528
CHINA
were abrogated. Conditions in Outer Mongolia, however, have been by no means stabilised by the ostensible return of Mongolia to China's fold. The invasion of Baron Ungern von Sternberg with an anti-Bolshevik army in February, 1921, caused the intervention of Soviet Russia, whose troops, having dislodged Ungern's men, entered into possession of Urga, the capital of Mongolia, and the Territory stretching up to the Russian frontier. Inner Mongolia has been formed into three special administrative districts, viz., Jehol, Chahar and Suiyuan. Manchuria has in recent years been steadily and rapidly colonised by Chinese, who greatly outnumber the Manchus in their own land. Tibet-which is also practically a dependency of China and whose actual status is still an outstanding question between Great Britain and China-has an area of 643,734 square miles and a population of over 6,000,000. Down to 1910 it was ruled by the Dalai Lama, but subject to the Government of Peking, which maintains a Resident at Lhassa. In consequence, however, of the Dalai Lama's refusal to comply with the demands of Peking, a Chinese military expedition was dispatched to Lhassa, and he fled to India, where he remained for over a year. Meanwhile, the great revolution broke out in China. The Tibetans seized the opportunity to proclaim their independence, and again a military expedition was sent to Tibet, but more conciliatory methods had to be adopted. The Chinese troops were withdrawn and the Dalai Lama returned to the Tibetan Capital. The tripartite conference at Simla in 1914 to determine the status of Tibet and delimit the boundaries ended in failure, no agree- ment being arrived at. The Dalai Lama visited Peking in 1921 and was received in audience by President Hsu Shih-chang.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
The ports open to trade are:-Newchwang, Chinwantao, Tientsin, Chefoo, Woosung, Shanghai, Soochow, Chinkiang, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hankow, Yochow, Chang- sha, Shasi, Ichang, Chungking, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wênchow, Santu, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Canton, Samshui, Wuchow, Kongmoon, Nanning, Kiungchow, Pakhoi and Chengteh. Lungchow, Mêngtsz, Szemao and Tengyueh, on the frontiers of Tonkin and Burmah, are stations under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs. Mukden, Antung and Tatiengkow and other inland places in Manchuria, Kweihuichang, Kalgan, Dolonor, Chihfeng, Taonanfu, Hulutao, and Lungkow have also been declared open to foreign trade. The import trade, exclusive of the Colony of Hongkong, centres chiefly at Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow and Canton, while the bulk of the exports pass through the ports of Shanghai and Canton. The annual value of the trade of China coming under the supervision of the Maritime Customs was as follows:-
1926...... 1927.....
Net Imports from Foreign Countries. ..Hk. Tls. 1,124,221,253 1,012,931,624 1,195,969,271 1,265,778,821
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1928.....
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1929...
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Net Exports to Foreign Countries. Hk. Tls. 864,294,771 918,619,662 991,354,988 1,015,687,318
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FOREIGN TRADE
Total of Foreign trade.
Hk. Tls. 1,988,516,024
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1,931,551,286
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2,187,324,259
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2,281,466,139
The total foreign trade of China in merchandise (treasure excluded) during 1929 was valued at 2,281 million Haik wan taels, which represents an increase of 94 millions over the preceding year's level, which was the previous highest on record. Net im- ports rose in value to approximately 1,266 million Haikwan taels, an increase of over 69 millions, while exports also created a record, and the value, 1,015 million Haikwan taels, was higher by 24 millions than the figures recorded for 1928. These increases in value appear to be due mainly to higher prices and to the fall in silver exchange, which enhanced the value of trade without necessarily increasing the movements of staple commodities. In discussing values it must be remembered that while, on the one hand, they may be taken as a fair indication of the importance of commercial transactions, they do not in themselves reflect an accurate representation of the true economic position of a country, and that the huge excess in the value of imports over that of exports-a sum of over 250 millions of Haikwan taels-must be reviewed in conjunction with many other factors when attempting an estimate of China's balance