The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-21
The British Projects Against China-A Refe.
renee 20 former Political Warnings.

hSaAuSt SHAna-A 1tfAe>
renee 20 former Political Warnings.
We yesterday drew the attention of our
readers TO letter from an American merchant
at Hong Kong. stating ii as his conviction that
the result Of the present hostilties of the British
against China would be the annexation Of the
southern provinces Of Chat empire to the British
dominionA The writer no doubt thinks that the
information thus conveyed is new to US; but as
We shall presently show, he only favors US with q
foregone conclusion, the readers Of the HERALD
having been long since apprised that such q de-
sign was maturing, and in fact at the time to
which we refer was already in progress of execu-
ton
1t will be recollected that when the last war
between Great Britain and the King of Ava first
broke out a good deal Of speculation was ex-
cited as to the real motives Of the Indian govern
ment in undertaking 20 apparently proftles an
enterprise. Most people were satisfied with the
pretences put forward-it being notorious that
the Indian authorities are never at any time, very
scrupulous as to the grounds on which they ex-
tend their conquests over the native populations
of India. To no one, except those intimately
acquainted with the facts did il occur that there
was close link between that expedition and the
Anglo-French alliance. Happening to meet in
Paris at the time certain officials recently re-
turned from India, We gathered from them sufli-
cient TO furnish clue to the real motives of
war The expenses Of which seemed extravagantly
inconsistent with the pretexts assigned for it.
We republisb in our paper Of today the original
communication from Paris, which gave to the
American public, through our columns, the first
public ntimation Of the Interior designs Of the
British government in connection with Burmah
and China, and the comments which we felt called
upon at the time TO make on IT, II will be seen
that although written in advance Of events, they
both define, with singular precision, the course
which British policy was about 10 pursue in
reference to China, az well az the line Of conduct
| which Louis Napoleon would probably adopt In
regard to il.
In treating these antcipations as facts
founded upon already understood, IL not
formally concluded bases Of agreement
between the French and English govern
menis, we we're probably regarded at the
time as running somewhat wildly into specula-
bOh. uONtftis VIZ Hol tut Ctts We Udu
the most reliable information for the facts and
opinions advanced, and events have since justified
not only every view then expressed by US, but
singularly enough. tho letters Of our Hong Kong
correspondents now arrive TO confirm those con-
illusions and to furnish the correct key TO the out,
ragcous conduct of the British authorities Of Can
ton, and.the otherwise inexplicable enigma Of
Lord Palmerston's triumph over the Manchester
men at the English elections
In the articles to which we refer, aud which ap
peared in our issue Of the 26th Of November,
1855, we distinctly asserted that the readiness Of
4 the British government to aid the ambitious
schemes Of the French Emperor against Russia
arose from their own eagerness TO secure the Khiva
frontier against Russian aggression, whilst they
were prosecuting their schemes against the south
western provinces of China. We showed that
having through the conquest and COM
plete sulguga,ion OF ITindostan succeeded
in controlling the cotton market of the
world, Great Britain had only TO seize upon
thee almost fabulously productive regions to
control the trade of the world in tea and silk
Can any one doubt thee facts Can any one in
view Of the manner in which the Bur,nah diff
Guilty was arranged come to any other conclu-
sion than that the expedition in connection with
it was intended merely rs a stepping stone TO the
commercial ascendency and ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
England through the possession OF the great tea
and silk producing districts of Chfna' We were
Of opinion then, and we are Of the same opinion
now, that Burmah Ia The door which "a to open
Co... " ~ si-sa. gas p,N.,l-s, VI 81.