He
was talking about the development of markets for British wares, and
kept repeating the phrase "trade outlets," as if it had a flavour
which he enjoyed. England, he declared, was falling behind in the
competition for the world's trade.
"It won't do. Mark my word, if we don't show more spirit, we shall
be finding ourselves in Queer Street. Look at China, now! I call it
a monstrous thing, perfectly monstrous, the way we're neglecting
China."
"My dear sir," said the other, a thin, bilious man, with an
undecided manner, "we can't force our goods on a country----"
"What! Why, that's exactly what we _can_ do, and ought to do! What
we always _have_ done, and always _must_ do, if we're going to hold
our own," vociferated he of the crimson neck. "I was speaking of
China, if you hadn't interrupted me. What are the Russians doing?
Why, making a railway straight to China! And we look on, as if it
didn't matter, when the matter is national life or death. Let me
give you some figures. I know what I'm talking about. Are you aware
that our trade with China amounts to only half a crown a head of the
Chinese population? Half a crown! While with little Japan, our trade
comes to something like eighteen shillings a head. Let me tell you
that the equivalent of that in China would represent about three
hundred and sixty millions per annum!"
He rolled out the figures with gusto culminating in rage.
Pages:
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385