THE FRANCO-CHINESE DIFFICULTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1172, 15 August 1884, Page 3

THE FRANCO-CHINESE DIFFICULTY.

A conviction that the quarrel between France and Chiba is as yet oy no means sue finally at rest is becoming- (says the North China Herald, of June 13). very strong in the minds of the more intelligent Chinese There’ can be no question that many persona regret the terms of the preliminary convention, while others of more warlike proclivities do not conceal their exasperation at an agreement which they consider so detrimental to the prestige of China ; and having regard to the deep-seated dissatisfaction which prevails, it is becoming daily more impressed upon those who watch the progress of events and take an interest in the fortunes of their country that no peace can be permanent which is built on sn unsatisfactory a basis. The Hu P’o in a recent issue enumerated the i joints which lead to this conclusion. It is, in the first place, somewhat strange that the Imperial decree appointing Hsu Ching ch’eng Ambassador to Franco in the lace of the Marquis Tseng has never aopeared in the Peking Gazette; and equally strange that nothing has been published in the shape of a memorial from Hsu himself, thanking his majesty for so signal a mark of his favour, as would have been the proper and recognised procedure. Prom this it is open for us to doubt whether the announcement that the M at q ais had been superseded was nothing more taau a stroke oLState policy, resorted to simply to smooth over a difficulty for the time being—a view which is borne out by the fact that by recent telegrams we are informed ot the Marquis Tseng having despatched Dr Macartney to reside at the Legation in Paris. Now the interim ambassador at the French capital was to be Li Feng pao, who is already provided with a European interpreter; consequently, argues the Hu Pio. were it intended that the Marquiesbould bepermanontlyremoved, be would scarcely have so far exceeded his authority as to place Dr Macartney in temporary charge of the Embassy without special instructions from his Government. From these considerations it is to be inferred that there are strong grounds for believing in the cancellation of the appointment of Han Ching cb’eng ; especially if we do not overlook the defensive measures, which, in spite of the preliminary convention, are being set afoot. On the 14th of the 4th moon, assistant commissions s for the iior* them and sou'hern coast defences wore appointed. On the ISffi of. the same moon the preliminary convention avaa agreed to. Ten days afterwards, when Captain Fournier, bad already smarted for Prance, a den cree appearol permitting Chang Shu sheng Viceroy of the Liang Kuaug, to vacate his post, and ordering him to assume the responsibility of the Kuaugtung coast defences. But -efences against what country ? “ Though,” wfites the editor, “ the S icred Ideas are difficult to fathom, we may yet hazard a conjecture.’ On 'he Ist of the present (sth) moon Ts’en Ynyuig ’-as commanded by Imperial, decree to guard the' border gates ; and the very day after that on which the oonveh ion’ was signed the o appeared another decree, reiterating the 1 o-'ders previously issued to the —ffeot that Ministers of State were to consult the Prince of Ch’un on all matters of imp irtance. Th s can only refer to the Franco-Annmsso difficulty ; and it is a remarkable fact that five days before the convention was signed the propoeals for peace on the part of Li had been rejected by the Prince of CU’un. Such are the arguments which now appeal to the Chinese ; and though they may bo a little difficult to follow at eaery step, and far too much stress is laid upon the mission of Dr Macartney to Paris —which was no doubt oply to ban I over chaijji of the Embassy—they are accepted as conclusive of the hazardous and still unsettled position of affairs. We have all along feared that t’°e the chief motive which actuated the Emperor in acceding to the proposals of Li was a desire to gain time ; and we may still look forward to several crises situations, and even temporary deadlocks before the final and detailed treaty is carried through.