November 8, 1909.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE POLITICAL CENTRE OF GRAVITY IN EUROPE.
(Drily Press, November 3rd.) cannot be regarded as anything more than Though, of course, the lapse of a century denoting an entirely artificial division of Time, and is completely unmarked by any natural phenomenon, it has nevertheless been often remarked how very frequently it falls that the beginning of a new century has been accompanied by an almost entire rearrangement of the political affairs of an entire continent. The first century was marked, not only by the birth of Our Lord, and the commencement of the Christian Era, but in political affairs it marked the final establishment of the Roman Empire, and the example thus set has been continued
as a likely occupant of the Dragon Throne. Prince CHING's second son was attached to the mission of TANG SHAO YI. Prince Su, the Minister of the Interior, has sent his eldest son to Berlin. As for the ordinary students, they are going to Europe and America every year in steadily growing numbers, and the keen desire which is now being manifested in every part of the Empire for "the new learning" is likely to make that stream of student emigration, go on, like TENNYSON's brook, for ever.. Who can estimate the great changes destined to flow from the educational revolution which has quietly taken place in China during the past few years? The old arrogance and self-sufficiency is at last giving way, and the people of China are beginning to recognise that they have a great deal to learn from the West. Schools are now general through. out China in which the subjects taught are
ever since. Indeed, it is to these latter cen- just the same as in primary European Schools, turies that we have to look for the most including arithmetic after the arabic pronounced illustrations of a phenomenon method, and geography with up-to-date
which has apparently almost grown into a maps, as well as physical drill. China, in law. The entry of the sixteenth century short, has been influenced by the example of of HENRY VII. and the commencement of was marked by the beginning of the reign Japan, and is adopting the same methods the influence of England in the affairs of the which have served to advance the island em- pire to front rank among the Powers of the European Continent; later on it was marked world. China has sent her wise men to the by the development of the Reformation, which closed the medieval period, and for West to study Constitutions, currency ques-all time set men's minds in an entirely tions, and the navies of the world, just as Japan did forty or fifty years ago; and though the seventeenth witnessed the end of the old different grove of thought. The opening of China, for various reasons, is slower to make royalty of England, the union of the Crown practical use of the knowledge thus acquired with that of Scotland, and the commence- the Commissioners may be trusted to see that the recommendations they have made ment of the long constitutional struggle, are kept well in view. A glance at the which, temporarily closed towards the end of industrial and commercial life of the nation the century, was still powerful enough in reveals very significant signs of the dawn of the nineteenth to affect the whole political There is no need to comment on aspect of the civilised world. The eighteenth was marked after the campaigns of the change which has come over the attitude of the nation with regard to railways, but MARLBOROUGH by the signing of the Treaty the foreign public have no adequate idea of of Utrecht, which for nearly a hundred years became the international law of Europe. the increasing number of large factories, Again, the opening of the nineteenth was equipped with up-to-date foreign machinery marked by the wars that succeeded the and modelled generally on Western lines, French Revolution, and the final struggle of that are coming into existence in China. Take NAPOLEON for the mastership of the world. the city of Canton, for instance. Mr. KING, the Commissioner of Customs, has quite a considerable list of such factories in his report for 1908-a brick factory turning out 10,000 bricks a day with a German plant, and a large kiln which is "a marvel of applied science"; a cement factory, also fitted with a German plant; a glass factory manufacturing lamp shades; a knitting factory; and a soda factory in which soda crystals are made from imported soda ash. The Commissioner also mentions the new
a new era.
399
United States, who had been anxiously regarding the contest, intervened and succeeded in parting the combatants, and inducing both to come to terms in the Treaty of Portsmouth.
The non-success of Russia's aggression
As in the case
on Korea, and the destruction of her fleet, While made Russia reconsider her policy, she saw apparently her way to the conquest of Asia, she had been neglectful of the course of affairs in Europe. She was wasting her strength in profitless undertakings beyond the Urals, and Germany was an interested observer of the growing discontent of her European populations, who were entirely averse from the Eastern wars against nations with whom they had no quarrel, but which were being waged at their expense, both in money and in flesh and blood. Mean- while Germany's aspirations, and her unconcealed warlike preparations, which were threatening her France plainly saw safety, drove the latter into the arms of Great Britain; and Great Britain, finding without an arrière pensée in the matter, cor- that her neighbour was really sincere and dially returned. France all this while had been the fast ally of Russia, and had lent her influence against Great Britain in many of Russia's squabbles. of many other reconciliations, she now saw allies into, at least, speaking terms; England that her best policy lay in bringing her two at first was suspicious, but Russia, now determined to return to her European affairs so as to regain her temporarily lost position, saw that Germany was blocking her way. This convinced her of the wisdom of France's advice, and on Great Britain opening negotiations for an understanding, at first grudgingly, but afterwards more cordially, declared her willingness to join in. Then followed the Balkan affairs, which for a time seriously compromised the peace of Europe. Austria, who to her credit had been wisely administering the affairs of Bosnia and Herzogovina since they had been committed to her by the Congress of Berlin, suddenly The beginning of the twentieth has conceived the idea of annexing both. The time was singularly inexpedient, as the proved no exception to the rule. The new order established by the Congress of Vienna principalities would in a few more years have at the close of 1814 lasted fairly well automatically fallen in. Subsequent occur- up till 1870, when the Franco-German War rences have shown that the step was really changed the relations between Germany suggested, if not altogether engineered in and France, and was instrumental in found-Berlin; and Russia, who had large interests German Empire; and this in the affair, not unnaturally concluded that ing the new towards the end of the chapter had become in taking it without any previous consulta- This fact for some time did not alter so much to lower her position in Europe generally the leading State on the continent of Europe. tion with herself, an unfriendly act intended as might have been anticipated the political was concealed. She accordingly with Eng- Government smokeless powder factory with balance of Europe generally: the real change land and France demanded that the annexa- a KRUPP plant; the arsenal which is now turning out modern rifles-Mauser 68
came about, as has often previously hap- tion of principalities, though in itself a natural enough thing for Austria to look pened, in an entirely unexpected manner, mm. "which need not fear comparison and was brought about, not by any occur-
forward to, yet as being in contravention of with those of European manufacture" and the cartridge factory equipped with rences in Europe, but by proceedings in the the Congress, required similar ratification. Far East. Russia had almost from the Austria, apparently, was willing to listen, German machinery. The wireless telegraph stations established in 1907 are reported to times of PETER THE GREAT harboured but was restrained by Germany, who sudden- be all working well, and four other stations designs of conquest in Asia, the whole of ly disclosed her hand by taking an active of the Telefunken system have been pur-union. The weakness of China after of Austria, but really, as her energy plainly which she hoped eventually to include in her part in the controversy, nominally in favour chased for the four new West River patrol her war with Japan seemed to favour her indicated, in her own interest. The result of : boats. The Wireless School has about.
thirty pupils, and the German instructor in expectations in an unexpected degree, and all this, possibly foreseen, activity was
alienate completely Russia charge reports that great aptitude is shown her Chauvinists urged on her Government to by the pupils. What is taking place at Can- the immediate occupation of Manchuria and Austria, who from being old friends with ton is going on also in many other centres of Korea. Backed by promises of support many important interests in common, quick- industry in China, so that there is now
from Great Britain in case of any other ly became estranged. The affair, now plenty of evidence on which to base the Powers attacking her in the interests of grown serious, did not end with this. statement that China is really rousing her- Russia, Japan, who clearly saw that the Germany had been gradually isolating her- self from the slumbers of centuries.
occupation of Korea would menace her own self from the other continental Powers; she existence, determined at any risk to prevent now found a firm friend in Austria, who this, and boldly declared war. The contest seemingly became a life and death struggle between the two, and at first all the odds appeared in favour of Russia. By almost super- human efforts Japan proved in the end victorious, and succeeded in capturing Russia's great stronghold, whereupon the
steamer
All fears regarding the safety of the engin- eers of the stranded Norwegian Ragnar have now been dispelled, Mr. Eitzen, the Norwegian Consul having received word as to their safety. The message was received from the Pulau Canton Lighthouse, which is on
an island to the south of Tourane.
and
considered that she owed gratitude to her neighbour for having her from a dangerous position. rescued Meanwhile a make-believe cordiality was attempted to be resuscitated in the so-called 'Triple Alliance," never very real nor sincere, of. Germany, Austria, and Italy,
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