November 12, 1906.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
321
It is necessary however to point out that missionaries are not socredited agents of the British Government for the enforcement of the was not intended to Treaty, and Article from President
| confer upon missionaries any right of interven-
tion on behalf of native Christians.
of the Colony; how it looks back on the meddling of the Imperial statesmen had better, perhaps, be left unsaid. Mr. SEDDON had it authoritatively MCKINLEY that America's adherence to the Monroe Doctrine would not be strong enough to stand in the way of the annexa- tion of the Sandwich Islands; he went to England and urged the representatives of Great Britain to save them. At that time a third of the boats trading between San Francisco and New Zealand belonged to the latter looy, and he warned the Ministers
that the American coastwise laws would be sure to shut them out. All he asked for, and for this he bad the hearty good wishes of the insular inhabitants, was a Pro. tectorate. His reception is an item of history; his warnings were pooh-poohed; and within three years that important and growing trade was lost to Britain and her Colony, with all the prestige and future possibilities attached. New Zealand wanted Noumea, and the Noumeans wanted British rule. London knew little and apparently cared less about them, and now Noumea and new Caledonia are French. We can excuse Mr. SEDDON's bitter remark that "these losses were incalculable, and it was a pity that
such statesmen should ever have been en- trusted with the destinies of Great Britain". At one time the New Hebrides, only four days away from New Zealand, were actually
1>
were engaged for His Excellency at this hotel a fortnight ago, and it is understood that he will spend two days here before proceeding to Canton. His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan had the launch Victoria, which was decorated with flags, waiting to convey the distinguished visitor ashore. The dinner arranged for him had of course to be abandoned.
The decorations in front of the hotel are made ap of Chinese floral art and a display of bunting, the British and Chinese flags flying ❘ side by side The trees and shrubs trained in the forms of men, dragons, and animals were much admired, and a body of district watchmen kept guard over these.
(Daily Press, 12th November.) His Exo-llency Chou Fu, whose arrival in Hongkong has been anxiously awaited since Thursday, reached here yesterday afternoon. and was accorded an enthusiastic reception by
the
8.5
and
the Chinese community. The steamer da Pig, on which he was a passenger, was delayed three days in the neighbourhood of Amoy through stress of weather, and nothing was heard in Hongkong regarding her movements a feeling of anxiety had arisen. This was happily allayed when the vessel was signalled yesterday afternoon,
news of her arrival spread cons derable excitement rapidly there among the Chinese who assembled in thousands ON the Prays to watch his landing. The beflagged launch Victoria, which had been waiting His Excellency's arrival for three daya, steamed out to the An Ping with Captain Colmar on board representing the Governor. The Viceroy and his
AS
was
H.
and greeted conveyed first of all to the flagship King Alfred dmiral Moore. Meanwhile the
Pier.
land battery fired the appropriate salute, the compliment being repeated by the King Alfred. Having brought the official visit to the Admiral to a close, His Exe llency returned to the launch and proceeded to Blake Ou landing the band of the Middlesex Regiment played an appropriate selection, and the Viceroy pissed through the guard of honour drawn from the Middlesex Regiment. There- after he and his suite entered their obairs, and proceded by attendants and guarded by an escort of Indian police, they made their way through a route densely lined with Chinese to Govern. ment House. The Viceroy called on His Excellency the Governor and returned to Thomas' Hotel, where lunch Was served. A large company of leading members of the Chinese community were present, the immediate supporters of the Viceroy being Mr. Lau Chu Pak and Mr. Fung Wa Chun, and in the course of the proceedings His Excellency addressed the assembly. It is understood that the Viceroy will proceed to Canton to-day.
I do not see any objection t› a missionary addressing the local Chinese Authorities directly on any matter affecting himself personally, such as for instance a robbery that has been com. mitted at his house, or any similar private affair. If, however, a missionary has to complain on behalf of himself that his teaching is interfered with, or that a Chinese preacher or convert has been interfered with or persecuted, his proper course is to lay the facts before the Consul of the district in which he resides, who after dus examination will make such representations to the Chinese Authorities as the case may require. His Majesty's Consuls are not authorized to delegate their duties in this respect
missionaries.
to
I have reason to know that this view is shared by the managing bodies of British
Protestant Missionary Societies who carry on Mission work in China, and I understand that it is accepted and acted on by most of the missionary bodies in Chins.
The fact that a missionary or the convert on whose behalf a complaint is made resides at a distance from one of H.M. Consuls is not sufficient reason for the missionary taking upon himself the duty of the Consul, and his inter. reation could only be justified when there was imminent danger of su extreme character threatening the safety of converts.
I have accordingly to request you to act upon what is laid down in this Circular, and to
over it seems likely to be departed from.
I am persuaded that if missionaries uniformly refrain from direct intervention on behalf of native Christians, and confine their action to representing to H.M. Consuls cases of actual persecution, such a course will redonai to the preservation of peace between couverts sad non- converts, and to a spread of a geonine Chris- tianity among the people of China.—I am, etc.,
(Sd.) ERNEST Satow.
GIRL'S TRAGIC DEATH.
a part of that Colony ; yet as be spoke great entourage embarked on the launch and were acquaint missionaries with its contents when- Britain was diplomatically striving for a joint protectorate with France! Anything was better than that. They could either divide with France, or buy her out; but how was France ever permitted to get in? Ministerial ineptitude, almost amounting to criminal ignorance of the issues involved, must have been originally responsible; aud here London was still turning a deaf ear to the advice of the man on the spot Examples can be further multiplied, but there is no need to do more than mention how Lord DERBY repudiated Queensland's annexation of the New Guinea group; with the present effect that the British flag is somewhat rudely jostled by Germany and Holland, the former enjoying even a naval base on what was once British property. Great Britain has suffered both strategically and commercially in the Pacific, and with her, her Colonies, thanks to the remarkable statesmanship of her alleged statesm-n, who may have done the duty expected by some parochial constituency, but have certainly been guilty of worse than neglect of their duty to the Empire. There 13, according to Mr. SEDDON, a very real danger still existing. The strategical centre has been shifted, or will have been shifted, when the isthmus of Panama is cut; and, as he says, ** unless
British statesmen grasp the
situation
they will discover that the most deadly blow will be struck at our Empire in the Pacific".
VICEROY CHOU FU.
(Daily Press, November 9th)
CORRESPONDENCE.
MISSIONARIES AND CHINESE OFFICIALS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
H.B.M. Consulate General, Canton.
November 6th, 1906.
""
SIR, I am authorized by H.M. Minister to forward you for publication in your newspaper, should you care to print it, the enclosed copy of a Circular Despatch addressed by Sir Ernest Satow to H.M. Consuls in China, dealing with the subject of intervention by missionaries on behalf of their native converts.-I am, Sir,
R. W. MANSFIELD, Consul General.
(Circ·lar.)
The decorated front of Thomas' Hotel | your obedient servant, yesterday reminded residents that His Excellency Chou Fu, the new Viceroy of the Two Kwang, was expected here yesterday on his way to Canton. Unfortunately the steamer An Ping, on which he was a passenger, did not reach port as anticipated-delayed doubtless by rough weather-and the preparations for the reception of His Excellency were consequently disarranged.
H.B.M. Legation. Peking, August 31st, 1903. SIE,-Cases have come to my notice in which missionaries bave addressed themselves directly to Chinese Officials, either verbally or in writing, on behalf of their Chinese converts, instead of acting through the proper channel which is one of H.M. Consuls or the head of H. M. Legation.
Residing in Thomas' Hotel are a large number of Chinese officials from Canton who have come here to welcome His Excellency. They arrived in Hongkong on Wednesday Such intervention would, I presume, be de- in the Chinese gunboat Sum lio and two other fended on the ground that some action has been smaller gunboats and a launch.
Among taken with regard to the convert which is inviola- them is the son of the new Viceroy. Rooms' tion of Artials 8 of the Treaty of Tientsin.
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THE END OF A BROKEN ENGAGEMENT. The circumstances of the desth of Emily Ellen Wade, a nurse, whose body was found in the Pokfolum Reservoir, were investigated Nov. 5th at the Magistracy by Mr. F. A Hazeland, sitting coroner, and the following jury: Messrs. John Oldson, Arohd. MoKirdy and J. P. Douglas.
Dr. Heanley, medical officer in charge of the public mortuary, said he examined the body of the deceased on November 1st. She was aged about 25 years. Mr. Moxon was present at the identification. Death appeared to be due to drowning. There were no traces of injury or disease on the body.
Mr. G. C. Moxon said the deceased came into bis employ as nursemaid about five years ago. She was a very good girl, qu et and well behaved. Three years ago
she told him she had bec me engaged to be married to Sergeant Thompson in the naval yard police. He made inquiries to satisfy himself that the engagement was a desirable one and the report that came to him was satisfactory. He therefore consented to the engagement. Subsequently she went home to England with Mrs. Wade for a holiday, during which time the engagement oʻntinued. She returned to Hongkong about November 1905. About May "of this year she informed him that the engagement was broken off, and he had since, on several occasions heard her say she was sorry about it. She told him that she had broken the engagement herself. Quite recently she said that living in Hongkong had become distasteful to her and asked whether he and his wife would assist her in getting employment out of the colony. They were sorry to part with her, but consented to try to get her an appointment. They heard that Mrs. Maitland, who was leaving for Calentta, needed such a servant and suggested she should take service with her. She appeared pless-d to enter Mrs. Maitland's employ and did so on Monday, 29th ult. On the following day he understood she returned to his house about 10 or 11 in the morning and asked Mrs. Mozon to give her some
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