The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1908-06-22 — Page 2

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SHIPPING SUBSIDIES.

(Daily Press, 13th Jane.) We reproduce on page 9 of this issue an article which must deeply interest those interested in British shipping. We are solemnly warned therein that British sailors are being crowded out of the British mer- cantile marine by "cheap foreigners," and that the subsidies paid by foreign govern- mente are tending to cut British freights to a ruinously low level. The idea of the writer seems to be that Britain must in self defence go in for some method of subsidy or bounty to save its shipping though he makes no definite suggestion. The sentiment of the British people still seems to be against any proposal of a protective nature, and we doubt if it would be at all easy to get the present government to consider any sort of proposal for shipping subsidies. Prima facie, that would appear to be a more reasonable course to follow than to expect all the foreign governments which believe in the subsidy system to fall into line with us. Some of the good people who have felt alarm at the apparent decline of British shipping in their outeries have sought to prove too much, and have alleged that subsidies do not pay the governments which grant them.

We cannot presume to argue that point, but merely point out that in the course of experience foreign governments ought to know their own business best. What seems reasonable at the moment is this, that if we believe British shipping is suffering because of foreign subsidies, we ought not to rail at foreign goveruments for doing their best for their own, but rathe: to complain that our own Government does not do as well for us, and to submit to it and urge upon it some definite proposal.

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

the cost of attracting Britons back to the service, by improving the conditions, could not be borne by the shipowners, already hard put to it to maintain the supremacy of British shipping. It seems clear enough that there are two distinct patriotic desires involved, the prosperity of British shipping, and the prosperity of British sailors, and that the two appear to clash. The Home Government, in its usual impulsive way, has taken one view of the employment of Asiatics; local shippers take quite another, as we have seen. It is comparatively easy to pen such articles as the one to which we thus call attention, and it has been no more difficult to point out the complexity of the position. To put forward constructive criticisms, to discover feasible remedies, is quite another matter; and we would be glad to welcome the co-operation of those who have ideas beyond mere jeremiads:

CHINESE ARMY REFORM.

(Daily Press 15th June.)

A short time back an apparently inspired tand cautiously written article appeared in be Morning Post upon the subject of the military development in China, with regard to which so many conflicting statements have from time to time been made. Taking some remarks of Sir ROBERT HART, pub. lished shortly after the Boxer rising and an article by Captain KINCAID SMITH in the Empire Review as his texts, the writer reviews the whole question with noticeable knowledge of its various bearings and deals with it, with an amount of impartiality which has not always been shown by those who have written upon the matter, and who have too often shown themselves manifestly influenced either by prejudice or by the There are those who desire to see the re-

desire to serve some distinct political object. enactment of the Navigation Acts by way

In this respect the opinions expressed by of remedy. These protective Acts had the

Sir ROBERT HART, to which reference is two-fold object of protecting British sea- made, may be taken as open to some 8u8- borne commerce and the interests of British picion of bias. Not that he would inten- seamen; and also to help to maintain an tionally misrepresent the matter but that available reserve of sailors for the Navy. from his position and surroundings he is They were repealed when the British nation likely to lean rather to the view which the had got the idea that Free Trade was a Chinese themselves take of the subject than blessing in itself, that it was the end instead

to an exact estimate of its merits according of a means to an end. Likewise, the im- to the facts so far as they can be ascertained. mediately preceding institution of continuous Even with regard to the bare facts, it must service in the avy had made their second

be borne in mind that an official in the object to be a nursery for the Navy-less Chinese service, however high placed and necessary. After the Crimean War the experienced, is likely to be dependent upon Navy no longer depended upon the Chinese sources of information and, as Merchant Service for its supply of men, we all know, there are no people more and so the repeal of the Navigation Acte adroit than the Chinese in putting their seemed to be warranted on all grounds. own colouring upon facts, when they desire The subsequent introduction of short service to convey a particular impression. Sir in the Navy was a further factor in re- ROBERT HART, it will be remembered, poin- ducing the importance of the merchant ted to the effects which would be produced service as a source of supply to the Navy, by "twenty millious or more Boxers, armel and it made the Royal Naval Reserve drilled or disciplined and animated almost a negligible quantity. To-day, by patriotic, if mistaken, motives, who in spite of the good relations fostered and would make residence in China impossible encouraged between the two services by the for foreigners, would take back everything Merchant Service Guild and men like Lord that foreigners have taken from China, CHARLES BERESFORD, it is probably fair to would pay off old grudges with interest say that no interchange of men is counted and carry the Chinese flagan Chinese arms on to any appreciable extent. Each service, into many places that even fancy will not so far as men are concerned, is self-depen- suggest to-day." The writer thinks there dant. So it is unlikely that the old Acts are signs that this prophecy may one day will ever be welcomed back. Other re-

to some extent be fulfilled, but having said medies, as we believe we have pointed out so much he is careful to qualify his asser- before, are far to seek. The increase in the number of cheap foreigners" on British ships is obviously not a matter for British shipowners to worry over. If foreign sailors are cheaper, and do the work just as well, the saving on their wages seems to partly take the place of the subsidy that some of them would like to draw. With regard to the decline in the number of British sailors, it will be suggested that

tion by a fair estimate of the actual facts so far as they are known, and which give much significance to the "some extent to which the prophecy is thought likely to be realised.

That China is making an effort to improve her military system is, of course, well known; and Captain KINCATED SMITH points out the direction in which this improvement is being attempted, namely in centralising the Army and doing away with the old system of

(June 22, 1908. relying upon provincial levies. Thus it will be seen that the military question in China is of the same nature as the civil problem, namely the necessity for bringing about more real centralisation; and working up a national, in place of the intensely provincial, sentiment, which has hitherto in reality (though quite contrary to theory) been prevalent thoughout the Celestial Empire. When the matter is frankly looked at from this point of view the difficulties in the way of arriving at the supposed twenty millions of thoroughly disciplined and organised troops becomes apparent. The efficiency of the Chinese army upon any large scale will be dependent upon the manner ia which it is administered

more than проп the mere drilling and disciplining of the troops. Upon this point the writer of the article which has called for these remarks is prudent- ly reserved. He says, with truth, that

large and well equipped training colleges for officers have been established, and a number of Chinese have been sent to Japan, Germany and France to receive military instruction," but significantly adds "that the administrative side of the work con- nected with the new troops is free from the corruption which taints official activities in China is improbable, but the success with which some of the divisions have been main- tained aud equipped suggests that more honest and efficient methods are being in- troduced." This is an unfortunate admis sion to have to make; but no one dealing with the subject fairly could leave the fact unnoticed. Corruption is the old trouble that underlies all reforms in China; and in no direction are there greater facilities for malpractices of this kind than in con- nection with an Army. Then there also comes for consideration the bona fide question of money for maintaining a vast body of men; and when an army of "twenty millions" is spoken of as a possible con- tingency, this question assumes somewhat large proportions. Even at present there it is found difficult to obtain money for the support of the troops that have been raised by the energy of YUEN SHI-KAI; and if auch is the case, we can easily see a limit to the exaggerated estimates of China's mili tary powers that have so often been made. On the whole, there is not by any means so great cause for apprehension on this score as has often been represented. The Chinese would always be impatient of the expense of maintaining a very large Army on a peace footing, and it would be necessary to do so, in order to have one in the eveut of war. The idea that China will become impregnated with military ardour and endeavour to make conquests abroad as she did in oll (now very old) times, is nega tived by all we have known of late years of her traditions and instincts; and it is only upon such a supposition that the idea of her organising any such extensive military preparations as have been suggested can be entertained. That she should have an improved military force upon which the Central Government can rely would tend to the preservation of internal order; and this is probably what statesmen like YUEN-SHI- KAI see clearly and wish to provide for. An attempt to militarise the whole nation upon so large a scale as to be a menace to her neigh- bours and more especially to Japan, would in all probability lead to the opposite result,

The members of the Local Self Government

Society of Kwangtung province, whose head. quarters are in Canton, have decided to open an raw, of the whole province. This Fair is to be exhibition of the products, manufactured and held in Canton and the opening date is fixed for June 21.