The Wilmingtonian., 1886-03-06
SATURDAY MARCH 6. 1850.
England ana China.

One of the most admirable features of
English foreign policy, and one that it would
well behoove our own State Department to
take an idea from, is the remarkable man,
ner in which all her administrations have
made it traditionary custom to keep sharp
outlook for new fields of commercial extern
sion and advantage.
In this respect, especially as regards her
foreign wars, England is seldom found en-
barking in difficulties of that nature unless
their is some distinct, well-detiued CONNER
cal advantage to be gained. This is the
prominent feature of that country's wars
throughout her more recent history. France
is otherwise. The latter nation will fight
for sentiment But we clearly see in the
underlying influences that have given rise to
England's wars of the present country the
potent motor OF commercial extension 1t is
radically true, as Napoleon said eighty years
ago, ''the English are nation of shopkeep-
ers." The wars in Afghauistan, Egypt and
China, as well as the naval demonstrations
in the Mediterranean Sea all point in that
direction. Lord PalmeTston's policy, which
has come to be the orthodox English policy
in regard to foreign affairs, and which that
great premier demonstrated in the Crimeau
War, was but the declaration that England
would protect India at any hazard To pro-
tect India and retain the trade and com.
merce of $50, 900 900 people Turkey has to be
bolstered up and Constantinople Kept from
the hungry claws cf Russia Egypt has to
ha hall sYla II,
Suez canal which is the great link in the d-
rect road to India. And this is the only
secret of England's wars, which are strictly
commercial ones.
But now that great commercial people in
the little island hardly bigger than one of
our second-rate states wishes to make SER
ious efforts to gain the trade and commerce
of 40O,00O,00 people in China Since the
commencement of this century Europe has
been knocking at the gates of the Celestial
Empire demanding that the doors of that
immense territory be thrown open to Wes-
tern commerce. But the willy Chinese do not
wish to open the doors. They fear for their
independence, and though England and
America and France, Russia, Germany and all
other nations have been patiently awaiting
the moment torush in and spread their wares
and manufactures before the people of the
land, the opportunity has not yet come.
England alone has obtained commercial
foothold, but that is restricted to the. little
island of Hong Kong. The treaty ports, by
which a very limited trade is permitted by
certain agreements with the Chinese, afford
no idea or measure whatever of the immense
trade possibilities of the interior.
After fifty years of watching ard
studying Chinese affairs, English diploma
fists and statesmen have come to the conclu-
sion that it is impossible to enter China or
gain any permanent commercial foothold by
the ports on the Pacific seabuard of Chinese
territory. With this conviction full in view,
later English commercial policy has been
governed by the theory of discovering some
other gateway to the interior of China.
Through Farther India and northern Bur
nah, along the headwaters Of the lrrawaddy
was deemed to be the only possible iulet to
Celestial lands. THIS would be literally en-
tering China by the back door. The Wes-
tern boundary of China proper is indefinite
and between 1t and the Eastern confines Of
British India their is a neutral zone over
which the Chiuese government claims only
quasi suzeranty, Through this territory lie
the ancient tradn roads between China and
Hindostan. The Bhamo district covers
most Of this neutral zone, and it is this in
definite region, contiguous to Chinese terri
tory, that English commercial greed covrts
this moment and has determined upon
making itself master Of
This accomplished, and the two great eul-
pres becoming close neigbbor with conter-
minous territorial lines, everything desired
in the way of the most complete intercomm-
ercial dealings is foregoDe conclusion, even
with conservative and suspicious govern
ment such as that of China.
There is no other Southern trade outlet but
this one. To the North the great desert of
Kobi bounding the Western line of China
and furthur sealed in north and south line
by the almost impenetrable Khingau range
of mountains all trade routes between India
and China are thus restricted to the Bhamo
region.
In this poitico-eOmmcreial undertaking it
is probable that the English government,
long repelled by Chinese obstruction at the
Pacific seapoIts, will brook no opposition,
and if fair means aud the methods usual
with countries desirious Of enlarging their
commercial fields are not possible, the pres
ent political condition of affairs between
England aud Chiua Will result in open hos
tllities