![]() ![]() All the indications pointed to Great Britain as the power most likely to undertake this needed task. The unsatisfactory methods by which this trade was conducted could not fail, however, sooner or later, to bring about a conflict between the authorities and the foreign merchants or their governments and it was plain that a radical change could be accomplished ​only by force, as the Chinese authorities would not willingly make the necessary reforms. The traffic carried on through Canton, notwithstanding its vexatious conditions, was increasing and the Chinese people, realizing its advantages, were showing a marked interest in its growth. The efforts of China to resist the progress of the world in shipping and commerce were destined to an early and humiliating failure. The exchange of commodities was coming to be regarded as not only a legitimate transaction, but as one from which no nation had a right to exclude its inhabitants. It was contrary to the spirit of the age that a vessel in distress or requiring aid and supplies should be treated as an intruder in the ports of any people. The application of steam to navigation was beginning to bring the distant parts of the globe nearer together. The ships of Western nations were traversing all seas. ![]() The maritime commerce of the world was rapidly increasing. ![]() It was not possible for the great empires of China and Japan to maintain permanently their policy of seclusion described in the preceding chapters. ![]()
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