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on the increase.". Restrictions on smok ing, however, exist now only in name, though among the people the movement against smoking "is really gaining ground." In Kwei-chau and Yun-nan a genuine attempt is being made to stamp out the evil. In regard to Kwangtung, the report states that at Swatow general apathy reigns supreme, while information from the surrounding country towns shows that the dens are quietly re-pening, and that a state of hopeless confusion exists in regard to the Anti-Opium Edict and its enforcement, At Pakhoi, according to an official version, ten per cent of the population, male and female, are stated to be addicted to smok- ing, and "there is little popular demand for reform. At Canton there is nothing report. The drug is sold under licences, but the latter are easily obtained."
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On the whole these statements, as the Times remarks, are somewhat conflicting and only very partially encouraging. The impression one derives from this report is that if the Indian Government continues to reduce the gros export of opium to China by one-tenth annually, it will soon run beyond "the standard set by China"
were
AMERICA AND CHINA.
(Daily Press, 12th November.) It has been generally conceded that of late Do Power was held in bigher regard by China than the United States, and it was felt that something stranger than the com- monplaces of i terna ional courtesy was expressed in the inv tation of the Chinese Government to the American Battleship Squadron to visit her shores. Certainly, to judge from the reports of the festivities at Amoy, there was lack of cordiality in the welcome extended to the visitors. They enthusiastica ly greeted, royally received and entertained with a lavish bospitality that spoke even more eloquently than the courtly phrases of the Prince of the genuineness of the welcome. Apparently the Chinese Government could not do enough to show their appreciation of the honour paid them by America, and there Jan he ΠΟ doubt, that they hoped the historic occasion would strengthen the good relations existing be. tween the two countries and would be pregnant with possibilities for Clina. Whether such a rsult will eventuate e- mains to be seen, but a study of the facts reveal a greater whole-heartedness on the part of China than of America. China spared no effort and no expense in her desire to do honour to her visitors, hut Am rica apparently did not invest the visit with the same importance. The sixteen big white ships of the Battleship Squ dron sailed into Yokohama after touring half way round the world together; but only eight came to China, and though, of course, there could have been no inten- tion to wound the susceptibilities of their Chinese hosts, the action could not be re- garded in any other light then a slight, In other words it looked as if they thought more of Japan than of China, and the diminished honour shown to the empire is said to have been very disappoint. ing to the Chinese. Of course, reasons are given for the division of the Fleet. These may be perfectly. legitimate, but even the best reasons possible will scarcely remove the feeling of sorenessness which is reported to be felt by China.
great
His Imperial Highness Prince Yo LANG was perhaps expressing the feeling which ran as an undercurrent during the occasion when he said that China felt honoured by
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[November 14, 1908,
interview was to dissipate this mischievous suspicion, we are disposed to think that the storm of protest the interview evoked in Germany has done more to achieve the Emperor's purpose than His Imperial Majesty's own statement, for it has brought into prominence the fact that there is in Germany an influential body of opinion which repudiates all suggestions of hostility to Englaud, and desires to strengthen in every possible
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND America sending eight ships, but the Chinese were too gooi hosts to show that they were conscious of any disrepect shown by the Government which they wished to bonour. Consider how much greater the impression would have been to have witness- ed sixteen mammoth vessels steaming into the great anchorage at Amoy. How more profound the feeling of respect engendered when they saw thore stately ships at closer
way the friendship quarters and realised the tremendous power concentrated in each. No other country has existing between the two countries. When we come to reflect on what gave rise to the had such an opportunity of displaying its
"constant misrepresentations by a reotion power to the Chinese as America, but for some reason or other she has not taken of British opinion of his unceasing offers of occasion by the hand. It may be argued, of friendship" which the KAISE said in the course of his famous interview, he resented course, that the Chinese would realise some- thing of the fighting forces which a world- as a personal insult, we think the origin of power needs to sustain her position by the the suspicion which has prevailed in England sight of even the eight battleships, but we is mainly traceable to his Majesty's own all know that, if a demonstration is intended, words and actions. There was, for instance, it must be complete before it is effective. his famous signal to the Tsan at Revel six "The Admiral of the Atlantic It se-ms logical to say that people can years ago: easily imagine the more imposing spectacle greets the Admiral of the Pacific"; then memorable are on record such afforded by sixteen battleships than by half there
"Our future that number, but the result is more satis-epigrammatic utterances as factory where no effort of the imagination is on the water," and "The trident ought is needed. But while questi ning the to be in our fist." The KAISER may not wisdom which a Ivised dividing the Fleet, it have meant all that these epigrams convey, cannot be denied that the effect of the visit but H18 MAJESTY can scarcely complain is on the whole good. Americans return that the British public have interpreted homewards with agreeable impressions of these utterances as voicing ambitions China, and Chios bas learned something hostile to British naval supremacy, and more of the Power whose friendship she constituting therefore a menace to Britain's world-wide empire. Until the Emperor's wishes to strengthen.
interview was published indicating that Germany's naval programme was inspired Yellow Pani" no explicit by fear of the explanation of these extraordinary naval been given to the | developments bad
world, and it is not surprising therefore } was interpreted by the light that which such utterances as we have quoted were supposed to shel on German policy, Yet it bas always been difficult to reconcile this view with His Majesty's public spe:ches in which he has voiced an aspiration for the peace of the world. Only about three months ago the EMPEROR, speaking at Strassburg, "rejoiced to be able to express his deepest conviction that the peace of Europe is not in danger and that it rests on too solid foundations to be easily apset by the incitements and calumnies provoked by envious and ill-disposed individuals" and yet, as the EMPEROR himself said in his famous interview, he has been regarded as "the archenemy.” It is strange that His MAJESTY has not apparently discerned that the suspicion of which be complains is based on his own utterances and on nothing else. Germany is perfectly within her rights in building as large a navy as she likes, but whatever may be the inspiring motive it has long been a settled policy in England that there must be no departure from the two- Power standard in the naval shipbuilding
Neither has the visit been without its lesson to China. She may have swallowed tho bitter pill that after all she is not in the eyes of the United States so important as she regarded herself, and with becoming humility may seek to learn from others who are competent to teach. It did not perhaps need the presence of half a battleship squadron to
make her conscious of her
weakness, but the eight bix men-of-war dominating the anchorage and rendering | insignificant by comparison the few prescat able cruisers which compose the navy of China Day suggest to her that she has a long way to travel before the is able to rank with oth-rs. As Admiral SAH expressed i iu an interview:
It helps ur people to It was thought that if China u derstand. had a large Army that would be sufficient, bu now they will realise that Chia needs a Navy as will" Aye, China needs both an Ariny and a Navy, but what she needs more is the re-organisation of ber finances. When the uational revenue flows into the nati nal exchequer, and the national assets are calculatet, ben many things will be possible. With money, politics will become more practical, and when that consummation devoutly to be desired is ttained, Chios will not present so many problems and difficulties to the other Powers who have at present to protect her from the effects of her own weakness.
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THE KAISE 'S INTERVIEW.
(Daily Press, 13th November.) Now that PRINCE BUELOW, the German Chancellor, has delivered his reply in the Reichstag to the numerous interpellations addressed to him with regard to the EMPEROR's statements published recently in the London Daily Telegraph, the storm of controversy over the subject will doubtless abate. So far as the people of Great Britain are concerned, they, at any rate, must now feel better assured of the groundlessness of the auspicion, so widely entertained during the last couple of years, that the extra ordinary development of the German Navy; was inspired by hostility to Great Britain, Though the whole object of the KAISER's
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The recent disavowals of programme. hostility do not affect that resolve iu the least. With regard to what has been said of the purpose of Germany s
navy in this part of the world we have not observed that it has caused any excitement on the part of It was either Obina, Japan or America. not suggested in the interview that any maritime adventure in the Far East" was contemplated, and probably out here few other thought people entertained any than that it was the KAISER's idea that before many years have passed the E at would adopt an aggressive attitude to- wards the West and that the West must prepare to defend its interests against the We hope and growing navies of the East. believe, however, that the day is far distant when the "problem of the Pacific" will need to be solved in any other way than by
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