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JAPAN AND MANCHURIA.
(Daily Press 2nd December.) In giving some days ago the alleged headings of the Japanese proposal to China regarding Manchuria, we were careful to inention that these details were matters of report only; and while of undoubted interest, we did not regard them as a trustworthy statement of facts. It appears that they have helped to strengthen the fears of those who do not trust Japan's good faith; and it may therefore be just as well to remind readers that it is not a Japanese habit to take newspapers into confidence while important negotiations are proceeding. All present reports, therefore, must be regarded as coming from Chinese sources; and while it has sometimes been the case that Peking has permitted leakages, we do not think that anything so far published concerning the negotiations can be more than more-or-less clever guess- work-in some cases, perhaps inspired guesswork. There can be no question of the integrity of China. Japan's status in Corea is vastly different to what it is in Manchuria; and the same treaty which confirmed the fate of Corea guarantees the integrity of China. If there are any doubts ая to the nature of the proceedings at Peking, they should be at once dispelled by the attitude of China. BARON KOMURA has been received, not as a potential suzerain or a desiguing diplomat, but as a deliverer whom China is called upon to reward. Negotiatious are necessary un account of the characteris ically Chinese cannyness by which natural gratitude is Lempered with the business instruct to make a bargain. China lost some valuable property which Japan found and is restoring. China recognises that 2 reward must be paid, but does not want to give more than Japan is likely to be satisfied with. The position is more delicate even than that, for 'China's gratitude happens to be of the kind once defined as a lively sense of favours still to come. With her helpful neighbour on good terms, China cannot but feel insured against any future loss of the mislaid property. Examining in detail, however, the proposals which are said to have been made by Baron KoMURA, it is still difficult to imagine why or where the "friends" of China can see any symptom of dismemberment. Russia's lease of Liao- tung naturally falls to Japan, without alter ing the position of, so to speak, the free. holder. The Chinese Eastern Railway w.s a prize of war, and while the arrangements for the new partnership naturally need to be negotiated, there is nothing in it which could not have been foreseen after the Treaty of Portsmouth. The time to be allowed for evacuating Manchuria is scarcely
a
which
new question at Peking, and Japan's patent desire to expedite it is in pleasing contrast with the much discussed and often promised evacuation that shoull have taken place some months before the war. Inspired rumours have put the period at six months, we declared at the time of their appearance to te inadequnte; and if Japan agrees to quit in eighteen months it will be bad taste and bad politics for China to haggle over a month or two. Besides, Russia has not been cleared out of Nor- thern Manchuria yet. The rest of the alleged proposals, with only one exception, are either altogether laudable, as the opening of Manchuria, or perfectly natural, as the few "cumshaws" asked for services rendered, and which could be and have been demanded by other parties. The exception is the supposed stipulation that
I
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[December 11, 1905.
Japan is to be first consulted in the grant-able that some papers on the continent, after ing of concessions to foreigners; and with the renewal of the Treaty was announced, regard to this we had better wait until we actually argued that a European coalition hear more about it, on better authority than might be a proper course to counteract the the statement has at present. It will be effects of the agreement which had been Such a coalition is, of course, one admitted off-hand that China's weakpoint come to. is her system of granting concessions; and of those things more easily spoken of than that it is possible much mischief might be accomplished; and perhaps there is as little avoided if she had to consult somebody. reason to fear its being brought about, as Foreign concessions are regarded by China there was to fear an Asiatic combination, as alcoholic drinks are by a teetotaller. which was a subject of speculation when Total abstinence is his principle, and when the "Yellow Peril was a favourite theme. he is prevailed upon to break it, he either Underneath what we may believe, or at least overdoes it, or gets the bad kind, owing to hope, is an exaggerated view of the matter, bis inexperienced palate. With regard to there lies a truth that it may be well not to the Yellow Peril people who see in the very overlook, namely that the Far East is no friendliness of these negotiations a threat of loger separated from Europe and the rest. Japanese preponderance in China, it only of the world as it was in former days. More remains to be said that they do not know intimate international relatious and the China, if they imagine that she is throwing improvements in the means of intercom- herself into the arms of Japan with the self munication have brought East and West surrender of a willing bride. The kind of so closely together that no great question spoon that Mr. CHAMBERLAIN said should can arise in the one which does not affect be used when supping with a certain the other; and the rise of Japan as an Personage is the kind required in dealing with Peking; and this Japan well knows. The closest union likely to occur between Japan and China is at most a mariage de convenance.
THE FAR EAST.
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independent Great Power (for so she must be now regarded) in these
parts has altogether altered the nature of the Far Eastern question as familiar to politicians in former days. The Far East can no longer be regarded as a couvenient sphere for venturesome nations, who are willing to incur the risk of comparatively small com. plications. The whole world is now in- terested in any large question which arises in these parts; and to such an extent that the idea of a combination in Europe being brought about by them is not by any means so fanciful as it would have appeared some years ago. The time is past when any one. nation can, without the concurrence of the others, pursue any scheme of territorial con- quest in the East. This view of the subject is not altogether acceptable to some nations who have entertained contrary hopes, and it is one which may not easily be abandoned, At the present time it, no doubt, presses with more force than will be the case in a few years, partly because it is new and partly because the developments which the altered state of affairs will bring about are not as yet taken into full account. as time goes on, it will be found that ali that can reasonably be obtained of ad- vantage from the Far East, that is fair and equal facilities for commercial inter- course, can be acquired in a simpler and safer manner than by conquest, and that the true policy of each foreign nation is to further such trading facilities in common with the other foreign nations and in com- formity with the legitimate rights and interests of China and Japan themselves.
But,
(Daily Press, 4th December.) The events of the past two years have entirely altered the bearing of the Far Eastern question. It is now only "far regards its venue not as respects its effects. The change that has taken place has, like all great political changes, been gradual; but it has been brought suddenly into prominence by recent occurrences. That this fact has been recognised at home in high quarters is evidenced in a variety of ways, not the lenst striking among them being the iden upon which the late military manoeuvres were founded, the assumption, namely that Britain and Japan were fight ing against a European coalition and that the latter had landed troops at Birkenhead and Holbeach, which General French with three Army Corps at his disposal was engaged in repelling. The British are not generally supposed to be a fanciful and over-imaginative people, and that such an idea should have been conceived, if only as a mere basis of a supposed military position, is certainly somewhat striking, and it shows in an unmistakeable manner the direction in which public feeling is running. Read between the lines, it is a significant declara- tion that England may one day have to look to Japan to sustain her position as a dominant Power in the world. Making every allowance for imaginativeness, and for a desire to choose a subject which would arouse some enthusiasm, there is something (Daily Press, 5th December.)
It appears to us for several reasons that which cannot be overlooked in the particular position which was assumed. It may be the case of the late Dr. EDKINS' will, about which an abstract appears on the opposite taken that the contingency supposed is at east not considered outside the bounds of
page, is as important as it is interesting. possibility. The drift of affairs has been Some readers will indulge in speculative such that it has become evident that Great side issues on the capacity of missionaries Britain and Japan must act together in for accumulating worldly wealth; the order to maintain their respective interests unworldly principle which permits a com- in Asia; and it is not an altogether improb-paratively wealthy society to take away able corollary from this hat such a com- bination between them might have the effect of bringing about a European coali- tion by which the interests and position of both might be menaced. The fact that the manœuvres took place before the renewal of the Treaty between Britain and Japan adds to the significance of the curious programme suggested. It would seem that there must have been a somewhat definite knowledge of the direction in which affairs were going before that time; and it is notice
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A SINOLOGUE'S WILL.
what common human nature regards as the Iuto these fields widow's mite; and so on. we do not propose to wander. Others will wonder what the JUDGE meant by "the absence of the testimonium clause," for mauy have wills made or to make; and the recently published last will and testament of the late Lord INVERCLYDE, which simply said "I leave everything I possess of every description to my wife, the Right Hon. Mary Baroness INVERCLYDE, and I appoint her my executrix.—(Signed) INVERCLYDĘ,”
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