EASTERN PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2655, 29 December 1915, Page 3

EASTERN PROBLEMS

HONG-KONG'S LOYALTY.

Mr. T; C. Dawson, : of Dawson and Maiid'sley, who has just returned from a-trip to the East, was very much struck by the manner in which all the residents at. Hong-Kong are doing, thenbit to help the Empire in the present crisis'. Nearly every white man ono meets is in uniform. Before the war there were 5000 men in the reserve thore; to-day there are only 3000 left, and the- whole of, that force is fully engaged in looking after tlie forts, and ill looking out for any, signs of troitble 'among v the Chinese population of the island, likely to occur at any/time, owing to. the uprest-caused by'the monarcliy question in China. Canton is. only 100 miles away, and trouble might happen; there at any time, as in that densely crowded city the Republic is favoured as against the growing de/sire for monarchical rule in the north. In addition to that the reserve .at HongKong have to guard over three hundred interned Germans, many of them being prisoners of war from ICiauchau, the irest being sailors off vessels ,and local residents. When Mr. Dawson passed the internment camp the prisoners •were playing ..tenuis, football, and other games,-and sgenied as though,th*ey. were having a very good time of it, but they were aii endless worry to' the limited English population. /,• "The Chinese'are very much- up against the Japanese," said Mr. Dawsou. "lii'fact,'it seems that Japan is gradually, pushing her wav into China, and no question is mooted in China, but Japan's opinion is looked for with interest. When we made inquiries as to what is likely to happen, it seemed that opinion was divided, but the gathering impression is that the Republic is doomed." "During'tlie early part of the waT. . Mr. Dnwson continued, "owing to the work of a- number of German secret agents, who-spread the'-.yarn that Germany was bound to ivin, the Chinese really thought that would be so. and were inclined to go against the Allies, but a prominent Chinese, the Hon. Mr. Pali. MI/.0., informed me that to-day the bulk of the Chinese know that the position was not as the Germans had stated. ;aiid. they now ; favoured.-.the Allies." '- ' , ■