The times., 1900-12-28
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
NJ. BIoch's Caussic Analysis of the
Policy of the Powers.
(From tbe Iu,ienenlIent \


Nothing can be more comical than TIA
solemn seriousness with which the Pow
ers are at present attempting to impose
on China absolutely impossible conditions
OF peace. The terms are such as China
neither can or will respect Had she mill
tary force at her command she would not
accept them for day. And the acquisition
OF such force IS a mere question Of time
The prohibition OF all importation OF arms
will not retard her materially: the ar
senals and manufactures she already pos
sesses are sufficient TO equip her fully il
the next decade or two. Even should the
Government accept the heavy demands Of
the Powers it could not fulfill its promises.
Clearly the Government Is less a free
agent than an instrument. The whole tenor
OF recent events proves this Enthusiastically.
The revolt of the Boxers was opposed to
Its every interest 1t could neither crush
it nor openly turn II to its advantage.
Rapidly as China is arming itself. in
few years time 1t could with ease either
have queiled the insufrecticn or turned IL
with impunity against the white DEVILS"
At present it could do neither And thus
while appearing to encourage the destruc-
tion OF the legations the Government Sc
cretly protected them or they would most
certainly have succumbed. Such was tho
hypothesis l stated some time back in ar
ticles on the Chinese question. To my
great satisfaction | see that Sir Robert
Hart. in his article on the siege of the
legations, published by the "Fortnightly
Review" absolutely confirms my view
To punish the Government the heads Of
some of the leading members are now de-
manded. This is equivalent to SUPPRESS
ing the Government itself. or rather ex-
acting its suicide In it's place ii would
most certainly become at once necessary
to set up some other Government. To
suppose that any Government named ty
Europe would be popular or even tolerated
by the Chinese is the height of absurdity
The result of such conduct can be anarchy
alone. and to put an end to such anarchy
it is probable China would call in the aid
OF Japan. Japan is ready and eager to
step in. Its Intervention would be a ra-
tastrophe for Europe and the .'yeilow
devil would indeed exist under its mere
terrible form.
1t would be far better for Europe to
show extreme moderation in it's demands.
Unfortunately it is hardly probable we
shall listen to the voice of common sense.
We continue to believe enormous adyan-
tages are to be reaped from the exploita-
tion of China. The faliacy of such hopes
has been exposed again and again, but to
no purpose. and now the Powers, seeing
into what a hornets nest they have blum
acceptation. after all. of the open door,
shows the extent of their error Recog-
nized cartier. as China has never ceased
to demand the theory of the "open door,
would have averted the revolt: it would
never have broken out and no expedition
would have been necessary
More than ever it is necessary to study
impartially. scientifically. the Chinese
question. Economists and not diplomat
oil - I'll Ii1h
on the question by showing what has been
continually by the highest au-
horities-namely. that the enormous eco
ncmical advantages hoped from China are
non n-existent. But so far the diplomatists
have simply ignored their conclusions and
calmly continued their absurd and GRIM
inal course.
The special ports are utterly useless;
they are simply permanent centres OF pa
triotic fermentation. and the fermentation
thus provoked can but increase contin-
ually. The present insurrection Is but n
superficial symptom of a deep-lying irri-
tation and a warning. No half measures
dear to the diplomatic service can aliay
this irritation. the dangers of which are
inealculable. Honors and promotion are
10 be gained, 70 doubt. and a fruitful har-
vest OF future negotiations with fresh
honors in their train is thus prepared. But
the Yellow Peril is aggravated, not dimin-
ished.
What besides can possibly be objected
to my demand that the question should bs
treated scientifically in a spirit Of impair
tial enquiry? AS to the results of such
an enquiry my mind is at ease. The i'm
morality and the fallaey at once os the
heartless exploitation of the poorest OF
races by the richest will be established
1nce and for all. A few spectators, few
may be enriched. but the na-
tons OF Europe will be poorer by far.s
From a business point OF view the specu-
lation of Europe spells ruin.