}
}
February 27, 1904.]
the Mandjour, which has been lying at Shanghai since the outbreak of war. Last week the Chinese Government ordered her away, in correct pursuance of the rules of neutrality. But the commander refused to obey, and the Chinese had no means of obliging him to do so. Two rumours are current, one that the Japanese are about to send a cruiser or two up the river after the Mandjour-which is most unlikely-and the other that she has been sold to a third Power which looks like a breach of neutrality. Another most important case, or rather series of cases, arising since war broke out is that no less than four British steamers and one German have been fired upon by
the Russians at Port Arthur. The most
described in another column.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONGKONG.
(Daily Press 26th February.) It will have been seen from the paragraph published in our issue of yesterday that Mr. ROBERT SHEWAN wrote to the London Times which he commented on Sir HENEY BLAKE'S a letter, dated the 12th December last, in reply to Mr. ALLEYNE IRELAND's criticisms IRELAND made a very sweeping denuncia- on the administration of Hongkong. Mr. tion of Government methods in this Colony, and our late Governor replied at consider- able length, defending in particular the Civil Servants of Hongkong from certain to have brought against them unjustly. In char es which he considered Mr. IRELAND this respect the advantage of the argument lay rather with Sir HENRY BLAKE, for in saying, as he did, that in Hongkong it is considered the Government circles to appear interested worst of bad form in in one's work the writer of the Times articles on Colonial Administration
flagrant case was that of the Fuping, fully It is not possible to believe that nothing more will be heard of these cases. More wanton and unnecessary attacks on harmless and un- protected steamers have never been made. Still more interest attaches to the broader question in what way the various Powers will interpret their declarations of neutrality; particularly how Britain and France will do BO in connection with their treaties with Japan and Russia respectively. The Maini- chi published lately a telegrain dated the 11th instant, apparently from Vienna, which stated that a member of the French Chamber of Deputies had arranged to interpellate the Government as to whether the Russo-French alliance extended to the Far East. M. DELCASSE, however, announced to
the leaders of the various political parties that there was no danger of France becoming involved in the present struggle He fur- ther declared that, even if a third Power intervenes, France will reader o ly moral assistance to Russia, The Franco- Bussian treaty, in fact, could not be regarded as applying to the Far East. This statement, if confirmed, is of the highest possible importance and sets at rest the gravest anxieties. If France were to feel bound to give Russia military co-opera- tion in the Far East in certain events, then a general conflagration would be at least within measurable distance. If, on the other hand, she only considers moral sup- port due from her to Russia, eren in event of a third Power intervening in the struggle in the Far East, there need be no fear of any friction, or worse, arising between France and Great Britain. As to the latter's position, the Government has de- clared that it will act up to the fullest obligations of the treaty with Japan. Germany has declared strict neutrality. It is reported that of late the Press has con- spicuously supported Japan's cause, and it is believed that the members of the Govern- meut now favour Japan. Germany's official declaration of neutrality was delayed because she never before has issued such a declara- tion, and therefore it was necessary first to consult with the Crown's attorneys in regard to its wording. Even the lesser Powers are following suit, and it is officially announced from Copenhagen that military steps have been taken to secure Denmark's neutrality. From some of the greater nations, it is true, such as Austria-Hungary and Italy, nothing so far has been heard, but the smalluess of their present interests in the field of action no doubt makes them feel it undecessary to hasten. In the other hemisphere there seems every ground to believe that, while the official attitude of the United States will be strictly impartial, the tendency of public opinion is more and more benevolent to Japan. The neutrality which promises to become universal is not going to be in favour of Russia, it seem".
was decidedly in error. The charge was
not a
**
+
"
159
revenue is noteworthy for the size of the Colony. But it is the policy of its Governor which has made us what we are. Out-and-out denunciations of the whole system of ad- ministration will do. no good. On the other hand, an over-zealous defence equally defeats its object. Mr. SHEWAN seems to represent best the general view of the community when, while allowing our late Governor's administrative ability in many respects, he nevertheless condemns the system generally.
THE WAR.
[FROM OUR OWN. CORRESPONDENTS.].
KOBE, 22nd Feb. 7.30 p.m. Maru) arrived at Nagasaki to-day on The crew of the 8.8. Nagoura(? Nokanoura
the s.8. Stolberg from Vladivostock. The passengers and crew, excepting two that were drowned, were saved by Russians.
LONDON, 24th Feb., 6.20 p.m. The Russian official reports state that four Japanese battleships and two trans- ports have been sunk at Port Arthur. names of the vessels are not given.
The
LONDON, 25th Feb., 11.15 a.m. Viceroy Alexieff, in a telegram to the Tsar, states that on the 24th instant the Japanese attempted to block Port Arthur by means of steamers filled with explosives. Four steamers-not battleships-were des troyed. The entrance is reported to be still clear.
SHANGHAI, 23rd Feb., 8.47 p.m. Viceroy Yuan Shi-kai bas been appointed
and fair one, and by making it Commander-in-Chief
General Ma Mr. IRELAND weakened his case. That was
Yu-kun Second-in-Command of the foreign- drilled Chinese troops in Manchuria west of unfortunate, for the cause which he was pleading. Mr. SHEWAN has now taken it the Liao River. up in answer to Sir HENRY BLAKE, and pu's the case in another and more effective way.
LONDON, 24th Feb. 11.30 a.m. He says that Mr. IRELAND has only voiced General Kuropatkin leaves S. Petersburg the feelings of Europeans in Hongkong and three weeks hence to take up supreme their dissatisfaction with a system of govern-military command in the Far East. ment by men sent out by the Colonial Office Seventy miles of railway and bridges and ways. He continues:-"The more been destroyed. who know nothing of the Colony's wants between Harbin and Vladivostock have
able and energetic spirits among whom quickly pass out of the Colonial service "into the law or other professions where the "rewards are much greater. In proof of "this I may point out that almost all the principal firms of architects and civil engineers now in Hongkong have been "founded by gentlemen who were sent out by the Colonial Office at the Colony's expense." Mr. SHEWAN pays a tribute to our late Governor, admitting that he was in many respects an able administrator, but thinks that he claims too much in his defence of his administration in the Times, With this Hongkong will agree, we think. With regard to Sir HENRY's statement that Pre- fessor SIMPSON visited the Colony at his request, Mr. SHEWAN says that he forgot to add that this was forced upon him, and that his Government, did nothing until the community took the inatter in hand publicly and appointed a committee, which drow up and forwarded a petition to the home Government for enquiry, resulting in Messrs. CHADWICK and SIMPSON being sent out. This surely cannot be controverted, It was the public agitation which forced the Government's hand, not the Government which led and directed the agitation. Mr. SHEWAN concludes by saying that he might, but for considerations of space, touch on the evils of "the want of water, the state of the roads, the backwardness of all Govern- ment work, the ridiculous Admiralty Dock, overcrowding of Chinese, etc." We take it that Mr. SHEWAN does not charge all these evils to the recent administration. He knows of course that they are inherited evils due to past maladministration. The fault of recent local government here is that it has not striven vigorously enough to find the cure, and has been too content to tinker rather than renew. Sir HENEY BLAKE and his advisers fail by lack of initiative. Too much attention was paid to building up a big surplus revenue, while public works remained a discredit to the Colony. Hong- kong is very prosperous and the Government'
SHANGHAI TELEGRAMS. The following Northern telegrams are from the N.-C. Daily News:
Weihaiwei, 13th February.-Two Japanese
battleships and four cruisers have passed towards the Shantung Promontory with what was them. The latter returned towards Chefoo, supposed to be a German gunboat following apparently pursued by a Japanese warship.
Tokyo, 13th February. The Japanese have occupied the Russian coal depôt at Roze Island, Chemulpo, where they found 800 tons of coal
stored.
Tukyo, 13th February. The Japanese contributions to the War Fund, the Japanese Government having decided to accept papalar Consulates are everywhere receiving offers in Great Britain, the United States, China, and Corea.
Tokyo, 14th February. The journalists and business men of Tokyo and Yokohama resolved to-day to support the Government no matter
war long the
how
continues. Tokyo is
prepared even alone to take up the whole Japanese Minister at Washington has received issue of Exchequer bonds. The proposed
to date eight million dollars in contributions to the War Food.
Tokyo, 14th February. The prompt accept. ance by the United States of Japan's applica tion to her to protect Japan's interests in Russia and Manchuria, taken in conjunction with the of nurses to Japan, has genuinely impressed the recent offer of Dr. McGee to send a large staff Government and people of Japan, and is regarded as a further guarante: of brotherhood.
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