282 Through the Yang-tse Gorges 



saying that all work done on the Upper Yang-tse goes 

 towards spreading our influence in that region — a region 

 which we now profess to regard as our special " sphere of 

 influence." How long will it remain our sphere, if no steps 

 are taken, either by our Government or by British capitalists, 

 to survey and develop its resources, warn off intruders, and 

 make the occupation really effective ? We have precedents 

 in the Russian occupation of Manchuria, in the German 

 occupation of Shantung, and in the French expeditions to 

 Yiinnan. There is thus no time to be lost if our sphere 

 of influence is ever to be more than " You ming wu sze " — 

 a name without a reaUty. 



