THE COLONIES AND CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12242, 30 June 1900, Page 6

THE COLONIES AND CHINA.

The suggestion iaadc By <M Pireinifer that troops might bo sent from Nfew Zealand to China has been variously received by the public. It was ih ho way definite, and in the circumstances we expected to find it condemned as premature. We havto ho ‘evidence so fhr that the Imperial Government would ißbk Istitir itivour on such a pttri&al, or that the position in China is serious enough to Warrant it. The case it hot ba all fCUxt with that of South Africa; for apart from the nature of the issues at stoke, the task of quelling the distiirbaiwa is obviously within the power of the betabined nations. There is a danger, hbvtov'er, that Britain may find 1 some difficulty in holding her place with the allied Powers at such a time tmfii l&e Ms ; |g a .million men in the field in South Africa, and must fans the prospect of serious trouble in AshaML The cabifegrams puKMfi l&s morning rirttW that the idea ‘expressed by Mr Seddon wks in the minds of statesmen in other parts of the Empire. In Canada, we learn, &e iMaMy tire vbltinsSlnlig for service in’China, while Lord Brassey, who < has just arrived in England, has stated (his belief that the jlotfier Country inky inly the co-operation of Australia. But whether Great Britain should need our help or not, there can be no doubt that the prestige of ■ the Empire would be greatly increased by ,_a jdefinite announcement that the .colbhids r ■ are ready to tend troops to Chiba.. Wo - should remember, also, that Canada and ’ Australasia have a very real interest in political : developments in ■ the Far Eaht; tint there is no immediate reason for 'ehtaringinto 1 a discussion of that matter. Cur proximity to the scene of the trbtrhlfe would enable us to land troops at Taka with great jffomptitude, and there is no reason to suppose i that colonial men would not ptcye aa y yful in China as in South. Africa- More--brfKT; we have hardly touched oarisnpplypf ■ for' :tropps ; sfeub to Transvaal by Australia and New Zealand ~ were mounted.- The military resources of the colonies may net be‘inexhaustible, but,' , as Mr Seddon pointed! pul/ a useful fores couli be - , equipped arto vAspatched almast at once. /One possible outcome of this pro-' posal is eoms such -jinsagement as that hinted a'< in the Governor's Speech; by which 'muirttario; a certain;" ■humiM arms Siidi m fSffiSSi; -fer 'sprite iif any part of the world. It Ss fiM Smiidiil'Sfiiy whSm wl btit kja Itnpfriai rtte'rve, trained and kquippsfi unde'l - an rgreement with the Home Government- Dur oWn defences would-, of course, .benro/iy ifilil a ischeme, and the . sttßwly ‘■64! i would 'skvl th%\'Sql6-} mal taxpkijter from any iinduo burden. Cur action with regard to South Africa did not., as we frequently pointed out; oOUlinit US to similar action in all lie Empire’s quarrels;’ but it did imply that we intended to Stand by the Mother Country whenever Mr Interests or prestige should be threatened, krid we believe that Mr Seddon’s feUggestion was called for in the present ckse. Nothing definite can be done, of course; until, the Imperial authorities have been consulted, but the colony should at least be preparedin case more troops are required. This stirring cf the Imperial seatim&t ( caatthb fail to have somfe tangible result. The cohmies will ask for no reward for their. atsiStaaoe, bub the relations between the/ countries and 4h© Mobherland wiil mrtkt M allowed to drop back into their, former ,The probable outcome vfiil bb that &gge&tei 'iy. the Right Hon C. T, RiteMd m Ml kfldrfes to the ChtimMrt of grehs. it ih difficult to see how Grl/ Brfr tain can give Spectol_ brfeatmfenfc io- ohtAfiial commerce without, departing from.-her.fr/* trade policy; Imt the. President -iff the Board of Trade no doubt has in. hit SUMd- koaie 1 metiiod or Encouraging An iiiteiUS/ige of purely British products. The exclusion of all foreign, goods from Government contracts' would be a step in the right direction. The time is ripe for the discussion of these sfiati ters, arid we may be sure that British statesmen will not let pass the opportunity _ m making the unity of the Empire more than a name. ,