December 11, 1909.]
is not increased the Government may find an excuse to reduce the grant." The whole question is one which might with advantage be widely discussed, for in its final aspect it is one in which regard must he had to the views of the taxpayers of the Colony,
EUROPE,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
increase was very marked, and even in the streets of Vienna the preponderance of the Slavonic element has become very marked. Russia since her estrangement from Austria has undoubtedly heen trying to take advan tage of her altered position with regard to Germany to spread her influence amongst THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN the Slavonic peoples-more especially in the Balkan States, which being in close contiguity to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, can influence very seriously her own subject populations. That this is the case was very panied the first steps towards annexation, apparent during the excitement that accom when the whole of Bohemia was thrown into a ferment, the non-German majority openly showing their sympathy with Servia in its warlike incasures. hoping to be able to persuade Austro
At the time Russia, Hungary to accept the proposed conference, agitators. Yielding, however, to influences gave, no encouragement to the Servian originating in Berlin the Austro-Hungarian Government refused to listen to these pro posals, and Russia withdrew, giving open expression to her chagrin. The result has been a revival of the Pan-Slavonic agitation which some twenty years ago was agitating Europe, and was the inspiring cause of the so-called Triplice.
(Daily Press, December 8th.) Last month we drew attention to the remarkable shift in the political centre of gravity of the entire Continent of Europe, which has followed the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese war. Though the change has followed quickly the close of that war, and though the retirement of Russia from an actively aggressive policy in Eastern Asia consequent on the conclusion of the war has been one of the factors bringing about that change, it has by no means been the only, nor even the principal, cause. An able and well-informed writer in the Quarterly Review for October, M. ANDRE CHERADAME, has taken up the subject from a French point of view, and his conclusions, agreeing in the main with our own, add one or two further points of interest, which have, moreover, come prominently to the front in the short space of time that has elapsed since the publication of the article.
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and unexpectedly swift. Austria found she had to husband her resources, and was not. disposed to go on in such a hurry with her proposed Dreadnoughts; more markedly the late Chauvinistic. Press of Germany sud- denly began to think it might be advisable to listen if England made overtures, as, after all, shipbuilding was expensive. The curi- ous part of the whole of this, which even the man in the street could interpret, was that the really effective point of the whole was lost upon Mr. AsqUITH and his ed face of Germany was really brought about friends, who fondly conceived that the chang- by their own appeals to an imaginary code of international ethics; and that Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S appearance at the of peace had actually won over the hard German military manoeuvres as the apostle heart of the KAISER to the cause.
had very much more serious things to pon- As we have seen above, the KAISER has
der over than Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S doctrines of international ethics and the wickedness of war; and not the least
2
of these is the very unpleasant predica- ment into which the following of the advice has
led his newly-found ally Austro- Hungary. People wiser than Mr. ASQUITH have suggested that the renewal of work at One of the first effects of this revival has the British dockyards, and the very plain become apparent in the rational drawing
indications given by the country at large We alluded to the practical effect of the together of the Balkan States outside the that it was not prepared to hazard the shift in having practically isolated Germany immediate rule of Austro-Hungary, and this existence of the Empire on a cast of the from the surrounding nations, and to the has finally ended under Russian influence indice, or the little more trustworthy indica- immediate cause of this having been the the formal agreement of Bulgaria and Serviation-the word of an Emperor-have had forcible annexation by Austria of the to enter into an alliance, apparently offensive really much more to do with the change of Bosnian principalities. This step, we men-
and defensive, against Austria, in which the face than all the Utopian doctrines of that tioned, was suggested, if not altogether other States, though not as yet formally, very exemplary young man, Mr. WINSTON engineered, from Berlin, and it is note openly sympathise. Though at the moment CHURCHILL. We have, however, now arrived worthy how absolutely this agrees with the the formal alliance has been established on
at the crucial point of the contest between view put forward by M. CHERADAME, who peaceful lines, the revival of a Pan-Slavonic returning reason and heedless folly. The attributes the step to the advice of the agitation is hardly less dangerous to the contest is the most serious that has befallen KAISER WILLIAM II., whose Pan-Germanic peace of the world than the Pan-Germanic England for three, centuries, but it is not tendencies are becoming from year to year league fostered in Berlin, should its control
meet for him that girdeth on his armour to more marked. It was, as we remarked, not fall into unwise or over-ambitious hands boast as he that taketh it off. so much the fact of the formal annexation Meanwhile it is instructive to notice that its within the dual monarchy of the principali- immediate effect has been to moderate the ties that startled Europe, as to what was to aspirations of the Pan-Germanist party. It follow from the method in which the act must have become evident, even to the more was done. Europe had come to look with- ardent upholders of the latter party, that out jealousy, if not with actual approval, on Germany unassisted could not afford to Austria's administration of the two princi- carry on much longer the beggar-my-neigh palities; and there is little doubt that if bour policy of building up a navy capable Austria had reported to the Powers, who of over-shadowing England. The present originally put her in possession, her desire to Government by its nerveless and revolu formally take the step of amalgamating them tionary policy at Home, supported as it was in the Empire, she would have gained her by a reactionary House of Commons! suit almost, if not entirely, unanimously, elected on false pretences in January What the other States, with the exception. 1906, gave Germany every hope that Great of Germany alone, found occasion to cavil
PUBLIC HOUSE REFORM IN HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, December 9th.) At last week's meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council an interesting memor- andum on the licensing of public houses in the Colony was, by command of H. E. the GOVERNOR, laid upon the table, but the subject was not discussed at that meeting, nor does it appear from the Agenda of to- day's meeting that the memorandum will be taken into consideration, unless the subject
about was that Austria in a matter closely Britain, tired of empire, was not prepared arises, as possibly it may, in connection with
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affecting the European balance had essayed to act exclusively on her own initiative. This feeling, while the position was still under discussion, came to be seriously aggravated by the fact that Germany when appealed to in the regular way, not only refused to join with the other Powers, but, went needlessly out of her way
to assert her own entire concurrence in Austria's flouting of the public sus- ceptibilities of Europe. As M. CHERADANE points out, this has led to an uneasy feeling throughout the Slavonic States; and in his article referred to he compares them with the Germanic States, and shows how vastly the Slavonic peoples out-number the Germans. Not only is this true at the moment, but the natural rate of increase of the Slavonians greatly exceeds that of the others. For many years it has been notori- ous indeed in the States under the control of the dual monarchy, that while the Slavonic peoples were rapidly growing, the Germans showed a tendency to decrease both in numbers and influence. In Bohemia this
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to incur the necessary expenses for uphold the Bill to amend the Licensing Ordinances. ing her superiority at sea; and would permit The recommendation of the Committee without an effort to counteract it, the un appointed to consider a suggestion for limited expansion of the German navy improving the Public Houses of the So far as the Government and the present Colony is that the Government should House of Commons is concerned, this hope give notice to the present licencees that after was well founded, and neither would of its three years from next licensing date it will own motion have intervened. Had not the not renew the existing licences. It is German Emperor told them that he did not recommended that the Government should intend to disturb the peace of Europe thereafter issue only ten licences to a Surely, said Mr. ASQUITH, that ought to be Company, to run the houses on the Gothen- enough for any reasonable man: But those burg system. This is the suggestion that who knew betterthan the House of Commons the Committee prefer, (though they make the pulse of the country saw that the nation two alternative suggestions. This idea of did not share these puny views; and felt running the Public Houses in this Colony that to lose the command of the Seas, with on the Gothenburg system is certainly an an inefficient army, meant the extinction as attractive one, and will command, a Power in the world of the British Empire. imagine, very general support, though The growth of returning reason was slow, many may doubt the practicability of but it has been steady; and at the last the scheme. In the memorandum it moment even the worst and most unsymis explained that the system is briefly pathetic Government that ever has been in that public house licences should be trans- office has been forced to yield; and, unwill-ferred to a company, the shareholders in ingly and with evil grace, set about recover ing lost ground. The effect of these new conditions on the continent was curiously
we
which should derive no profit from the sale of intoxicating liquors beyond a fixed percentage on the capital invested, while
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