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AMERICA AND CHINA,
(Daily Press, 27th April.) We do not know if it strikes anyone else in the same way, but the attitude of the American Government via-à-vis China has latterly seemed to us singularly unworthy. Similar conduct in an individual would b called "sneaking" and hypocritical. We, bawls the American Eagle in the Dragon's ear, are your best friend, your only sincere and disinterested friend. The waiver with regard to part of the American share of the
Chinese indemnity was a bare-faced bid for Chinese favour, at a time when America was very much out of favour, and at a time when a fat surplus made it cheap philanthropy. It was a lead that ought not to have been made except after consultation with the other Powers; that is, morally speaking-we do not suppose any Power over dreamed of protesting. Either the Americans claimed too much in the first place, and by this means meant an act of honest restitution, or they intended thereby to force snch of the others as could not afford
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
to make China a present of what they had spent into the position of less favoured nations. It was not particularly smart diplomacy, for the Chinese are not quite so simple as to feel grateful when SHYLOCK (as they view those to whom they pay indemnities) offers to compound for eight ources of flesh instead of sixteen. Likewise, until the Americans on the western seaboard change their behaviour towards Chinese immigrants, the Stars and Stripes are not going to be viewed with pleased smiles on this side of the Pacific. That we have not misrepresented the American position very seriously we feel assured when we take into consideration other manifestations. At Shangbai Mr. TAFT included in one of his orations & magniloquent assurance that America would be glad to stand by China if she got into trouble, and the Japanese have themselves recently (in consequence of American communications relating to Manchuria) come to the conclusion that America desires to strengthen her position in that region," and that Uncle Sam is "actuated by considerations other than his desire to further the interests of China." We are in a position to do more than suspect that American Consuls " North" have been prosecuting a vigorous anti-Japanese campaign, though not openly, There is a curious similarity between various communications circulating in the foreign press in the Far Eas, and the public is intended thereby to draw the inference that there is quite a body of public opinion in favour of interference. If all these communications could be traced to one or two Consulates, as we fancy they could, they would carry less weight, especially as their animus is but ill-con- cealed. It is not only Japau, however. The American Consul at Harbin has been protesting against Russian aggression, and
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should be unselfish-but the way they have been circulating their opinions does not convince us of their altruism. It is the old, old story, familiar to China, of wrangling
over the division of the spoil.
[May 2, 1908.
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need not be looked upon with praic; but, while admitting thus, he points out the seriousness of the difficulty as likely to lead to strained relations and to the closing in the East of the "open door" to trade, to such nations as close their porta to
ATIC Asiatic immigrants.
HOW TO DEAL WITH ASIATIC EMIGRATION.
(Daily Press, April 28th.) Under the heating of "Asia contra Mundum the well knowa political writer "Vintor" deals in a recent number of the
11
Fortnightly Review with the Asiatic emigra- tion, which has of late attracted so much attention. His views upon the subject are well worthy of careful consideration, the more so that he is indisposed to attach too much importance to mere speculation upon such questions, and recognises that in most instances there is some factor not taken into account but which, as time proceeds, becomes developed, and provides a solution which the most far-sighted bave not fore- seen. Making every allowance for this, nevertheless foresees serious
"Viator "
With respect to the question in its bearing upon India, "Viator" has no doubt that the discontent there is real, and he urges that some steps should be taken by Great Britain to meet it. The suggestion which he throws out is a practical one, and
may possibly be taken into consideration
སྐ
at headquarters with useful resulta.
He observes that "the British Empire alone seems in a position to solve the problem of Asiatic immigration so far as it is a question of internal politics for our dominions regarded as a whole.
Among the territories over which we possess absolute control, those obviously marked out in connection with the present question are British East Africa and perhaps the Soudan "--and he goes on to suggest that Mr. Morley "might make his admini-tration memorable by creating an Indian Colonial Empire"-in fact a species of "New India."
- a view: with nothing more dangerous which all who are acquainted with the subject will fully agree.
"}
difficulty in the solution of the Asiatic pro- blem which has of late been forced upon
The suggestion is apparently a very sound our attention in so many directions; in our
one. The plan would give to Indians every own Colonies-inore especially the Trans- vaal and Canada-and also in California. opportunity of emigrating to places in the British Empire where they would be The plain facts of the matter are not ignore fairly entitled to the advantages of their by the writer. He accepts them at their cheap mode of living, seeing that they alone true value and does not in any way attempt could stand the strain of the climates, and to gloss them over in order to favour 'his it is further pinted out that there would be own views or to minimise the danger which
no reason why any other Asiatic race should he would if it were possible gladly conclude
be excluded. This course it is admitted to have been exaggerated. The undoubted would form only a partial remedy, but facts are that there is an emigrating force
"Viator" justly observes it "is the only in Asia-that is speaking generally, in India, China and Japan-which must be approach to a remedy that has yet been suggested" adding "our alternative to this reckoned with and which cannot be sups to do nothing, than which we could do pressed; that it is impossible to deny the right of white Colonies or nations to refuse to commit economic suicide by admission of masses of Asiatics, whose cheap mode of life enables them to oust those of European stock from their ordinary means of live- lihood in their own countries; and that, (so far as great Britain is concerned) the Imperial Government cannot possibly in- terlere with the discretion of the Colonies in a matter so intimately concerning their internal welfare. Under such circumstances, be concludes that matters are tending in a direction which must lead to difficulty, in the not distant future, unless something be done to meet the exigencies of the case. What has to be feared is that the exclusion of Asiatics from our Colonies and from America may have the effect of combining Asia against the Aryan races, and that a great struggle may in consequence ensue. If, for instance, China, India and Japan were united there would be a force which it would be difficult for Western nations to contend against. In taking this view, "Viator" does not run into any extremes of pessimism. He points out that vast numbers of troops, even when well orga- we encounter the curious circum- nised, will not be decisive in military stance of at least one Japanese jour-operations, as there is a definite limit to the nal defending Russia against charges of treaty disregard. The Asahi points out that since Japan restored Manchuria to China, English, American, and German exports to the latter have shown a large increase, and for part of that at least they ought to thank Japan. While we do not go so far as to support this claim to gratitude, we do without hesitation say that American Consuls in Manchuria should be more careful and more cun- siderate in what they publish abroad. They may consider that Japan is pursuing a selfish policy--and we cannot see why it
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powers of mobilisation. This, it may be remarked, was amply illustrated during the recent Russo-Japanese war, when the trans- Siberian railway from which so much had been expected, proved lamentably disap- pointing-and as respecta operations at sea, he acknowledges the undoubted fact that the East could have no chance against combined action of the West, even though assisted by the strength of Japan, and would fail in the direction of funds in any such couflict. On such grounds as these, he properly refrains from extreme views, ad concludes that the subject as a whole
A TRADEMARK CASE.
(Daily Press, 29th April.) "Now it's our turn. That Florida Water case has really been tried by a jury numbering hundreds, and notwith- standing the strong denunciation by the Chief Justice, We believe a plebiscite would give an overwhelming verdict of approval to the decision actually made. After all, there was no ticklish legal question to decide. The issues which the Chief Justice insisted on defining to the jury were such as could be decided by ordinarily intelligent laymen, and so the opinion of two men, even though one of them was a judge, cin scarcely be reckoned sufficiently weighty as against that of the six to warrant the extraordinarily sweeping allegation that there had been a bigger fraud in this case than in any other within the Judge's Hongkong experience. That remark could scarcely be accepted as 8 compliment by the business men who had spent three days considering the case with- out fee or reward. It would also cause wider sympathy for the successful defendants aud
no doubt the advertisement thus secured will result in an increase of turnover that in time may compensate them for the unrefualet costs incurred in the action. We confess to some sympaty with the defendnuts,
A8 a result of reading the evidence, and if we had any use for Florida Water, would feel personal satisfaction that a firm which sells practically the same article for ball the price charged by the complaining firm is not to be driven out of the market, We feel reasonably certain that the average person does not worry
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