesitates, falters, or looks back is speedily alliance only becomes defensive and offen- first check she meets finds her inconvenient- left behind. The concession for building a sive in the case of Japan being attacked ly overtasked. The other nations of Europe, railway to connect Canton with the frontiers by more than one Power. France under her too, are beginning to look askance at the of the British territory has been obtained present statesmen sees clearly that she has continual advance of Russia's frontiers, from the Chinese Imperial Government by no interest in promoting Russia's schemes while the explosive nature of Russia's home the British and Chine-e Corporation, and of conquest, which are beginning to affairs are beginning to loom up as fit sub- this is a valuable step towards a great But the concession having been ob- clash with her own ambitions; Germany, jects for consideration by her neighbours. | end. who has already by her recent maladroit This is evidently the reason that some im-tained, and a survey having been completed' policy alienated to a considerable degree the mediate, if temporary payching up of soute in 1899, only renders the delay in proceed- good feelings of the English nation, sees of the issues between Japan and Russia ing with the work the more regrettable. that any covert act of hers in assisting her commends itself to both parties. It would, The Chairman, at the meeting of the Corpo- present good friend and neighbour, Russia, however, be more than folly, it would ration in London on the 5th ultimo, made a would convert the existing Convention into amount to actual insanity, to act as if any point of replying to the charge of undue an active Alliance, does not care to press arrangement come to under present condi-lelay brought against them, and said it But his matters to their legitimate conclusion. tions could be other than the most temporary could not be supported by fact. Under the influence of that strange glamour make-believe.
reply unfortunately did not deal with the which Russia has been able to throw over
charge in any way, and he practically left North Germany, and which has apparently survived the century, Germany itches to do a good turn to her neighbour, and the way chosen is characteristic of the modern
(Daily Press, 18th December.) Teuton. It is, of course, apparent that We published the other day a report of the Germany has other motives, and is not proceedings at the fifth annual meeting of above swallowing the leavings of the Bear. the British and Chinese Corporation, The Tear NICHOLAS I. in like cirdumstances, Limited. The statement made by the Chair- when he was intent on attacking Turkey, man appears to have given satisfaction to tempted the British Ambassador at S. the shareholders, but it affords cold comfort | Petersburg with a similar suggestion, that to that portion of the public interested in he would leave some of the carcase to Eng. the development of British trade in South
to the syndicate has not Land the British Ambassador indignantly China. So far as we can see, the Chairman's rejected the overture which came to him remarks may be summed up to show that heen given for all time.. If no advantage be from the Tsar's own lips, and this fired a while the German Syndicate have completed taken of it, and no railway constructed, train of circumstances which finally cul- a considerable portion of the railways in the Chinese Government may feel justified minated in the Crimean War. What has their coucession and the American-Belgian in revoking it and granting a new one to on the another syndicate who really mean busi- occurred under the present circumstances Syndicate are actively at work has not yet appeared in the light of history, Hankow-Canton Railway, the British Syn- ness. This is one danger. There is another. but the very erident desire of the German dicate have hardly got beyond the region of If the Kowloon-Canton Railway is not made Government to smooth the path of the Tsar talk. It is true that the preliminary survey and the great arterial line from Hankow to NICOLAS II. in a like act of deglutition for the Kowloon-Canton Railway was finish- Canton not provided with a seaward terminus would go far to indicate that the greated in 1899, but that is now four years ago, at Kowloon, the Chinese Government may
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THE BRITISH AND CHINESE CORPORATION.
unanswered. It is no reply to say that the preliminary agreements and negotiations for contracts consumed much time, and to aduit in the next sentences that the preli- minary survey was finished in 1899. What has been done in the four years that have passed since the survey was made? Why was not the next step taken ? point of fact, has the railway not been If the sharehol·lers alone were laid? affected it would be no business of the But this conces- public and the Press. sion made
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Why, in
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