F
February 20, 1905.]
she took part." Whether America or any other foreign nations will directly take part in the final settlement sceins doubtful; but, indirectly, there can be no question that foreign nations will have considerable in- fluence in the matter by bringing their views before the Chinese Government and inducing China to act as they deem desirable so far as this can be shown to be to the interests of China herself. We may with tolerable safety assume that Great Britain will be in favour of the same policy as regards Manchuria as that indated by America; and, so far as China is concerned the fact that she entered into the Treaty ns to opening Mukden to foreign trade is sufficient to indicate that she is anxious that that country shall be recognised as reverting to her
sway.
The difficulty, however, is that if Man- churia is given back to China after the war, China may before long again prove herself unable to maintain her hold upon it, so as to exclude any renewed aggressiveness on the part of Russia. If Manchuria were given up immediately after the war to China, it is much to be feared the latter would again show herself too weak to maintain her sway unless she were directly supported by foreign nations in some way, or by Japan. The former mode of action would scarcely commend itself in face of recent experience. Promises by Russia in respect to such matters have not proved to be anything that can be relied upon, and some better guarantee thau any assurances on her part would be required, but such assurances would be all that could be obtained by combined action of other foreign nations to support China.
So far as Japan is concerned there is no reason to believe that she would not be willing to leave Manchuria alone and so be relieved of the responsibility of holding it, as soon as she is guaranteed that her leaving it will not be the signal for renewed Russian attempts. Japan must have some guarantee against the recurrence of the danger which has brought her into collision with Russia; and for some time at all events these must be of a material character. Of this the Chinese niust themselves be fully aware; and it is a fact that can scarcely be ignored by foreign nations generally. Under the circumstances, what seems the most likely solution is some arrangement by which Japan, while recognising Chinese authority in Manchuria, will help the Chinese to govern or at least to protect it for some time. So far as can be judged from what has been declared by Japan from time to time she would be willing to undertake the task of holding Manchuria in company with China; and on the whole it appears most probable that some such arrangement will be arrived at. Such a plan might be found to work well, both for the interests of Japan and of foreign nations. The fact is undoubted that for some time to come at all events assist-
ance will have to be given to China to enable her to maintain her hold upon Manchuria, and short of its being taken over by Japan, which for many reasons might not be desirable, some such scheme for joint Government as above suggested, seems the most reasonable solution of the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
109
obviates the necessity of rushing matters at is often the cause of the delay or the loss of the present stage." If this is the view a letter. Then, agaio, how little the publis entertained by the Japanese, it would also do in Hongkong to secure the safe delivery seem to indicate the likelihood of some
of their letters i How many houses are species of military protectorate being
there in the Colony with letter-boręs established for a time over Manchuria; and
in the doors as the general custom possibly this might be arranged in such a
is in England ? The number of such houses, if there are any, must be extremely manner as to secure China against a renew- ed invasion of that country while still not unknown in England, as the police court re- small. The stealing of letters by postmen is leaving the civil administration in her cords sufficiently show, and I do not suppose oar hands, and recognising her full territorial own Post Office staff is absolutely above suspicion anthority.
in this respect; but it is very probable that they are blamed more frequently than the facts, if they could be properly investigated, would justify. It would therefore be more satisfactory to all concerned if the public would co-operate with the Post Office in the manner indicated in the Government notification.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
13th February.
The chief topic of the week must surely have been the Weather. The "Great Cold," accord ing to the Chinese Calendar, should have ar.ived last month, but it missed its way to Hongkong and did not reach us till the beginning of February. On January 23rd the temperature the mercury has not risen much above 40 reached as high as 79.3 F; for the past week degrees, and the prevailing modes are sables and furs and blanket costs. The druggists should advertise cures for colds and chilblains. I notice that the Direct r of the Weather has been playing strange pranks in Europe also. the South of France than in Scotland. In the early days of the year it was coller in
and
Next to the weather, we have had the Beachcomber Question to talk about. The intimation made by the Colonial Secretary that the Government is contemplating legislation to deal with this scandal is a very welcome piece of intelligence. Hongkong gets far more than its fair proportion of wasters, we have to thank Manila for it, I see that the Philippines Government last year actually deported 74 men of this worthless cla's, while they were ouly able to find a dozen destitutes worthy of assistance. I think we may fairly assume that at least 70 out of the 74 were dumped on our shores, and we may likewise surmise that a much larger number finding life too hard for them in Mauila con- trived to make their way here without waiting the order of the police of Manila to "move on.' It only needs determination on the part of the Government to put a stop to this dumping, and I think the past twelve months have plainly shown the need for resolute action.
There is another lesson which this Colony might learn with advantage from the neigh- bouring American Colony. Congress has re- cently approved legislation for the Philippines which will enable the Insular Governmont to extradite criminals from foreign countries. Could we also get the Philippines to take back their own criminals? Why, for example, should we maintain for life in the gaol the insane Filipino murdered a compatriot in the harbour, and who the very first day he reached Hongkong being found to be insane is detained in prison at the Colony's expense during the Governor's pleasure?
A Government Notification appeared in a re- cent issue of the Gazette which has scarcely received the notice it deserves. Members of the public who consider they have cause of complaint against the Post Office are parti- cularly requested by this Notification to bring the matter to the notice of the Postmaster- General. It is further intimated that in the case of delay or misdelivery of letters it will be sufficient to forward the cover with a note of the exact time and place of delivery marked on it; if enclosed in an envelope no stamp will be
required. It is obvious that in the absence of discover causes of complaint or take steps to full details promptly supplied it is impossible to
present them.
difficulty. It has been pointed out in the St. James Gazette, which is usually well informed upon matters connected with the East, that the probability is that the Japa- nese are not so much averse to the war If the public will co-operate with the Post being protracted for some time as at first would be supposed, as the longer the war lasts, the longer Japan has for the organisa- tion of China's military power; and "with China prepared to assert her right to her own property at the end of the struggles, the future is much clearer for Japan, and
"J
Office in this way. I suspect it will be shown pretty clearly that the public is more often at fault than the Post Office. Letters often mis- The "boy" is told to post carry in this way: a letter; he too often delegates this "pidgin to the coolie, who in turn gets some "good fen" to do it for him, and the latter perhaps forgets or is too inquisitive. I suspect this
7
The alterations in fares on the electric tram. way as they are set forth in the adver tisement appear satisfactory and to the advantage of the travelling public, but that there is good reason for not advertising on & closer examination оде discovers the new scale of fares as a "Reduction in fares." When I first read the announcement I assumed that the shareholders were prepared to content themselves with something less than 334 per cent. (which is said to be the dividend earned last year), and had consequently resolved to make a reduction in fares. But alas, that is not the reason for the change. Under the new scale, the fare from the Post Office to Arsenal Street will apparently be 10 con's! The shareholders will have no com- punction about accepting a dividend of 50 per cent, or even 100 per cent; the alterations appear to be dictated by a resolve to stop peculation on the part of conductors which has been notoriously common. The new scale will doubtless do much to stop it if the company maintains a staff of vigilant inspectors, but it the peculation which has been going on from occurs to me that if the company, in spite of the commencement of the service, is able to pay a dividend of 33 per cent. the investment would still be a very remunerative one if the two-penny tube "system were adopted-say, a fare of 10 cents first-class any distance.
BANYAN.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
LAWLESS CANTON.
Feb. 14th,
As is customary during the fortnight of
the Chinese New Year, the compounds in front of nearly all the joss houses are taken up by crowds of hawkere, sweetmeat and toy sellers, gamblers, fortune-tellers, jugglers, idlers, artisans, thieves, rogues and vagabonds. Some play battledore, others dice, and miscellaneous there to pester sightseers. music beguiles the populace. Beggars are If a foreigner happens to go to the joss house to see the five hundred josses, or the Honam temple to see the colossal Buddha, the beggars and little scamps generally follow him closely, yelling out "tai- pan, cumshaw." If he did not give, they would insult, and provoke him, hanging on to his chair, pulling it about, or pelting at him, until he could not stand it any longer. Were he to belay them with his walking stick it would be the worse for him, Ho would come out with his head broken, his dress smeared over with dust or his chair smashed. If a woman or a girl were to go into the joss house to chin-chin joss during these few days, she would be pestered and her dress torn into shreds. This is the cause that prevents most
people from visiting the joss houses during the year some gamblers were playing at dice in the New Year days. On the second day of the now
compound at the entrance of the Hoi Tong-tax or Honam temple, and a few soldiers went to squeeze them of a few cash. They refused to pay and a soldier pulled out a revolver to threat- en them. They wrested it from the soldier and with a knife cut his hand. They then had a fight, and the soldiers got the worst of it, and ran to their headquarters to raise more men. The vagabonds knew it and took to their heels, The soldiers then returned to the number of about one hundred and fifty, armed with rifles
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.