OxE point which deserves to be emphasized in connexion with the Customs controversy at Canton is that all the Powers are united in respect of it. The fact that a British subject presents the foreign communications to Dr. Sun's Government is of no more importance than that in Peking a Portuguese subject does the like to the Northern Government. It is merely a matter of seniority who acts for his colleagues. They are all equally at one behind him. In the same way the Powers were in complete agreement regarding the Lincheng Note. That may appear an unlucky precedent to quote, considering how little has come of it so far. But we have not heard the last of the Lincheng demands. That they were signed by all the allied Powers was of immense importance, because only a, limited number of them were directly concerned. The united front presented, as now in the Customs affair, is an important recognition of the fact that no Power ¢an afford to appear unconcerned in the political disorganization of China. It is no longer a question of concession-hunting, or debt recovery, or imaginary privilege, in which jealousies might usefully be excited by the Waichiaopu. Whatever hits one nation in China, constructively hits all. And the cireumstances of the time, the repeated flouting of treaty rights and illegal impositions.must tend to draw the nations more and more closely together.
This unity inspires a hope that in due course a new policy towards China will be evolved by the Powers. The Lincheng Note marked at least the beginnings of one. In that document, it will be remembered, it was laid down that the Powers would henceforth hold the local officials responsible for what went on in their provinces; while the Government was further warned that its notifications that this or that area was unsafe for foreign travel would be accepted only for a time, at the end of which, if the Government were still unable to guarantee order in that area, the foreign Powers would reserve the right to take what action they deemed necessary. We certainly would not appear te be' putting Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the bandits of Paotzeku in the same boat. But it is none the less clear that in combining to prevent his interference with the Canton Customs, the Powers are applying the principles of the lincheng Note. Their position, a perfectly legitimate one, is no more visibly assailed by a bandit attack on their nationals than by an attempt to seize the Customs or by illegal taxation.. Indeed the last-named, though less spectacular, is by far'the most serious offence, not only because it is more difficult to cope with, but because of the precedent established. Bandits can be fought and Customs stations protected. But an illegal tax imposed with success is immediately copied in other provinces and extended to other articles. It is quite as important that the Powers should combine to fight and destroy the cigarette tax in Ché- kiang and Kiangsu as to defend the Customs. The violation of treaty rights which, in the case of cigarettes, affects but one or two nations, will be repeated to-morrow to the injury of others, unless all combine to prevent it.
So far, however, we have only been considering the value of unity among the Powers in' respect of resistance. And re-} sistance, though highly necessary in crises of the kind mentioned, is no real policy, and is indeed most undesirable as a definition of all the Powers may be expected to do. It results in an atmosphere of perpetual friction, which reacts on all trade and peaceful dealings between Chinese and foreigner; and it is a game at which the oriental has infinitely more pa-thence than the westerner. Is it impossible for the Powers to invent a new and constrictive policy? The attempt was made at Washington, but on lines of' excessive sentiment and a total disregard of facts, which have naturally brought their own. reward, encouraging Chinese officials to believe that they could do whatever they pleased' with impunity and forcing the Powers into a posture of self-defence which has compelled the stern wording of the Lincheng Note and sent the gunboats of half-a-dozen nations to Canton. The sugary platitudes of Washington have proved manifestly unworkable. But on_. the other hand, the policy-of resist-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.