A message from Hong Kong of March 23rd, published through
Reuter, announces a fact of very grave importance. Tao 'Tsung Tang has been appointed President of the Board of War, besides receiving other high honours. This means that the great Chinese General who destroyed the P antha.y kingdom, and swept away the Mussulmau Government and people in Kashgar, has not only been recalled to Pekin, but has been placed there in the highest office. The "War Party," as it is called, has not only triumphed in the Palace, but has absorbed the General whose victories were making him so formidable that they militated at Pekin against more war. So long as Tso remains at this post the new policy of China, of revindicating old terri- tories and risking war with Europe, will be pursued. As we have repeatedly pointed out, this directly affects Groat Britain. We have not carried out the Convention of Chefoo, and we have given great umbrage to China, not by the opium traffic, but by insisting that China shall have none of its profits. France, too, may read the announcement with some alarm. The ruler of Toupin, who is threatened with immediate absorption into Cochin China, has paid up all arrears of tribute to Pekin, and has, it is strongly suspected, requested aid. The conquest of Tonquiu in the face of a Chinese army armed with weapons of precision would be a very serious affair.
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