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THE HONGKON WEEKLY PRESS AND upon a course of reform and to become recognised as a civilized power without the help of Japan, to the extent of throwing the whole of the country
a satisfactory decrease. We reproduce elsewhere some interesting extracts from Mr. MD. PARE's report.
DIPLOMATS AND JOURNALISTS. | open to foreign trade and r sidence.
of a
[December 23, 1905.
NOTABLE JAPANESE PROTEST.
+
(Daily Press, 22nd December). We can but admire the ability of Baron Whether there was really any such utter-
K. SUYEMATSu to take, "into calm and (Daily Press, 21st December.) ance or not may be fairly considered an dispassionate consid· ratión matters which Among the many changes which have taken
open question; but most certainly it ought juspire us, who are less interested than be, place within the last few years in connection. not to have got into the public prints in with mixed feelings akin to humiliation and with public affairs there is, perhaps, none the form of a report of a communication rage. Ridicule, logic, proof upon demon- more striking than the alteration in the between two Ministers of State on an open stration, and demonstration upon proof, have modes of diplomacy. In old times diplomatic diplomatic question.
It is, of course, pos-
been a ivanced to cope with an unmitigated personages were considered to be as inscru-sible that some such statement was made, huisance; and its continuance proves that it is table as the sphinx, and it was possibly but if 80, those equainted with the Chinese hot due to a general ignorance and thought- just as well that they should be so regarded, will know very well what value they should les-ness (else would it have gone from The idea of "getting anything out set upon it. According to her own declaras) but that it is due to a universal recogni- diplomatist worth a moment's consideration tions, China has always been willing to ion of the advantages of humbug. But with regard to any question with which progress by herself, but somehow she does with such an example as that set by Baron he might have to deal, scarcely occurred to not do so. No doubt she is now beginning SUVEMATSU in his letter to the Times of the most sanguine of editors or correspon- to feel that something must again be said Nov. 18, let us approach the missionary dents. Certain broad lines of action wight to appease the impatience of the foreigner; nuisance once more in something liker to at times be indicated in very general terms and that the best thing that her representa the spirit which made him say, "I feel that and the influence of the Press be thus tives can assert in answer to enquiries is he risk I incur of giving offence is com secured by Diplomatists with a view to that everything is right but we must "waitparatively a trifling thing, when compared bringing a subject before the public and a little longer." This answer has d ne with the good that may follow an impartial educating public opinion. This, however, such good service in the past that it would ventilation of this truly important matter." was done only on rare occasions; with much | be a pity if it should not be sufficient once Unhappily, the mischief lies in the failure circumspection and always with persons more,
It is, however, characteristic of the here are those who believe the life to come to reach a mutual standard of importance. worthy of such confidence. At one time present day that a pas ng remark of The Times enjoyed special favour in this this kind should be considered important so important that it justifies the overlooking resp ct and an article in that paper often enough to be telegraphed all over the of practices that tend to make this life formed, as it was intended to form, a very world. It may be intended as good indication of the way the wind was gap to
a stop-nbearable.
It is not to these we must enquiries which are naturally app al; but to the people who can realise blowing upon some public question of the being made at the present time as to thi that to day is a bit of eternity, und that it day; but confidences of this kind were for intentions of Caina in the future; but such is worth while preventing those who are the most art restricted to matters upon general utterances are dangerous ground over anxious about to-morrow from spoiling which the public had an undoubted right upon which to base any conclusions; and pur to day with their intolerable and in- to be informed-such in fact as any mem. they are apt to be taken up in a very folerant impertineuces. Baron SUYEMATSU, ber of Parliament might with perfect different sense to that which was intended, striving for well-authenticated accounts of propriety make the subject of a question and so in the end may do consi'erably the causes of certain features of the_recent in the House. Matters, however, have now more harm than good. What probably was fiots in Tokyo, quot s the Rev. JULIUS gone very much further than this, and we meant is that Chin intends to use the SOPER, a missionary who, after investiga- find energetic interviewers quite ready to Japanese and to get all the information she tions, said, The preaching of the young ask ambassadors and others for informa-
cay from them and then endeavour to settle then from the Gospel Band (of which the tion regarding the very matters which things her own way, and make use of the Rev. J. NAKADA is one of the leaders) at this these officials are engaged in settling. In influence of foreign nations to pre-ent any time of intense excitement was the occasion old day's men would as soon have thought of undue in'erference from that quarter. In of this outburst of feeling against these asking questions of this kind of diplomatists this she can scarcely be held to blame; but places of Christian worship, and not the as of asking a judge which way he intended the difficulty is that the Chinese have lireet cause. It is unfortunate that to decide some case still sub judice. Modesty always shown themselves unable to in prenching was carriel on in the Asakusa of this kind does not, however, find much augurate any important reforms by them- Park, one of the strongest Buddhist sections place in the pushing journalism of the selves. Nothing would suit Japan better of the city, at this time." Just how "ún- present day. We thus find Ministers often than that China should be able to maintain fortuna'e" it was may be gathered when placed in an awkward position by unex- her independence and autonomy without Baron SUYEMATSU points out that "what pected questions put by some interviewer the help either of Japan herself or of any is here described as 'Asakusa Park' con- who has gained admission to them perhaps other Nation; but it will remain to be seen ists in reality of the precincts of a large and for information or some apparently harm-whether the Chinese are sufficiently clever famous Buddhist temple, somewhat similar less matter. Recently we had a striking to do this. At the present time there is the Canterbury Cathedral and its court- illustration of this in the questions put little doubt they are unable to hold their fard, only somewhat larg. r." The Rev, by the representatives of the Paris Matin own without assistance; and in the interests Mr. SOPER-
-we are not responsible for the to M. DELCASSE about the trouble with of peace it is to be hoped that they will not ev. gentleman's name-admitted that it regard to Morocco. In order to get cut be too proud to necept the aid of Japan was unfortunate his young men should what had taken place, the paper first until it is quite certain that they can swim bave chosen such a venue just at that time; assumed that M. DELCASSE had made without belts. If they honestly accept the e presume that were Buddhist or Shinto certain statements; and when at the in-position and endeavour to learn from Japan propagan lists to chose the courtyard of terview this was denied, endeavoured to what is neeful, and to avail themselves in Canterbury Cathe Iral at any time for their press him with the question ns to whether a reasonable spirit of her assistance, they demonstrations it would be resented as a such a surmise was or was not purely may succee] in effecting the promised, ittle more than "unfortunate." Baron imaginative. M. DELCASSE would have reforms; but if their idea is merely to find¦ SUYEMATSU says the occasional-he will been a very much poorer diplomatist than out Japanese moles of action in the hope of pot say frequent--in liscretion of the mis- Frenchmen generally are if he did not at hettering the instruction in their own anti-sionaries is greatly deplored by thoughtful this point bring the interview to a close; quated way, the result will only be a and he did so by telling the interviewer repetition of the disappointment which has not to ask him for any further information. hitherto always f. Lowed up in Chinese pro- Such questioning sees somewhat strauge mises of reform. in France where the public is uot as a rule taken so much into the confidence of the Government as in England; and the incident certainly shows how general has been the change with regard to official and diplomatic secret that has taken place. Something of the kiud bearing directly upon matters in this part of the world took place shortly afterwards, it being reported that the Chinese Minister in Paris had in formed the French Secretary for Foreign Affairs that Chiun intended to enter
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local Post Office with regard to the
If there is no administrative rule in the date stamping of post-card, there ought to be. We have received a postord only half covered with writing; but of that writing the vital figures are obliterated by the legend Vic'oria, Hongkong 7 a.m. 21 Do. C6." There was vacant space sufficient for uine such impressions; but that ought to have been let alone. the careless official picked out the one inch custom, if it be not a rule, is to respect the The usual business side of a postcard. It is a courtesy due to the public.
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persons in Japan. So it is in China; and it is now Ligh time that steps were taken in the direction of something more practi- cal than mere déploration. But to stick to this dignified Japauese remonstrance, which we hail as timely and amply justified- no one will deny that " persons who may be in the position of uninvited guesta in another man's house are bound to exercise the utmost tact and seek by every means in their power to prevent any misunderstand- ing." Bron STEMATSU is afraid "there are many who do not, und never will," and be dreads possibilities. He mentions the case of an English clergyman who wrote to Lim "that there was to be found in England
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