THE POSITION OF ENGLAND

255

traying a pusillanimity which can only be put down to a distrust of our strength and ability to teach her the lesson she badly needs; and to-day we stand discredited in Asia, waiting patiently, while Russia views the triumphs she has attained, and considers the direction of her next move. British diplomacy has come to such a pass that it is defeated at every turn. Our feeble efforts, never made in serious earnest, invariably fail to check the onward movement of our great rival, and our voice in the councils of the world is rapidly becoming like that of China-listened to with an air of simulated attention, to be immediately disregarded as of no account.

Such is the position to which England has been relegated by the consistent neglect on the part of her rulers to safeguard her interests. The country is politically on the downward grade, and it is every day becoming more difficult to stay her descent. Only the most absolute volte face, applied unhesitatingly and directed by a statesman endowed with brains and instigated by true patriotic feeling can save the situation. A Palmerston or a Disraeli might bring about the salvation of England, while a continuation of the methods of a Salisbury or a Chamberlain can only plunge her deeper in the mire than she already is.

The prospect in the Far East is clouded. Its ultimate outcome must, by dint of the working of the forces I have discussed, be partition and absorption until the whole of the map becomes reconstituted. The lion's share must go to Russia. Of that there can be no question. China will by slow degrees be divided, first into nominal spheres of influence; subsequently into protectorates; finally into colonies and possessions of the various Powers. Korea as a national entity is doomed. The only question is whether it will fall to Russia or Japan, and it remains only to be seen whether England will at the eleventh hour pull herself together and strive to save the Yangtse valley as her share of the spoil, or whether she will by a

continuation of her past and present tactics, allow herself to be elbowed out of Central China even as she has been out of Manchuria, and is about to be out of the North. Such is the outcome of the situation, such the problem to be solved. The prospect is not a pleasant one; but there is yet time to divert it, if only we bestir ourselves and act before it is too late.

APPENDIX A.

CHRONOLOGY OF LANDMARKS CONNECTED WITH

THE HISTORY OF THE FAR EAST.

1160 Genghis Khan.

1275 Kublai Khan's embassy to Japan. 1275 Marco Polo visits China and Japan. 1511 Raphael Perestralo visits China.

1516 Portuguese reach Canton.

1517 Fernand Perez D'Andrade visits China, 1530 Foreign vessels first touch at Japan. 1543 Portuguese begin to trade with Japan. 1545 Mendez Pinto visits Japan.

1560 Portuguese obtain possession of Macao. 1564 First British ship in Japanese waters. 1571 Spaniards occupy Manila.

1581 Papal Missionaries arrive in China.

1587 Hideyoshi orders Missionaries to leave Japan.

1590 Portuguese hold monopoly of trade with Japan.

1592 Japanese invade Korea.

1600 William Adams reaches Japan.

1604 James I. issues license to discover Cathaia, Japan, and

Korea.

1609 Dutch arrive at Hirado.

1611 Shogun issues patent for Dutch trade.

1615 Japan obtains Tsushima from Korea.

1613 Captain Saris arrives in Japan.

1616

Manchu descent on China.

1617 East India Company send merchant fleet to Japan. 1624 Dutch arrive off Macao but are driven off by Portuguese. 1634 Captain Weddell reaches Canton.

1640 Rivalry between Dutch and Portuguese leads to latter being expelled from Japan.

1644 Chitsou, first Manchu Emperor, ascends Chinese Throne. 1653 Hendrik Hamel wrecked off Korea.

S

1655 First Russian mission to China.

1660 Tea brought to England.

1662 Kanghi Emperor of China.

1675 Spafarik's mission to China.

1680 East India Company begins to trade with China. Venukoff and Fafarof's mission to China.

1685

1719 Ismaloff's mission to Peking. 1723 Yung-Ching Emperor of China. 1724 Treaty of Kiakhta.

1736 Keen Lung Emperor of China.

1787 Louis XVI. receives envoy from the King of Annam. 1791 First Portuguese missionary fails to enter Korea. 1793 Lord Macartney's mission to Peking.

1795 Duch East India Company's mission to Peking. 1795 Kia-king Emperor of China.

1797

1801

First American ship reaches Japan.

Alexander I. Tsar.

1802 French hoist republican flag at Canton, but withdraw. 1805 Golovkin's mission to China.

1816 Lord Amherst's mission to China.

1819 Singapore founded by Sir Stamford Raffles.

1820 Taoukwang Emperor of China.

1828 French vessel wrecked off Cochin China, crew massacred. 1834 East India Company's charter expires.

1834 Lord Napier arrives at Canton.

1834 Import of opium in China prohibited. 1839 British trade with China ceases.

1839 Hong Kong occupied by British.

1840 Edict against intercourse with England.

1840 Captain Elliot enters Peiho River.

1841 Sir H. Gough captures Canton and Amoy. 1841 Hong Kong ceded to British.

1841 Ningpo and Chusan taken.

1842 Woosung and Shanghai taken.

1842 Treaty of Nanking signed 29th August.

1844 Commercial Treaty between France and China.

1847 Muravieff explores Amur river.

1850 Taeping Rebellion breaks out.

APPENDIX

259

1850 Hienfung, Emperor of China.

1851 Treaty of Kulja.

1853 Captain Perry with American fleet visits Japan. 1854 Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs established.

1854 Treaty of Commerce between America and Japan, 31st

March.

1854 Treaty of Commerce between Great Britain and Japan, 14th October.

1854 Muravieff siezes Amur region.

1855 Treaty of Commerce, Japan and Russia, 26th January. 1855 Alexander II. Tsar.

1856 Lorcha Arrow seized at Canton.

1856 Nagasaki and Hakodadi opened to European commerce. 1857 Lord Elgin arrives at Hong Kong.

1858 Canton taken by English and French. 1858 Taku forts captured by allies.

1858 Treaty of Aigun, 28th May.

1858 Treaty of Tientsin, 26th June.

1858 Treaty of Commerce, Japan and Russia. 1858 Venukoff explores Ussuri River.

1858 Treaty of Yedo, 26th August.

1858 Sir Rutherford Alcock, first Consul-General for Japan. 1859 Mr. Bruce stopped at Taku forts.

1859 Commercial Treaty, America and China.

1859 Russia occupies Northern Saghalien.

1859 Saigon seized by the French.

1859 Sir Rutherford Alcock appointed Envoy Extraordinary for

Japan.

1860 Lord Elgin and Baron Gros reach Shanghai.

1860 Chusan occupied by Great Britain.

1860 Capture of Peking by French and English.

1860 Convention of Peking signed with Russia, 14th November.

1861 Tsungli Yamen established.

1861 British and Foreign Embassies established at Peking.

1861 Admiral Hope explores the Yangtse Kiang.

1861 French seize Annam and Cochin China.

1861 Attack on British Embassy at Yedo.

1861 Tungche, Emperor of China.

1862 English and French aid in repressing Taepings.

1862 Saigon ceded to France.

1862 Japanese Embassy visits London and Paris.

1862 Foreign representatives move from Yedo to Yokohama. Attack on British Embassy at Yokohama.

1862 Prince Nagato fires on French and English vessels at

Shimonoseki