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AN HISTORICAL PREFACE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[September 23, 1906.
was
of Liaotung already swallowed by Japan, | by quarrelling with each Power with whom the latter, finding that Russia was he came in contact, as well as with (Daily Press, 17th September.) supported by both France and Germany, his own more experienced officers. Α That Japan is by no means sufficiently while he had no one to rely on, course of mysterious negotiations with contented with her recognised position as gave a reluctant consent on condition Russia, by whose aid China hoped to protector in Korea becomes plainly more that thirty million taels should be added to get rid ew blor of the other foreign Powers evideat day by day by actual experience on China's war indemnity. The result of who were pressing for reform at Peking, the spot. The occupation of Korea is in the war was that Japan had indeed suc- bad led up to the emeute of 1900, in which fact (as we foretold) rapidly becoming ceeded in freeing herself from China's Russia became for very shame involved. colonisation, and ber relations to the interference in Koren, and fancied she had It afforded ber the desired opportunity to Government of the country, so far from now a free hand in that country. To en bring her troops into China, and ALEXIEFF ceasing with a general directorate having phasise this she persuaded the weak KING soon showed his intention of remaining, for its object the amelioration of the many to assume the title of Emperor, an assump. Strong pressure from the other Powers at defects of the present system, are really and tion which only brought him into further last got him out of Pehchibli, but to Sheng- persistently bent on supersession. Phy- contempt. But she soon found that she had king he stuck like a limpet. Under the sically and intellectually the Korean is fully merely exchanged King Log for King shadow of a wood cutting arrangement with equal to his more nimble neighbour, but Stork, for Russin, emboldened by the China he contrived to gain an entrance into the history of twenty centuries of political success of her move with regard to Linotung Korea; while at Seoul Mr. WAEBER having buffeting has left its mark on him, and he commenced now o throw longing eyes on been carefully removed, all the arts of has become a dreamy opportunist with no Korea. There were many inducements to bribery and intimidation were brought into care or thought beyond the immediate Russia to have this louging. Russia was in play with the corrupt officials of that Court, present. Micawber-like he is continually that barbaric stage when the mere extension to undermine British and Japanese counsels. waiting for something to "turn up", and of territory is considered an accession of Japan had early seen that the absorption of Micawber-like he has lost the power of power, and Korea as a comparatively rich Korea by Russia meant the eventual des- initiating anything for his own advantage. Country (weighed with Russia's other truction of herself, and had been quietly Nor bas he been well served by his so- Asiatic possessions) had temptations of its making preparations by sea and land. When called "foreign advisers ", who for the most own. Her chief attraction in Korea was therefore she demanded some explanation of part have been well content to confine however, deeper seated. Russia has long the course Russia was pursuing, she was met their advice to one or other party and considered as her own the reversion of the first with evasive replies, and then, Russian. ΤΟ got lost amidst the indefinable Manchu patrimony, as in Europe she like, with a proposition to divide Korea puerilities of Korean faction without im claimed the succession to the Byzantine between them. It was palpable that, there parting one useful hint on the true principles empire. But the other great Powers were being no possible froutier line, the ac- of statescraft in contradistinction to mere jealous and held the command of the sea ceptance of such a proposition would be faction. One time/Russia is in the and without the command of the sea, Russia equivalent to admitting Russia within ascendant; guided by the masterful hand of saw the impossibility of accomplishing her Japan itself, and counter-propositions were a WAEBER; one time England, inspired by aims. She had already by a stroke of made at St. Petersburg. These were ac the cool judgment of Mr., now Sir McLEAVY diplomacy succeeded in getting possession cepted by Russia's Foreign Minister, sub- BROWN, the only one of her numerous of the eastern seaboard of Manchuria, and ject to the ratification of the TSAR, and an advisers who conscientiously strove to finding it suitable to her design, had unpleasant position was seemingly averted. induce Korea to pull herself together and strongly fortified the naval harbour of The TSAR, a weak, irresolute man, take a hand in bringing about her own Vladivostock. But Vladivostock had dis- completely in the hands of his favourites. salvation. For centuries Korea had been
advantages, the chief of which was that it BESOBRASOFF and ALEXIEFF, who told him little better than a shuttle alternately in was closed for four mouths in the year. tales of the wonderful wealth of Korea, and, the bands of China or Japan, fearing both Immediately adjacent, separated only by a influenced by these tales, and against the and perpetually striving to play off one mere strip of land still nominally belonging advice of his ministers, he refused to sign against the other; 60 it was
little to China, lay Korea; and Korea had several the presented convention. So barefaced a wonder that when the big European much finer harbours than Vladivostock and, rejection of terms already agreed on could nations commenced to t ke FL hand
moreover, open all the year. To create an have but one result-war; and the next in the game that she should have found eastern navy and gain possession of one oray Japan put her forces in motion. hereself in an even more insignificant posi- inore of these harbours, and eventually, of tion in the game. Then followed the
course, of the whole peninsula, became murder of the QUEEN, the only individual benceforth one of Russia's prime ambitions. in all Korea capable of taking a statesman- Meanwhile she had by specious representa- like view of affairs, in which disgraceful tions at the feeble court of Peking succeeded affair Japan was inextricably involved, and in obtaining under the pretence of tben the latent jealousies of China aud "lease" possession of the southern point of Japan over the luscious morsel broke out Shengking with its harbour of Port Arthur, into open war. Japan, less corrupt than which she at once proceeded to convert into China under the debasing influence of the a formidable fortress, and by degrees EMPRESS DOWAGER and ber then henchman, commenced to strengthen her Oriental fleet LI HUNG-CHANG, won an easy victory and which prior to 1903 had almost ostenta the disorganised Chinese army was driven tiously been kept in a low degree of across the Yalu River. It would have heen efficiency and numbers. Nominally, of well if Japan had rested content with hav-course, Russia is an autocracy, but it would ing gained everything for which she had be beyond the powers of any man, unless he entered on the war and offered terms to were one of those umeterial spirits which China which the latter could have accepted from time to time arise to divert the current without unduly compromising her position. of history, to hold in his own hands the It would probably have been well if Eng- reins of so large an empire. The ROMANOFFS land, then holding the foremost position in are not of such mettle, and the real power Eastern Asia, had told her unmistakably of Russia has fallen into the hands of she had gone far enough in her own in- bureacracy, the most corrupt in existence, terests as well as in the interest of civilisa-not excepting Chinn.” The personal tion generally, but Japan's greed and ambition had been aroused and England, half-pleased at the discomfiture of China, uttered not a word of protest. The result was the overrunning of Shergking and the forcing of an ignominious peace on China. But in the hour of her triumph Japan met with a strange reverse. Russia at the moment had reached the high water mark of her power, with France as her devoted ally. So when at Chefoo the Russian plenipotentiary threw down his sword and gave the Japanese minister the option of accepting that or of disgorging the morsel
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favourites of the present TSAR easily per suaded him that there lay in East Asia an empire at his feet, but that his ministers were hampering him in his progress to greatness. The unlimited wealth of China, of Korea, and, when these were swallowed up, of Japan, were pointed out to him as worthy objects of his ambition. The bait was taken, and Admiral ALEXIEFF, follow ing the example of the ancient kings of Persia, was sent out as his satrap with unlimited powers and responsible to him alone. ALEXIEFF was utterly devoid of experience and soon showed his incapacity
In
none of these negotiations, it is noteworthy, did Korea take any part. Neither Power, though dealing with matters in which the very existence of that State was at stake, considered it at all necessary to ascertain her views. The "Emperor's" feelings and interests were no more considered in the manipulation of his territories than were those of NAPOLEON'S "Kings" a century earlier in Europe. This somewhat long introduction is necessary if we would desire to comprehend the very complicated posi• tion of affairs at the moment in Korea, which Japan is, by the way, rapidly simplifying.
TRADE DEPRESSION AND CONFIDENCE.
(Daily Press, 18th September.) Shanghai as well as Hongkong is suffering anxiety about the state of trade, but as in former periods of depression, is holding on bravely; and we are glad to read the hope- ful comments of our leading contemporary there. The N.-C. Daily News refers to the material changes which have taken place in the outward face of the Settlement this year, remarking that it is not often so many conspicuous alterations have had to be noted as the closing summer has pro- duced. The builder has been exceptionally busy, and we wish we could say the same here. There has been a good deal of work done, but not more than was apparently necessary, and we fear that the alleged demand of a year ago is not what it was
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