May 9, 1895.]
armistice having been proclaimed, the per- manent cessation of hostilities is near. China's sincerity in repenting of her breach of faith with Us is already manifest, and the terms of peace negotiated by Our plenipo. tentiaries give us complete satisfaction. That peace and prestige have this been secured "simultaneously is attributable to harmonions co-operation between Our civil and military ser- vants of State A basis has been restored for working out the grand task bequeathed to Us by our Ancestors, while, at the same time, the weight of the responsibilities that we have incurred toward them is augmented.
|
The present in a fitting opportunity to de- clare to you. Our good subjects, the subjects that We keep in view, and to enlighten you as to the course of Our future policy. Gratified as We are that the victories recently obtained by Our arms have enhanced the glory of the Empire, We are nevertheless sensible that the road still to be traversed by the country in its march of civilization is long and ardnous, and that the object unceasingly kept in view by Us since Our accession to the Throne remains yet unattained. We therefore hope, in common with Our loyal subjects, to be constantly on the watch against any feeling of self-content, and ever in & spirit of modesty to labour for the perfecting of Ôur military defences without exceeding the limits of wise economy, and to strive for the promotion of cause of education and refine- | ment without engendering the vice
of effeminacy. It is, briefly, Our wish that Government and people alike should work for the common end, and that Our subjects of all classes should strive, each in his own sphere, to lay the foundation of permanent prosperity and national strength. With regard to plans of military defences and financial adjustment, consequent upon the present war. the duty of adopting proper measures shall be entrusted to Ministers in whom we repose con- fidence, but in the matter of nursing the nation's resources by constant economy and frugality we have to reply upon the aid of Our good subjects.
It is hereby definitely announced that our strong displeasure shall be visited upon such as, in the pride of recent victory, offer insults to other States or do injury to our relations with friendly Powers. More especially with re- gard to hina, the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Peace shall mark the restoration of friendship between the two Empires, and no endeavours should be spared to develop more than ever relations of neighbourly good-will with her.
It is our pleasure that all Our good subjects shall respect and observe these Our plainly ex- pressed wishes.
(Sign Manual)
THE TERMS OF THE TREATY.
!
The following are the principal articles of the recent treaty of peace arranged at Shimonoseki between Viceroy Li and Count Ito, derived from official sources, and which may be considered as very nearly accurate, if not entirely so.
1.-Formosa to be ceded to Japan, and handed over within two months of ratification of treaty. 2.-Seven sab-prefectures and district magis- tracies in Liaotung, wrested from China, to be also ceded to Japan. Yingkow (foreign Settle- ment of Newchwang) to be also included in the coded territory.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
a year for the expenses of the force until the whole indemnity has been paid.
8. Prisoners taken by either armies to be returned unharmed.
9.-Korea to be recognised as an independent Power.
10.-The commercial stipulations to be ar- ranged within six months after ratification of the treaty. The armistice to be prolonged by three weeks to await ratification by China.
11-Ratifications of the treaty to be exchanged at Chefoo on the 8th of May next.
3.-Kuping Tls. 200,000,000, ie., syces used by the Board of Revenue, to be paid as war indem nity to Japan. Fifty million taels to be paid within six months of ratification, and another fifty million taels to be paid within the succeed ing six months. The balance to be paid within six years, with 5 per cent, interest per aquum.
12.-Chinese subjects in Japan to be amen- able to Japanese jurisdiction, but Japan, on the other hand, retains her own exterritorial powers, as heretofore, in China.
13. China to engage to refrain from intrigu- ing in Korea and to refuse audiences to Korea embassies appealing for Chinese interference, and such like.
A treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, between China and Japan, with a proviso to al- low Korea also to join and enjoy the benefits of the said alliance, has also been arranged between the respective Plenipotentiaries of China and Japan, to take effect immediately after ratifica- tion of the first named treaty; bat this treaty of alliance is supposed to be a secret one, the terms of which are to be kept from the knowledge of the outer world. China, moreover, engages by this treaty to employ a large force of drill in- structors from Japau for the Chinese land forces and even undertakes, when necessary, to entrust her navy to the command of Japanese naval officers. In this treaty, also, China promises to reform certain parts of her civil, military, and naval administrations upon Japanese lines, it being specially impressed upon China that unless a radical change be adopted in them China can never hope to contend successfully against foreign Powers in the future.-N. C. Daily News.
|
4.-New treaty ports to be opened, such as Sooch (Kiangsu), Hangchow (Chêkiang), Shasi | (Hr.peh), and Shaoch'ing (Kwaugtung). The interior of China to be also thrown open, in a general way, to international commerce. China to offer no opposition to the construction of cot- ton mills, or various trades and manufactures in any city or market town, village or hamlet, that may in future be deemed expedient.
6. A Boundary Commission to be sent by the High Contracting Powers to delimit the new frontiers, within two months of the ratification.
RELEASE OF THE
YIKSANG."
On Thursday Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co., the General Managers of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, received a telegram stating that the steamer Yiksang, which was siezed by a Japanese warship off Taku, had been released, together with the cargo. It will be re- membered that the Yiksang was taken by the
Japanese because she had on board 220 cases of cartridges, but at the Prize Court held at Sase- ho, it was proved that the captain and officers did not know of the presence of the contraband cargo, which had been shipped by a German firm in Shanghai under a false declaration.
THE PLAGUE.
1st May.
No fresh cases of plague were reported yes terday, but one of the patients previously re- ported to be suffering from the disease died. A party of police have been detailed for house-to- house visitation work.
4th May
343
from Pound Lane and one from Tai Wong Lane, Wanchhi, admitted during the previous twenty-four hours. These are the same cases that were mentioned yesterday.
FIRE ON THE M. M. STEAMER
MELBOURNE.”
On account of fire which broke ont iu one of the holds of the M. M. steam-r Melbournė, she was det ned in Saigon and the Company's steamer Manche brought up her passengers and the mails
0.
FROM A C›RRESPONDENT}
SAIGON, 29th April. Yesterday, at eight o'clock in the evening, fire was discovered in the No. 2 hold of the M.M. mail steamer Melbourne The fire originated." in cotton loaded here, and was caused possibly by a spark, or more probably through the cotton › having got wet, as at four o'clock there was a heavy shower!
Steam was at once applied and now they are pamping water into the hold. The passengers, luggage, and mail bags are being landed and it looks as though the damage and delay will be considerable. It is not likely that the steamer will be able to leave for some days.
vessel.
The No. 2 hold is in the after part of the
EVENING.
The fire on board the Melbourne is not yet extinguished and the pumping is being con- tinued. The steamer remains here for the pre- sent and the Manche leaves to-morrow morning with the mails and passengers for China and Japan.
|
The Melbourne's No. 2 hold is of course completely gutted, and the No. 1 hold, also in the after part of the vessel, contains a good deal of water and the cargo is much damaged
The repairs to the vessel will occupy several days.
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DAILY PRESS"]
SAIGON, 1st May. The M. M. steamer Melbourne sailed for Hongkong at 5 p.m. yesterday.
64
PRESENTATION TO THE COLONIAL SURGEON.
On the 30th ult.
a large number of the members of the Hongkong Police Force assem bled, with their wives and children, in the police compound, on the occasion of a presentation of a handsome diamond ring to Dr. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon, who is leaving the colony.
Mr. May made the presentation and said—Dr. Ayres, on behalf of the members of the Hong- kong Police Force, I present you with this small token of their esteem and respect, and, I may add, affection for you on your leaving the colony, and we hope you will return again. For twenty- three years, as Colonial Surgeor of this colony, you have had under your charge the health of the men, women, and children of the Hongkong Police Force. How you have discharged that A proclamation was issued yesterday by the duty is recorded in the health reports of the Governor in Council under section 1 of Ordin- force year by year. To your skill, to the great ance No. 5 of 1895, prohibiting the immigration care you have taken of the health of all of Chinese from the port of Swatow from 30th persons composing the force, to the im- April until further notice, owing to plague be-provements at the various police stations ing prevalent in the neighbourhood of that port. carried out on your recommendations, and to your improvements in the sanitation of the colony generally, is to be attributed the fact that year after year the health of the force has improved. But you have gone far beyond your mere official duties in your dealings with this force. There is not a man, woman, or child present to-day who does not owe you a deep debt of gratitude in many ways. I number myself amongst one of those who are deeply indebted to you. I remember when but for your care and untiring attention it was quite possible that I should not be standing upon my two legs; more probably I should be standing on one and a half. Your untiring care and your unceasing attention to all aud especially those in the police force, with whom you have come in contact in the course of your professional duties, are, may say, the admiration of all who have had the honour of knowing you, and there is no trouble, no amount of inconvenience to which you would not put yourself to relieve a sufferer or to re-establish the cheerfulness of those who are sick. Your name has become a household word to all in this force, and it is notorions that your kindness, your everlasting fund of good humour, and your ge-
Yesterday morning it was reported that there was a case of plague at Yaumati, and the patient was removed to the Kennedytown Hospital, but on arrival there it was found that the ailment from which he was suffering was not plague, and he is. to be discharged to-day. There was a third death on Thursday night, the last of the plague patients, so that the colony is now free of the disease.
6th May.
No cases of plague were reported in the colony either yesterday or Saturday, so that we still
continue free of the disease.
7th May.
There were two cases of plague in the city yes- terday. One patient was a young girl who had been living some time in Pound Lane, and the other a woman who live at Tai Wong Lane, Wanchai. The police took possession of both houses and thoroughly disinfected them.
8th May.
At noon yesterday according to the official 7.—Japan will send 8,000 troops to hold Wei- returns, there were two plague patients under haiwei as a guarantee; China to pay Tls. 500,000 | treatment in the Kennedytown Hospital, one