Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1898. Great Britain and China.

Manawatu Herald, 12 April 1898, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1898. Great Britain and China.

Cablegrams are very interesting, but as they are also very expensive they have to be cut down so much that ihe readers get sometimes but a confused idea of what all the trouble really is about. From our latest fih-8 we are informed that in Eng land there is no uncertain expression of opinion as to the course of action to be taken in China, it baa been described as the " Policy of the Open Door " and has been put clearly and firmly by Mr Balfour who stated at Manchester during the second week in January— " Our interests there (in China) are commercial and trad ing interests and are not territorial interests, .... There are two way*, and two way.q alone, so far as I know, by which our trading interests — our sole interests — in China can be interfered with. (1) The most important of these is by tb? possible pressure on the Chinese Government by a foreign Govern inent to make regulations adverse to us and favourable to them. In other words, to destroy that equality of opportunity which is all that we claim, but which we do claim. (2) I do not think it probable, but w< can imagine it as possible, that foreign countries with protectionist traditions might dot the coast of China with stations over which thpy had complete control and through which they would not permit the trade of the world freely to penetrate ; where they would put up Customs barrier*!, or something equi vftlent to Customs barriers, hostile to others and favourable to themselves. Now, those are the ways in which I think it possible that our interests in China might be adversely affected ; but depend upon it that the Govern ment will do their best to see that in neither of those ways will the trade of the country be injured. In such on effort, we are, after all, struggling not for ourselves only, but for the world at large." About a week later Sir M. Hicks-Beach spoke on the sam* subject at Bristol and said " We did not regard China aa a place f i' conquest or acquisition by any European or other Power. We looked upon it. as the most hopeful place of the future for the commerce of our country and the commerce of the world at large, and the Government were absolutely determined, al whatever cost, even — and he wishrd to speak plainly— if necessary, at the cost of war, Mm that door should not be shut." Thc«e vinws have bf>en heartily endorsed by the leaders nj tbe Opposition. The English papprp have estimated the probable allies of Britain, and point that Russia has the support of France and to a certain extent tho support of Germany, but behind England stand the commercial Powers, the A.useri# can Government occupying the first place, and it i 3 possible that these views will have the support of the Japanese. Even from the scanty cablegrams we are now enabled to pee f.hat. this firm policy of the British Ministers is bearing fruit as both Russia and Germany have hastened to explain that in the territory they have annexed trade shall be open and free to all. We have yet every belief that war will not be, but ! that all the commercial nations want will be granted, not because the e ran tors desire it but because they find they must.