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THE WEST RIVER.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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(January 25, 1908.
Ingreement male between England and China and Korea some two centuries ago, Russia regarding the coast boundary he that a considerable area alongside their tween Alaska and British Columbia, which boundary line was to be considered practi- was osely put down as following the sum cally neutral ground, not to be pealed by This Was conceived with the mits of the const chain of mountains. The either. real point in question which afterwards led intention of thereby preventing any othe to a very consulerable divergence of opinion of trouble arising to disturb the good feeling between the United States and Great existing Times have 90 changed, in Britain, namely the question of acres to the manier, too, for which neither was respon. se, never having occurred to either of the gible, that this agreement has added another negotia ors. When both the adjacent coun- complication to be adjusted. Like the tries, Alaska and Br`tish Columbia, became former it is one difficult or impossible of of importance the former having been adjustment by interested parties, who can acquired by the United States, and found scarcely be expected to bring to the dis- to be rich in mineral, and the latter fal- cussion sufficiently clear and open minds. ling to the Dominion of Canada, and found. It is however one that is familiar to judici d to contain the rich gold field of Klondyke, minds, and no doubt would disappear when this question of access from the sea became submitted to such. On the whole thy the pressing question of the day, and 'Chientau dispute between Chinn an | Japan national feeling in both countries rose to, is especially sich a case as is most itted to such a pitch of intensity that war was openl; be submittel to th Hague Tribund; and spoken of on both sides. Neither party, of this the more so as issues wider than those course, repudiated the original agrement
of either pirty are likely to be involvel We believe made between Great Britain and Russia, unless such a course bo takon, but the question was: what did it mean the Chinese Government has already state l Practically it had no meaning when it came its willingness to take this course, and in the sifted, and this was the gordian knot this, we think, it has actel wisely. It is that came h fore the arbitrators to unravel.
not so clear, however, why Japan has not Unfortunately the arbitrators were all Eugacepted the suggestion; which as at the Fish or American, and the outside feelings
moment physically the stronger Power, it At the of the two countries were reflecte in the would certainly become her to do. arbitration chamber, so that at last the same time, we are not blind to the possibility of the retort that if all the other Powers had agreed to arbitration on issues with China, in the past, more could now be expected of Japan.
ing Juble knot bad to be cut.
Daily Press. January 20th. Canton and West River steam-boat officers talk a good deal about the good that has been or is being accomplished in the Delta by the British naval assistance now being given to the work of coping with piracy, Where formerly such deeds of lawlessness were of daily occurrence, very little has been heard of them since the international patrol was begun. British prestige has been more than strengthened, according to these witnesses, who claim that far inland from the waterways the significance of the change has been appreciated. It is to be hoped they do not rejoice excessively, for that is just what was needed. The scant attention so far pail to anti-foreign muni. festations no doubt helped to embolden the unfriendly, who are mainly, so far as their attitude towards foreigners is concerned, ignorant children who need only a dangled rod to make them good. The determined attitude of Peking, belatedly alive to the mischief of neglecting these agitators, has | had a wonderful effect in both north and south, and we may for a time expect to feel fewer of the irritating pinpricks that have in the last year become far too common. The agitators of both north and south have been well snubbed, which was all they really needed, and with regard to the hated pr sence of foreign war craft in southern A not dissimilar controversy has arisen Chinese waters, they appear now to be recon-
on the other sile of the Pacific between ciled to its necessity. At least we hear no China and Japan regarding the boundary more now of indignation meetings or between Manchuria and Korea, and as in protesting telegrams. With the pirates the other, its importance hinges on the themselves, of course, it never
a identical question of access to the question of politics, but always a purely There are, however naturally important business matter, and we fear they are merely differences between the two cases, Japan lying low" till the policeman leaves his poses here as champion for Korea; but beat. This will explain the lack of the Koreans prhaps have no practical matter enthusiasm in the cominents of the British interest in the issue, it being a
them whether bluejackets who return every week end from of p rfect. indiffer nee to the waters of the Delta. They have found not China shall enjoy a dire t out-
Between the Pacifi. their work unexciting, even tedious, and look would, of course, have preferred to have a and Japan this is, of course, the prin bolder enemy to deal with. This is not cipal issue at stike. By the accepte the pleasantest season of the year to be principles of international law, a nati cruising up the local rivers, and their having a froutage on a navigable river has brief rests at Hongkong do not assist them the inherent right to navigate it, and China to a happier appreciation of the duty that sees that having, as she contends, a frontage has been thrust upon them. In accordance on the Tumen river, an entrance to the Sea with the careful policy of considering in of Japan would follow, which in view of the every possible way Chinese susceptibilities, fact that she has large territorial issues in they overhaul only such craft as fly their the basing of the Sungary and Chuleha, own flag, and naturally not a suspicious other wis› ina cessible from southern seas,
to her a matter of grave launch among them all now hoists the has bec ma British jack. One extra good result, importance. Japan on the other hand perhaps, will thus be attained, as all would willingly see her neighbour and rival Chinese-owned launches, honest or other shut out from access to the Sea of Japan wise, will be likely to revert to the age of unless on such terms as Japan would be their own proper buuting. It is to be hoped pleased to dietate. With interests s entire that the Customs and Chinese officials willly oppose, and national feelings on both show their recognition of the desirability of sides considerably excited, it is easy to see every craft sailing under its own colours.
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(Daily Pres, Jmuary 22nd.) Without ging the length that CARLYLE went in his impatience with th“ mostly kinds of his fellow countrymen, we are bound to mention now and then the con- viction that is almost daily borɑe in upoɑ Chinaus, that mankin on the average is generally absurd when it encounters an idea. Perhaps newfangled" with its rare it is that it is so ideas that it grows fond and foolish, like a young mother with her first baby. With the strongest of humanitaran instincts— indeed, impelled by them-we declare the humanitarians who make sentimental "cruelty to animals" their special bète unir form one of the absurdest scts of people we can think of. Every right m'nde i min or wonan resents wanton cruelty, bu those who make a fal of the work of the N. S. P. C. A. sometimes reluce a noble resentment to a Their charity embraces the puerile farce. pretty-pretties, and to often ignores the sufferings of humbler creatures. of all, their intolerancs of cruelty to animals often leads them into eruelty to inan. England we have often heard paid officers of the N.S.P.C.A., who are like policemen in their desire to have a cre·litable show of convictions to prove their diligence, informa the horse in question the Magistrates that
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had a sore the size of a shilling on his back.” The poor carter, whose children's fool and health depandel probably on the meagre earning of their parent and his patient quadruped, would thereupon hi fiied a fortnight's earnings, and the case went down in the annals of the society as one more item to show t› subscribers as an inducement
that neither is in a fit frame to euter on a calm discussi u, and that force actual or at band would take the entire ground from A CASE FOR THE HAGUE.
reason or right. It is in effect a typical case of the difficulty intended to be surmounted (Daily Press, January 21st.) by the establishment of the Hague Court at Though the Hague Conference has been; Arbitration. Toe boundary was more thau unproductive in greater matters, it has ut
a century ago defined by treaty, and it is least strengthened the cause of Arbitration mainly on the principles therein agreed on in such seemingly lesser affairs as disputed that the question would leg dly have to le boundaries. As a rule controversies re- decided; for such a d cis on the Court is in, specting boundaries arise not from pre-every way fitted, and moreover has the conceived ill-will, but from differences of; requisite standing and machinery. Chiun, of their benevolent support. opinion regarding the meaning of prior as we showed some time ago, has made out ¦ agreements, frequently made when both a sufficient prima facie ease to go to court; parties were equally ignorant of the details Japan's claim has not as yet bean stated in of the country intersected; and so intention- full, so that public opinion is quite open, ally made in vague general terms, in the and the case would go to arbitration un. hope that when the time came for accurate biassed by outside feeling. delineation the intention would be suffi-e ciently clear. Of such a nature was the
The case is, of course, complicated by a curious arrangement entered into between
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opinion, your Worships, the horse was pain. It flachel when I suffering pressed the wound with my finger." intelligent officer, and their sapient Wor- ships, did not seem to notice that the real question at issue was whether that pain was nee flessly, wan:only, or cru:ily inflicted. We have sen a gentle lady, aroused
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