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Burore the middle of this month Mr. M. 'T. Liang is due in Weihaiwei and discussions as to the restoration of the property are to begin. No information is available as to the prospects compensation for British residents whose interests may be affected by the change, and indeed a not ill-founded impression prevails that such an idea is not popular with the British Government. 'Ube literal interpretation of the promise given to China at Washington is that Weihaiwei is to be handed back to her sans phrase.. To make conditions now would certainly rather "take the gilt off the gingerbread' of that spontaneous undertaking. But it is to say the Igast-a little hard that the British Government should acquire a reputation for generosity at other people's expense: the indemnification to slave-owners, on the abolition of slavery, recurs to mind in contrast and as an example of the more scrupulous standards of a bygone age. One suggestion advanced in official circles is that a trial period of, say, three yours might be "et, after, which ish residents in Weihaiwei should be compensated according to the losses they could then show. But this does not sound a very practical scheme. Whoever were made responsible for paying the compensation would be even less disposed to shell out' three years hence than now, and any number of reasons can be imagined which would be adduced to prove that the losses were due to any cause in the world, except the true one.
It may be of interest to sum-marine the views of various sections of the Weihaiwei communify in regard to the coming change. Local Chinese frankly Jo riot want any change at all; but as it must be, they have recently held a meeting of representatives from all the villages of the Territory and have appointed a committee of ten to lay their ideas before Mr. Liang. For the governance of Wei Nei they propose to form a local Chinese Council to take over the whole machinery of government; they would keep on the same Chinese, police and foreign inspectors levy exactly the same taxes as under the British regime and are confident that they could carry en the administration and the public services with equal efficiency. In respect of trade, the prospects of—Weihaiwei if converted frdém a free into a treaty port are admittedly unpromising. But the Chinese think that this danger could be countered if the road system of the Territory were extended well into the interior, so as to tap the best producing districts. Their idea is that if the Customs are to he imposed at Weihaiwei immediately, the Chinese Government should pay for these roads. Tf. however, Weihaiwei might remain a free port for fifteen or twenty years, then the local Chinese are ready to: build the roads themselves.
Turning to foreigners, it is not likely that bungalows, hotels and boarding-houses should be worse off at Weihaiwei under the new order than at Peitaiho, Shanhaikuan and so forth. We do not gather, at any rate, that they are greatly disturbed as yet. Omitting them, a sum of, perhaps, £70,000 would probably suffice to cover the claims of foreigners in business. Tt... has been suggested that as the British Government hands back Weihaiwei to China in a much better condition than when it was received, in the matter of roads, afforestation and other public improvements, China might well agree to pay for the value of these and that out of such payment fair compensation might be given to the merchants.
There is no harm, we think, in mentioning specially the case of the Weihaiwei school, a private venture which has done excellent service. A considerable number of its pupils. day boys and therefore the best paying relatively, must go with the departure of the British officials of Weibaiwei. The loss thus involved is one for which no one can precisely be blamed and it appears: to present a very clear and noninvidious case for compensation. Another very urgent point. is that of a port doctor. The Gov. ernment's doctor will go and the foreign residents are too few to maintain one of their own. Ag regards security of tenure, Weihaiwei was supposed to be held by Great Britain for as long as Japan held Port Arthur. and British residents true nol unreasonably that their own tenure should be confirmed for the duration of the Port Arthur. lease.
As regards the Tsland and the future of the British naval san torium, from the point of vie of the Bri ta, er it would actually be cheaper to retain the whole of Weihaiwei, the annual cost of which has hardly exceeded £10,000 for many years and has often been considerably less, than to leave the Navy without rest for the sole of its foot, so to speak. That, however, being out of the question, it is to be Temembered that practically the whole of the island was bought by the British Government for money down. Certain buildings China Would not sell, and these are rented. But here is a situation which surely can easily be adjusted. The Navy needs a health resort and target practice for five months of the year: for the remainder, a caretaker in its buildings would meet all needs. We do not sea that these desid. derate could not. be satisfied without detriment to any ideas China may have of her own for the future use of the port. It has, however, to be remembered that the promise at Washington (Was, So far as can be learnt, unconditional: and this, after all
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.