The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-03-28
JAPAN's NEW 6ATIEs.
British Residents DO Not Take Kind
ly to the Change.

Under the heading, British Poll.
cy in the Far East" the following
communicated article appears in The
Celestial Empire published at Shang-
hal:
There can ba little doubt that the
policy recently pursued by the Brit
ish Government ia the Far East is
likely to give rise to future trouble
in more than one direction. Refer
ence has already been made in these
columns to the dissatisfaction occa
stoned to British res dents in Japan
by the new Treaty of Reciprocity,
which provides that after the lapse
OF a few years the privileges associ.
ated with extra territoriallty shall be
abolished. thus bringing the sub
jects of Queen Victoria under the
Jurisdiction of the Mikado. That
this arrangement is--to put it mild
ly-premature and i'll advised is the
general opinion of Europeans in the
East, who, after all, must be regard
ed as the best judges of what is
good for them in such matter. 1t
has been pointed out over and over
again that the much Wanted civil.
cation OF Japan is for the most part
merely superficial aud that the ma
ton has not yet attained to such a
pitch Of progress as would entitle it
to be recognized as on a par with
Great Britain, France, Germany,
the United States and the
other civilized nations OF the
earth. But perhaps more serious
objection to the treaty is to be found
in the offence it has given, aud
which is natural aggravated under
existing circumstances, to the more
enlightened among the Chinese Off
cials. These regard the action Of
Great Britain in extending to Japan
privileges which are still denied to
China as nothing less than an insult
to the latter country. In fact, q
prominent Mandarin, in discussing
this matter recently, gave it as his
opinion that the friendship profess
ed for China by Great Britain was
hollow and insincere; and that
she was really the worst enemy
China possessed. II is very much
to be feared that this impression
will grow and spread among the
ruling classes OF the Empire to the
great aud lasting prejudice OF Brit
ish interests in the far East.
Nor has the recent policy Of Great
Britain in this part OF the world
been altogether pleasing to the
Japanese, who are smarting under
the instructions lately given to Ad-
miral Fremautls as regards warlike
operations in the neigbborhood OF
the YangtZe River. However salts
factory il may be to European resi-
dents in Shanghai aud the River
Ports to learn that the British Fleet
is entrusted with the protection OF
their interests, there is no blinking
the fact that the orders issued to
the Admiral are altogether irregular
and, from the point OF view Of ordi-
nary international county, wholly
unjustifable. As a matter Of fact
Great Britain has no more right to
interfere with the movements Of the
japanese, should they desire, for in
stance, to take possession OF the
Kiapgnan Arsenal, than she would
have had to attempt to prevent the
investment OF Paris by the German
Army in the Franco Prussian war
Yet she has venturod to say to the
japanese Admiral; Thus far shall
thou come and no further;' and the
only inference is that ia this cast
she is acting upon what has beer
called the brutal argument, viz, thai
Might is Right.
Now it is evi, ent that, in the even
OF future plications with Russia
il will be Of the utmost importanc,
to Great Britain to find an all,
either in China or in Japan, but /
the present remarkable policy i
persisted in, it is easy to see tina
she may fluid one in neither and be
left to carry on the struggle in thi
part OF the world single handed
with the further chance OF having
those upon whose support she hat
counted ranged upon the other side
Whatever changes may be brough
about in the Chinese Empire as tn,
result of the present war, Chin;
must still remain a power in tn
East, whilst it is safe to predict tina
the result to Japan will be a larg
accession OF dignity and influence
and il Great Britain is so ill-advise,
as to estrange from herself the al
fections and sympathies OF boil
these peoples, her rulers will Ger
tainly live to regret it.