Lr the Sturm und Drang of Chinese politics allows the Central Government sufficient respite to tuke stock of its position, it will find itself to-day in the unusual situation of having disposed almost entirely of all points of issue between no less than four out of six foreign Governments and itself. In the case of Germany and France there would seem to be no question of significance to their interests in China awaiting settlement in Peking. Mr. W. W. Rockhill, the experienced representative of the United States, is able to quit his post to return to Washington with the knowledge that he leaves a clean slate behind him. Again between Great Britain and China the more crucial incidents that have for some time engrossed diplomacy on both sides have achieved practically if not absolutely their final adjustment. The Tientsin-Pukou Railway agreement, in which both British and German capital is interested, has been duly signed, and its ratification has passed unchallenged in the provinces concerned—warranting the inference that, whereas a few favoured districts may have sufficient money to build a line themselves, adequate railway communication throu, hour the Empire at large can only be obtained by the judicious employment of foreign capital. In regard to the Chekiang Railway negotiations a satisfactory modus vivendi has been arrived at; the loan is taken up by the Ministry of Posts and Communications and re-lent to the provincial exchequers "face" has been saved on all sides, but the provinces make sure that their railway will be built ty sound foreign methods.
The controversy regarding the Pekin Syndicate has also been adjusted; the concession has been re-purchased by the Chinese at the price of Tls. 2,750,000, half to be paid at once and. the remainder within four years. Possibly the cause of sound mining in Shansi suffers, but the Syndicate has. also been penalized for " loosely-drawa contract, to the specific terms of which insufficient attention was paid. Finally the difficulty attending the policing of the West River approaches settlement; China ae copts the patrolling of the waters by British gunboats as an emergency measure, but undertakes to equip a satisfactory fleet of gun-bon ats of her own, and as these become ready for service, the British ships will be withdrawn rom succeeding reaches of the River.
For this satisfactory state of affairs due credit must be given to Their Excellencies Yuan Shih-kai und Liang Tun-yen, President and Acting Junior Vice-President respectively of the Waiwupu. These two officials would seem to have inaugurated a new aspect of Chi~ nese diplomacy, which, if allowed to obtain a firm foothold in Peking traditions, is of considerable promise for the future. Much ret to be done to bring China into line with modern governments, but it is impossible to withhold acknowledgement of the success of first steps in the right direction. Each of these steps has entailed the arduous task of surmounting reactionary obstruction, and the fact that mach yet remains to be accomplished-is Shown by the complaint of the Japanese that not a single question pending between them and China since the late war has been settled. It may be doubted too whether Russia has fared better. In the case of these two countries, however, the points of issue are different from those that exercise the diplomacy of the Western European nations and of America, und the circumstance that few or none have attained adjustment does not necessarily justify the leying of sll blame et-China's door If com plications with foreign Powers can be avoided and the new tentative regime in Peking can be maintained, there is hope that the Government. will find time to give attention to the more pressing among domestic reforms. Of these some, it must be remembered, are covered by Treaty obligations—the questions of trade-marks and currency suffice as examples—and so long as no attempt is made to deal with them in an enlightened spirit. and with determination a cause of friction or at least for diplomatic representa~ tions is always to hand.
The anxiety of Great Britain and other Powers to do all that is possible to smooth the way for China's gradual entrance into the comity of nations cannot, however, blind them to the existence of certain obligations on China's. part, whether or indirectly incurred. It is some such consideration, doubtless, that prompted "The Times" to point, out. that in her negotiations with Japan on the subject of Manchuria China mast not lose sight of the fact that she owes to Japan any title she has to-day to the Three Eastern Provinces. The condensation of a leading article into a telegraphic summary inevitably produces a bald statement, and, because no mention was made of the point, it is not to be supposed that due recognition recorded in Great Britain to the signs of progress already manifest in Chinese diplomacy. China cannot altogether escape from the consequences of hor past actions.. Few nations will wish to visit her sins upon her in any concrete form, but they may well expect a reasonable spirit in negotiation. Within the. last. few months Great Britain has certainly been met in such a spirit, and we may hope that' our experience may be shared by. other nations. That China stands to, lose nothing by her new diplomacy is abundant ly proved by. the fact that., her. re~ cent railway agreements are far more favourable than any she has ratified before, and they naturally will serve -as—che-basis - of sitnilarsnegotiations in the fature."
Original from NE
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.