THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1898. THE PARLIAMENT OF CHINA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3327, 8 January 1898, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1898. THE PARLIAMENT OF CHINA.

With which iire incorporated the Wellington Independent , established IBJS, and the New Zealander »

If it were merely a question of trade that was involved in the partitioning of China, we in these Colonies might very well rest content with the action of Lord Salisbury, and leave the Powora to settle the future of a country which up to the present has proved itself deaf to all entreaties, blind te all the blandishments of the Westerns who would fain see the Celestials emulate the progressiveness, if not the aggressiveness, of the Japanese. But in the action of Germany and Russia there is something more than has up to the present been permitted to meet the eye. So far as the French people are concerned there need be no hesitation in saying that they view with deep distrust the coquetting with Germany which is apparently necessary owing to the designs of Russia in the Far East. It is this coquetting, however, which renders the path of the British Foreign Minister a veritable one of thorns. There is evidently a tacit understanding between the three Western nations, and if they can lull Great Britain into a false sense of security by apparently or even actually conceding all the trading or commercial demands made by her, Germany, Russia and Franco will undoubtedly attempt to work their own sweet Will, not only with Chinese territory, but also with Korea and Formosa. France has absolutely no right to disturb the Japanese in the latter island. Any act of attempted dispossession in that direction would be a violation of international law —an act of filibustering. But if one may judge by what is happening at the present moment, there is reason to fear that an attempt is to be made to rob Japan of what is hers, not only by right of conquest, but by every law which should govern the conduct of civilised nations.

It will bo remembered that not long since we ventured the opinion that whatever Prance might attempt in Formosa would be met with strenuous opposition on the part of the Japanese, That opinion has been strongly confirmed by an extract which we were enabled to give yesterday from the Press, of Hongkong, and it has been still further strengthened by the cable message which we publish to-day, in whiohit is announced that Japan has purchased from the Chilian, Government two cruisers of English build. There'is evidently a mistake as to the tonnage, as the largest cruiser belonging to Chili is of 7000 tons and not 9000 tons burthen as stated in the message. The Esmeralda, constructed at Blswiok, is steel-built, 7000 tons, 436 feet long between the perpendiculars, with 63ft 2in beam, and a mean draught of 20ft 6in. The armament, which is wholly on the Elswiok quick-firing principle, consists of two 8-inoh guns with shields, severally fore and aft, and 16 6-iuoh guns, of which 12 are on the upper deck and the others on the bridges fore and aft, besides eight 12pounders, ten 6-poundera and four Maxims. There are three torpedo-tubes, of which two are submerged on the broadsides. The estimated speed is 22} knots, with natural draught. The other vessel purchased may be either the Ministro Zenteno, armed wholly on the Elswiok quick-firing principle, or the Capitan Prat, with heavy armament and fully armoured. These vessels are all stated to be amongst the very best class of cruiser afloat, and Japan has evidently been driven into the purchase of them owing to her inability to complete the construction of the vessels building in her own yards or to secure the completion of the vessels being made to her order elsewhere.

Apparently the Victorian Government appreciates the danger of the position, and is arming her volunteers and militia with the Martini-Enfield, a weapon approved by the War Office, embodying as it does most of the features of the Metford rifle, but projecting a very much heavier bullet. Victoria’s alarm points to the danger inseparable from any outbreak of hostilities which may occur so close, comparatively speaking, to our doors here in Australasia. If Britain, ostrichlike —as she has been acting for far too long a space—quietly submits to the creation of naval bases on the shores of the Yellow Sea by such determined opponents of British supremacy as Prance, Russia and Germany, there may come a time, and that all too speedily, when the ships of the British Navy will be called upon to protect tnese Colonies against the inroads of a foreign power —a power that will in all probability have the sympathy, if not the active assistance, of two otheis of our enemies. It may be urged that before that time comes Germany will need to strengthen her navy, and thus be prepared, to keep what she has taken of Chinese territory. That may or may noShe the present intention of Germany j but what if at the. first attempt to dispossess her of any other territory Japan assumes the offensive ? Her act will undoubtedly precipitate matters, and Britain will be compelled to take a side.. It may well be that we shall then find that there is very much more than the securing of trading ports in China in the minds of Russian, French and German diplomats.