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the suggestion, that the 56 per cent. in the deaths "from appendicitis are really largely due to appendicectomy-that is, to the operator's knife. Some German statis- I tics (from the University Hospital at Heidelberg) are given to show that non- surgical treatment is possible, and indeed better, in the average case.
KOREAN INTRIGUES.
advice. There is not sufficient evidence to
warrant the allegation that Mr. HULBERT had anything to do with the aly deputation to the Hague Conference, but that gentle- ma bas only himself to blame if he lies under grave suspicion. It is stated authori tatively that he proceeded to Europe some time ago with twenty thousand yen obtained from the Emperor, as an immediate result of which steps have been taken to pro- tect the Korean privy purse from un. desirable drains. There are plenty of men who would gladly go jaunting to Paris
on any
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[July 22, 1907.
his suzerain. If deposition should be his ❘ well as in name. The true reason for this fate, we cannot see that the Korean people generally will be any worse off.
COLONIAL PAROCHIALISM. *
plan having been adopted is generally be- lieved to be the fear which was entertained
that the expressions of the Colonies in favour of the adoption of some system of preference would have been so marked as to probably be inconvenient to the present Administration who have set their faces so definitely against such a course. Whatever may have been the reason the fact that full publicity was delayed is undoubtedly to be regretted; and that an unfavourable idea of the results of the Conference was thus
(Daily Press, 19th July). No one who has watched the proceedings of the recent Colonial Conference can fail to be struck with the fact that they brought to light many difficulties, which hid hardly, as yet, been taken into account in respect to the formation of an Imperial Council. Notwithstanding the many patriotic declar-produced. Had an opposite course been produced many important questions would have been discussed as they arose at the Conference not only there but in the public Press, which have now only been partially dealt with and in this way the public both at home and in the Colonies would have become better prepared to meet at least some of the more important problems, which it is hoped to solve and above all the chief difficulty that has to be mart, namely the creation of a true esprit de corpa between the Home Country and the Colonies. This is the essential element required in their joining together to meet
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common needs as members of a common
Empire. As R tentative measure to- wards securing this end the Conference will 110 doubt be of value; but it is idle 10 ignore that 80 fur ag matters have gone, there has not been very much accomplished in this direction. If a permanent Imperial Council is to be established, it is evident that there should be a certain number of Home Representa tives (quite apart from the Official element) upon it. By this means something of a rapprochement might be made between the Home aud
the Colonial views of the
(Daily Press, 18th July.) The Korean Emperor, like a fish in an overcrowded boat, has wriggled too much. Our Tokyo correspondent's recent telegramations and high flown post-prandial speeches makes it appear that he is about to receive it must have been evident to any unbiassed his quietus. It is impossible to feel much observer, that the majority of the Colonial sympathy for him, his methods have been so
Premiers showed themselves still a long way contemptible; and they offer one of the best off anything like a real feeling of un ty arguments, if such be needed, in favour of between themselves and the rest of the the desirability of Japanese control. It is Empire. Each Colony waxed great on some unfortunate that foreigners like the Ameri- particular matter which would be of special can Mr. H. B. HCLBERT should have been advantage to itself, and comparatively found to encourage him in these futile small interest was shown by any in the intrigues, and perhaps it will not be long great questions which concern the whole before the Korean Emperor and people are Empire, and which are really those of the in a position to note the difference between
most importance. This was, however, only interested and disinterested friendship and what might be naturally expected. There is a certain localism (if the word may be allowed) developed in the Colonies which is not easily got rid of by men belonging to them, and which it is especially difficult for Colonial Premiers to set aside. Mr. Chamberlain, when he was in South Africa, was sufficiently bold to tell the Colonists there plainly that he could not but regret to find them" very provincial." This expres- sion does not exactly define what he was referring to but was a sufficiently near description of the sentiments which all Colonists entertain and which will enstitute one of the greatest obstacles in the way of the formation of any Imperial Council or other Body who can act as a permanent adviser on Imperial Affairs. avenue
In point of fact the whole idea of an Empire is in a sense foreign to Colonial minds. The
without some Colonies, not
show of reason, are averse to regarding themselves merely as a part of one Great Empire, and as though they had no national existence of their own, and they habitually centre every question that arises upon their own particular Colony and estimate the import !ance of every measure not as it may affect the Empire as a whole, but as it may directly benefit thems-Ives. It cannot be denied that the majority of the questions which were auner which will have dus regard to both discussed, were approached very much in Imperial and Colonial interests, au in this this spirit; aud that while there was on the way the Conference can be made the means surface very satisfactory show of frater; not ouly of securing that Colonial interests pity and goodwill, an undercurrent of he duly considered by the Home Govern- individuality
on the part of differentment, but the not less important end that Colonies was at times somewhat noticeably Home and Imperial interests be equally apparent. It is worthy of note that considered and respected by the Colonies, incident with the sitting of the Colonial and that both sides shall recognise that in Coufereace in London, a proposal was made a large number of important questions their in Australia to submit to the Home Govern-interests are at one. meut the question whether the Common- wealth might not have the right concedei to it of appointing its Governors to the different Colonies. This shows how strongly the Colonists there are imbued with feeling of antagonism to anything like Central Authority at home and how much will have to be done before it will be possible to duly impress upon them the importance of the interests which each Colony has in common with all other dependencies and with the Empire as a whole.
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pretence with such handsome allowances as that, and Mr. HULBERT's luck would undoubtedly have evoked enviers and emulators, if that had not been so promptly closed. The private purse of His Majesty-as we must still call him, though the honorific sounds a mockery-is now controlled by a com- mittee of which the Korean Minister of Commerce, SoNG FONG-CHUN, is chairman. It seems not unfair at this juncture to suggest that men like Mr. HeLBERT would not "love Korea so much, hated they not Japan more," and there was a gratuitous addition of impudence to the folly of this abortive deputation to the Hague in the preliminary visit of one of its members to the Russian Emperor. It was, however. all of a piece with the notorious Seoul intrigues of pre-Japanese days. Unrecog- nised and unheard by the Hague Conference, repudiated by their Emperor in a manner strongly reminiscent of the sneak-schoolboy's "Please sir, it wasn't me," these precious deputies are making their way to the United States, where it is to be feared the Yellow Press will be only too ready just now to listen to, garble, and repeat their complaints. The American Government, along with all the other Powers, has accept- ed accomplished facts, and acquiesced in the Convention of 1905, and it is to be hoped that Washington will therefore do its best to prevent any unnecessary mischief. Japan has a good deal of lurking as well as overt enmity to contend with; and Reuter's suggestion that Viscount HATASHI bas hastened to Korea "incognito" may not be as innocent in intention as it looks. Our own correspondent notified us of the Foreign Minister's departure, and men. tioned its object as being open and under- stood. The Korean Emperor personally, it cannot be doubted, has put his foot in it, and he may yet regret bis failure to fly at once to ask for the personal forgiveness of
own Lieutenant
It is much to be regretted that it was thought necessary to withhold full publicity to the discussions at the time when they took place a course which was certainly remarkable on the part of a Government which boasts of its liberality in action as
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questions that arise; and there would be a better chance of such questions being dis- cussed upon their broad merits, than can be the case in the absence of a fair represents. tion not merely of official but of general Home opinion at the discussions. It is to be hoped that in future conferences, which will no doubt take place, this fact may not he lost right of. There are always a large number of men to be found at home, some mercantile, others retired officials and the like, who are deeply interested in and thoroughly acquainted with the Colonies. Such persons are likely to look upon the questions that have to be dealt with in a
CHINA'S MAGNA CHARTA.
(Daily Press, 20th July). "All that takes existence valuable to anyone," remarked the late Mr. STUART MILL, depends on the enforcement of restraints upon the actions of other people." In China, existence ought to be particularly precious, for there are few lands where individual actions are
more under
the rest raint of law or of public opinion. One of the latest Dacres we have published is concerned with the restraining of individua lism in matters of eremonial, and most people know that the Chinese ideal is uniformity in nearly all things. Tha, however, was not exactly the idea in the mind of the English philosopher, and had
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