The record-union., 1899-03-19
A BOLD PROPOSITION FROM !
BRITISH SOURCE-THE CHINA
QUESTION.

QUESTION.
Demetrius c. Boulger. an English po-
litical economist and traveller, and a
writer upon governmental questions, is
out in an able paper addressed to the
attractive manner an English view of
the question Of the dissolution of
China, and accompanied by suggestions
concerning the course America should
pursue at this time with reference to
the threatened partition of the empire
Of the Brother of the Sun" It will
be found to be interesting to glance at
the claims of the essayist, since they
are at once informing and reveal a
large body of English thought upon
the subject and how it regards US in
that matter
First, it is laid down that the disso-
luton of the empire is inevitable, and
that a new constitution and system of
maintaining political life there must
be devised, for China has put off re-
form so long that there is now no hope
for her.
her territory which are regarded simply
as bases from which further aggressive
movements will be made. But there is
no indication of vigor in Chinese life
to suggest a hope for the empire. The
change that has come over China is due
wholly to the operations of war within
a very brief space of time. The Japa-
nese, war exposed the weakness of
China, and the fact that there is no
real patriotism among her people. The
American war with Spain is not with
out it's influence upon the destiny of
China, because it has given us the Phil
ippines which necessitates the lifting
UP of the voice of the United States
in the decision of China's fate.
The British Government has reached
the limit of patience with which it can
regard the progress of the French in
further concessions England will have
to secure compensation in Yunan and
Szechuen that the road to India shall
not be barred.
Russia enjoys the most favora BILE po-
sition for further acquisition of Chinese
territory on the dissolution of the old
empire. None of the dependencies
where she has asserted her power will
be by any other Power made a casus
belli. Russia is conquering to her uses
a vast expanse of territory, not dense
population, hence her aims thus far
do not cross the interests of other Pow
ers extensively. With the completion
Of the Trans Siberian Railway. how
ever, she wiil not have to strike a blow
for the whole of the Chinese possess
sions outside of the great wall to fall
into her lap.
Thus Russia will be firmly planted
when the final break up comes. England
has not the will or intention of pre-
venting all this, and Japan has not
the power. The exceptional position Of
Russia, coupled with the detection of
the Trans-Siberian Railway to a route
traversing Manchuria and Liaotung
was the root of the cause of Chinas
break up. AS no one in the earlier
stages of the affair will oppose Rus
sia, what in the later stages Of the
case will the other Powers do?
The answer of the essayist to which
he calls the attention of the American
people, he declares to be very simple
While Russia. prepares the way for the
conquest, those who are bound to hope
for the failure of her plans can either
absorb some of the provinces of China
and thus anticipate her, or undertake
the defense of China, or cooperate with
some new Chinese Government for that
purpose.
Mr.. Boulger then asserts that for the
execution Of this arrangement Eng
land, the United States and Japan
should come to an agreement. He in
sists that there is a choice of but two
couses-indemnity can be taken of
China for the ambitious aims of Russia,
England taking under her protectorate
the provinces between Shanghai and
Hankow, watered by the Yangtse-
Kiang, America securing, perhaps Foo
chow or Annoy, or both, and claim the
hintsrland, and Japan to appropriate
Tientsin and Pechili. All which would
be solid compensation" for anything
Russia can obtain ON her side. But
he comedies that there are serious OBJ
jections to this course-it would be one
of conquest, for which neither of the
Powers is ready-but it may become
inevitable. It would mean . breaking