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JAP N AND CHINA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
East..
[March 2, 1908.
The Tanghu were utterly defeated, | being taken into account, the committee their king killed, and the whole people elected to-day will find no embarrassment reduced to slavery.
in the duty of selecting their new colleague, but rather an opportunity of giving a long- deferred act of justice the semblance of a graceful compliment.
(Daily Press, February 22nd.) Probably when Japan sent a few soldiers Such was the origin of the first Turkish across the river Tumen to take possession of empire, which before many years had an unconsidered trifle in the shap of the elapsed had the whole of Eastern Asin at its Hien-tso, or unoccupied mareb, "which feet, and by driving the Yuehti across the by old consent had lain between China and Pamirs gave rise to a series of events which Korea, she little foresaw that she was rais-ended in the ruin of the Roman Empire. ing the one point which was likely to bring | Young China dreams foudly of some such her in contact with one of the most glorification. We have carefully avoided complicated and dangerous principles of international law. The incident has a
particular interest at the present day,
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ferming a premature judgment on the point at issue, not knowing how much of reason
But now the Koreans hul on their side. China has made out a prima facie case, which it would require very strong evidence on the part of Japan to rebut.
We can therefore with perfect fairness, and as we believe in Japan's best interest, point out to her the advisability of remitting the points at issue to arbitration. Japan would suffer no loss of prestige by such a course, while on the other hand the fact of her having a righteous cause would, as in the |
add immeascly to her power and prestige. At all events the situation in East Asia is not in such a settlel eon- ¦diti m. that perseverance in a doubtful cause may not be followed by an universal crash into which the nations, willing or unwilling, will b‹ drawn.
because au almost identic claim some twenty-two centuries ago set in motion train of circumstances, which for centuries had important effects on the history of the of the world. About the year 209 B.C. | there arose amongst the early Turks one of those commanding figures who have left a permanest mark on history; his name was according to Chinese pronunciation Maotun, probably it. was pronounced? Moghul, ¦ Moghul's father after his birth had former case, remarried, and his eldest son by the new connection was his favourite, and he desired he should succeed to the exclusion of Moghur. He sent Moghur on a pretended mission to his savige neighbours, but at the same time suggested that his death would not be unacceptable. Moghur had warting of the plot, and escaped just in time. Returning home he ingratiated himself with his father's troops by his soldierly ways, and when the time was ripe had his father assassinated, and took possession of his throne. Some distance to the cast of him was situated the kingdom of the Tunghu, comprising Eastern Manchuria and Northern Korca. Considering that the dispute about the succession would have weakened the Turkish kingdom, the King of the Tunghu sent messengers to Magbul asking for his favourite horse whose speed and endurance had saved his life in hos escape from his father's plot. Moghul called a council of his ministers who advised him, seeing the
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
(Daily Press, February 24th.) The annual general meeting of the Hong- kong General Chataber of Commerce is to The letter hy be held this afternoon.
Indian," in another column, is therefore very timely. It bears on item No. 3 of the agenda, which has appeare1 for several days among our public announcements.
lecting a new emmittee, of its customary numerical strength of nine, the meeting the following will be asked to vote on
resolution.
After
"That in consequence of the importance of
the Trade existing between this Port and
Bomby it is resolved under rule XXIII to increase the Number of the Committee from to to so as to include a merchant interested in the Bombay trad-`
>
horse was one of his most valued ja-sessions, not to yield, and dare the consequences. I What," said Moghul," shall I for the sake of a horse offend a friendly people? He accordingly sent the charger. The Tungu This resolution cannot be said to have accepted the surrender as a sign of fear, and come too goou. Our correspondent, whom sent again demanding his favourite con- we may perh ups describe, without betraying cubine. Moghul assembled his councillors his anonymity, as connected with one of the and put the case before them. The council largest of the Ladian firms so interested indignantly replied: Thes Tungbu go rightly refers to its non-appearance in the beyond all reason, we would prefer fighting." past as an "om ssion," all the more strange Maotun again replied: What shall I because the Indian trade has for long forme 1 for the sake of one woman do an unneigh more than half of this Colony's turnover. bourly deed? " He sent his best beloved · It is also more or less of an open secret that concubine to oghul. The Tunghu mo- the Chamber of Commerce commi tee did narch, elated with his success, imagined not require much argument before they he could carry on the game to the end. ¡ conced 'd tre justice of the Bombay trade's Between the two people there lay claim to representation; and the only an expanse of uninhabited led gone mpen question
one of personality thousand li in extent, which each in Apparently i will not be the duty of turn temporarily utilised as grazing ground. į to-day's meeting to select a >presentative For the third time the Tunghu scut his for the extra chair on the Committee messenger to Moghul:–“There is beyond ¦ According to the advertised agenda. your frontiers a tract of land, deserted, and ¦ the business is merely to sancti in the in- for which your Hiung Nu have no occasion. crease of the committee by one member, We would wish to have it."
who will presumably by coasted later by Moghul once more consulted the Council the elected nine. These gentlemen will who said, "This is There waste land; it naturally give heed to the preferences" of seems a matter of little moment whether we the trade itself, and in that case we have retain or abandon it." But Moghul looked little doubt that our correspondent (whose upon the matter in quite a diff rent light: 'disavowal of all connection or interest in the -"Land," he said, is the foundation of premier yarn firm we endorse) may and will empire how can it be alienated ?" Mo., be taken as faithfully representing the con- ghul's first action was to cut off tho heads sensas of opinion among the India tralers. of his too accommodating ministers; his Very few people nel to be told that tž next step was to mount ins horse, proelim'firm of Sass on J. Davil & Co. is the leading a penalty of death on all laggards, aud firm in the tra le now to be represented, but without giving the Tunghu a moment's time, it Mr. Davin also happens to be the choice for preparation, ride with his troops to the of most of those whose interests are at last
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CHINA AND THE CHINA
ASSOCIATION.
(Daily Press, 25th February.)
HART'S
successor,
As we suggested would be the case, when we ventured to express our regret at the China Association's error of tactics in connection with its agitation regarding Sir ROBERT
the Chinese Government has got its back up, and Sir JOHN JORDAN is finding his position at Poking anything but a bed of roses lately. On page of the 1908 issue of the “Chronicle and Directory," now circulat ing, the curious reader will be able to find a passage that no member of the China Association has thought necessary to bring to the momory of the public. It occurs in the Rules annexed to the Tariff of 1858, signed and sealel by Lord ELGIN and five Chinese Plenipotentiaries. Rule X states, intr alin, that "The high officer appointed by the Chines Government to superintend foreign trud» will, accordingly from time to time, either himself visit, or will send a deputy to visit, the different ports. The said high officer will be at liberty, of his Own choice, and independently of the suggestion or nomination f any British authority, to select any British subject he may see fit to aid him in the administration The Chinese of the Customs Revenue.' officials are now protesting indignantly that the British Foreign Office-Sir JOHN JORDAN presumably having been instructed to make representations on the lines sug gested by the China Association is acting against the sprit and intention of that rule, We cannot support them in that, for to our reading, the Rula can easily be interpreted than the Chinese
ia
narrower way £1
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interpret it. It goes on to define the
administrative duties which are to be independent of the suggestion or nomina- tion of any British authority," and we should certainly argue, if we thought there was any need to do so, that the question of the appointment of Sir ROBERT HART'S successor is a much larger affair than anything coming into the purview of that Rule. We merely mention it in passing, to show that the Waiwapu is now in the undesirable state of irritation we foresaw
RS
a consequence of the publication of the Shanghai telegram and the GUNDRY letter. For previous references to these, ride Hongkong Daily Press of Jan. 6th and Jan. 29th. There is a far more important particular, however, in which the Chinese Foreign Office has an influitely stronger
and it is now certain that they will make the most of it. The well-informed members of the Chin Association have perhap overlooked it, or they would scarcely endorse the telegram and letter wo which we felt obliged in honour to take exception.
ASAULE INCA
It is perhaps not generally known that when (in 1×) the Chinese gave the much advertised
that Sir ROBERT HART's successor woull be an Englishman, Sir CLAUDE MacDonald gave a counter Asurance that China was to bare absolute ivredom of choice of the man. The 1898 assurance therefore, so much relied upon by the few Chins Association to mbers responsible for the policy we have assailed, was a two-sided agreement. China's amuur- ance was given with a string of Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD'S tying. This bit of history is
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