UNDER TWO FLAGS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 2

UNDER TWO FLAGS

HOW MANCHURIA FARED UNDER JAPAN AND RUSSIA.

(By Sir Hawtrey Cox.)

What will become of Manchuria should either of the belligerents gain such- an ascendency over the other as to completely drive the other out? The best answer to this query is to show how the Japanese ancl the Russians respectively handled the country previously, when it was m their possession. • On the one hand, Japan, when she held possession of Manchuria, after the Chino-Japanese war. set at once about conciliating the natives ol the country, and did not interfere with their liberty more than enabled them to keep law and order. All houses belonging to native guilds (the guilds are certain trades band ed together for the purposes of business and mutual assistance, such as trade companies in Britain) and r’ch private merchants were put under special guards; all property was also guarded in the most minute and scrupulous manner both from native marauders and foreigners who would be likely to prey upon the native at such times. It is a noteworthy fact that under the Japanese control practically none of the native merchants made over and put therr property under foreigners’ control to enable the foreigners to fight for them -n their —the foreigners’—courts. Under the Russian regime, however, cases of this sort often occurred. Japan took immediate steps to have all places both pub' f “ and private, put in a thorough sanitary condition. Their courts of justice were expeditiously and as far as would be Possible under the circumstances emv'UbU In taking over the native maritime Customs of the country thev kept mi the old employees, nor did tliev interfere with commissioners and foreigners hold 1 ng office under Sir Robert Hart, of the perial Chinese Maritime Customs. < They had, however, a foreigner of their own choosing representing them in the control. Upon the subject of commerce there is no comparison between J apan and Russia. The majority of steamers of the small class plying to the port of Newohang are Japanese, which will take freight at a lower rate than any foreign steamer. FRUGAL JAPANESE. Quite a number of business bouses have been established by Japanese merchants at Newchwang, Port Arthur. Harbin. Mukden, Her in, and a few Vladivortock. and since they generally undersell fox-emu and Chinese merchants a large amount of business is done. Under Japan’s sway the magistrate had found his position fairly safe, and could depend upon Japanese supnort in carrying out his decrees. When Japan held Southern Manchuria there was no railway to complicate rnatters. Now the great Question will arise, in the event of tlm Japanese driving the Russians out of Manchuria, as to who is to control the railways. We have no previous experience to show how Japan would carry out this duty, or how they would settle with the bondholders of the lines which were built, and are supported by English and French capitalists. There is no reason to doubt, however, that should Japan take over the control of the railways she would make both lines pay for the benefit of the bondholders A fact not to be forgotten is that the Japanese have not the vicious, extravagant habits of the majority of the Russian officials ; they may have them in their own way, but not so as to cause the temptation to have to find means to carry on their life of extravagance when their pay goes a very small way to meet the situation. In contrast to the Japanese, the Russians, when they obtained possession of Manchuria,, deposed the magistrates and generals, and took the reins - government solely in their own hands. All the Chinese lower grade officers were dismissed, as well as the upper or indoor, officials of the Imperial Maritime Cuswhile their places were filled bv Russians or their nominees. The moneys accruing from native customs were paid into the Russian-Chinese Bank instead of to the credit of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. The Russians placed hard-and-fast restrictions upon the nar tives of the country, and had a system of permits, which laid the unfortunate countrymen open to having to pay for a fresh permit whenever a new band of Cossacks came near his place. Tradesmen were ordered to purchase Russian flags and to place their busiiiess and names in Russian over their doors. The sale of flags was an additional source of income to the Russian official. PAYING THE ROBBER. The guilds paid large sums of money to the police to protect them from robbers, but they might as well have kept their money, for the robber called, just as usual. These guilds were not allowed to hold arms to proteet themselves, and the police were powerless; and, as a last resource, the assistance of foreigners was obtained, the expense of which had to be met by the unfortunate Chinaman. All title deeds to property had to shown at the Russian Court of the civil adrmmss

fcrator to circumvent the wily Chinaman, who, to avoid police -visitations,, used, to place his property under the- protection of a foreigner. by making it over to him for stated periods or allowing him to use part thereof. This- undertaking would be registered at the foreign Consulate, but it led to so much friction that the *

Consuls refused to register. The many bands of Chinese Militia organised by the Russians to protect the villages from the robbers simply meant that the village had to pay the robber and the Russian and his employees as well. Little or nothing was done by the Russians in the way of sanitation until the bubonic plague broke out, carrying off a number of Cossacks; and more vexatious restrictions were put on the Chinese, and even foreigners;, cordons of Cossacks were placed in every district, and the quarantine houses were not fit for a dog to lie in.

Russia has absolutely no commerce in the Far East, and, with the exception of one or two small men, all trade is carried on b.y foreigners; in fact, until lately most of the Russians trading steamers were commander] by Britishers. As to the railway, nothing coxild he worse than the existing system of dirt and discomfort, and the question of settling th© control of the railway will be most difficult upon the cessation of hostilities. There is undoubtedly a vast amount of wastage in the Far E'asfc as things are now worked, and in considering the comparison between the benefits accruing to the country under the control of the two nations, there is no doubt that under Japan, or even if‘ the Russians were confined to their railway limit and allowed no control in the towns and villages, the.. country would become enormously wealthy in the course of years. Under Russian regime it would be a complete failure, financially and otherwise.