Tuouan we recognise the necessity of acertain degree of reticence in diplomatic affairs, and would be sorry for instance, in such negotiations as those at present going on in Europe, that the various steps in the programme should become the property of stump orators, we still think that too much reserve has been maintained with regard to our relations with China, Even the usually well-informed Times does not seem to have been made the recipient of even a hint from the Foreign Office; and has had to depend on chance gossip about the result of the Grosvenor mission, supplied by the Indian Press—itself usually by no means trustworthy in matters beyond its own immediate ken. The result was a somewhat grotesque article respecting the assumed failure of that mission.to obtain any evidence as to the murderers of Margary, wherein that failure was attributed to diverse and somewhat inconsistent causes. In China the Press has done its best, for the most part, to refrain from comment on alleged facts which it was not ina position to verify; and aware that, on the whole, the British Government, though evidently slow in its movements, had yet determined on a firm line of conduct, it thought it best to hamper as little as possible, by publication of ill-founded rumours, the diplomatic action of Her Majesty's Minister. Mr. Bourke, in the House of Commons, acknowledged as much in his defence of the British communities in the East. The Government could fairly deny the importation of any dictation, or attempt at dictation, on behalf of British merchants connected with China. Both merchants and Government were agreed that a stricter adherence to former treaties had become a matter of urgent necessity, while both were equally opposed to war, so long as any other means of gaining the necessary end remained untried. We have on more than one occasion urged that too much time was being taken up with preliminary negotiations, during which our immediate interests were suffering; but feeling sure that the Government was in earnest, and was fairly kept informed of the real position of affairs, we were, on the whole, well inclined to wait its definite action. It seems, however, certain that now, at last, matters have reached a definite point, and that a few weeks at most will settle definitely our relations. It therefore becomes a matter in which we are all personally and individually interested. We should, therefore, naturally expect that, in relation to the immediate measures to be taken, there should be some confidence between Her Majesty's Minister and the communities at the various ports. We can readily understand the feelings of such communities as Tientsin, and we can imagine the effect of afew reassuring words. The smaller ports on the River are also naturally anxious to know what provision is likely to be made for their individual security. Even in Shanghai, we should probably find ourselves in an unpleasant position, were any prolonged siege to be laid to the Settlements before the arrival of reinforcements. In all these matters, to be forewarned is to be forearmed; we have gone on trusting long to the chapter of events, that a hostile breach in our relations with China would come on us almost as unexpectedly as if we had not been waiting for the last fifteen months. Familiarity, to certain extent, breeds contempt, and a state of looking for hostilities for a prolonged period is apt to have a deadening effect on our susceptibilities. We hope, therefore, that in matters touching us individually so closely, we may be thought worthy of a little confidence by Her Majesty's Minister. We by no means expect to find ourselves so isolated as in 1870, when the captain of H.M.S. Barossa told us his orders were distinct not to afford any assistance on shore. Those orders were subsequently rescinded, and matters placed on a much more rational footing. It would, notwithstanding, be well for all to know that some definite plan had been arranged by our authorities, with regard to the safety of the various Treaty Ports from Newchwang to Canton.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.