Page
May 15, 1895. |~
THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARDS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
359
|CHINA, JAPAN, AND THE POWERS.
RELTER'S TELUGRAM".]
Chefoo.
LONDON, 7th May.” Japan abandons her demand for the cession of The Powers have been officially informed tbat the Liaotung peninsula, including Port Arthur. The Foreign Squadrons are assembling at
confirmed from Peking.
The ratification of the treaty of peace has been
LONDON, 8th May. It is stated that France is negotiating with Japan with a view of limiting the number of the latter's warships and the strength of their
at the settlement of the China-Japan war and Some of the French papers are discontented
say that France cannot permit the Japanese to rule in Formosa and the Pescadores. They consider that unless the agreement between the three Powers (Russia, Germany, and France P) applies also to the settlement of the Egyptian Luce has been made a dupe of by question. the
metallism was carried in the German Reich-\notwithstanding the resignation of the garrisons in Formosa and the Pescadores.
41
#
THE SANITARY BOARD. The battle of the standards is entering whether the acts of the Sanitary Board as Some doubt has been expressed as to now on an acute stage. Until recently the at present constituted, all the unofficial gold monometallists looked down with lofty members having resigned, possess legal disdain ou bimetallists as visionaries and validity. A reference to the Public Health faddists of whose attacks it was unnecessary Act is sufficient to set the doubt at rest. to take serious notice. Gradually, however, shall be held to be legally constituted It is expressly provided that "the Board the bimetallists have grown in numbers,"notwithstanding any vacancies occurring their position has become a strong one, and "therein by death, absence, resignation, the other day a resolution in favour of bi" or incapacity of any member." The Board therefore must be held legally constituted stag. The monometallists have now taken unofficial members, and that being so its alarm and the other day there was founded acts must be held to have legal validity. an " Association for the defence of the Ger- That, however, does not relieve the Governor
mán gold currency.” This has been followed take steps
from the obligation resting upon him to to fill up the vacancies. by the foundation of a similar association in According to Ordinance the Board should England and the bimetallist propaganda will consist of the Surveyor-General, now be met by a counter agitation. The con-
Registrar-General, the Captain Súner version, whether real or apparent only, of Ger-
intendent of Police, the Colour- geon, and not more than six additional many to bimetallism is very significant in view members, four of whom (two being of the former attitude of that Power. It has | Chinese) are to be appointed by the been alleged that the failure of the Brussels Governor and two elected by the rate. Conference was due to England In his payers. If any member of the Board be at any time prevented by absence or other recent speech in the House of Commons on
cause from acting for more than six months on Mr. EVERETT's motion Sir WILLIAM the Governor may appoint, or, if the member VERNON HARCOURT denied the impeachment, has been elected, the electors may nominate, and so far as that particular point was con-until he shall be able to resume his functions. some other person to replace such member cerned made out a good case. The first de- The clear intention of the legislature was claration on bimetallism at the Conference, he that the Board should permanently consist pointed out, was by Count ALVENSLEBEN, the of ten members-four officials and six un- representative of Germany, in the following officials. The number of members has now terms:-" Germany, being satisfied with its have yet been taken to fill up the vacancies. been practically reduced to four, and no steps monetary system, has no intention of "modifying its basis." In fact, said the tended with serious consequences to the The neglect might conceivably be at- Chancellor of the Exchequer, England was the principal supporter of the resolution colony, for as it takes four members brought forward by the United States in
a legal quorum for the favour of the increased use of silver, but the despatch of business the absence of any resolution had to be abandoned in conse-the work of the Board to a standstill, which one of the present members might bring quence of the discouragement it received would be disastrous if action were urgently from the other Powers. The term “in- creased use of silver," as used in this con- mic, for there are certain things that can required to prevent or cope with an epide- nection, must not be taken as synonymous only be done by the Board. The danger of with bimetallism. So far as it went, however, which was not very far, it was strongly modified by the fact
an absolute deadlock, however, is perhaps that there is a opposed. The state of the opinion of some of the European Powers represented at the reserve member, if we may so call him. The Registrar-General is ez-officio a member Conference is thus set out in the report of of the Board and though the Hon. J. H. the British delegates :-"Certain countries STEWART LOCKHART has not attended the
declared themselves frankly as adherents of "the monometallic faith. The representatives meetings since he was appointed Colonial of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Secretary in conjunction with his pre- Norway were clear in their declaration is still none the less a member of the vious appointment as Registrar-General he "that no change would be made in the gold Board and would be available to make "currency of those countries. Switzerland, "though a member of the Latin Union, up a quorum in case of necessity. For all practical purposes, however, the Board "declared explicitly that she was an un-
at present consists of the Surveyor- "shaken adherent of the monometallic prin- General, the Captain Superintendent of ciple, and the delegate of Austria-Hungary Police, and the Acting Colonial Surgeon, was equally explicit in his statement that his Government had every intention of together with Surgeon-Major WESTCOTT, who holds his appointment by virtue of abiding by the gold standard which they special legislation. Mr. N. J. EDE is an are in course of adopting." Germany has now seen reason to change her opinion, if the unofficial member of the Board, but he is absent on leave, so that the community is recent vote in the Reichstag may be taken
It is doubtful as decisive, but on the other hand the Frank-whether any gentlemen would consent either
entirely unrepresented. fort-on-the-Main Chamber of Commerce-ad- dressed a circular to all the Chambers in the Empire requesting their opinion on the question at issue, and with the exception of four all gave their votes for the gold cur- rency, so that it would seem the conversion is not quite complete. The bimetallic cause, however, is making rapid strides in public favour, both on the Continent and in England and the English colonies, even Australia having discovered that the ap preciation of gold has a deleterious effect on trade.
"
E
$6
68
to constitute
J
elected by the ratepayers under existing cir- to be appointed by the Governor or to be cumstances, but that does not relieve the Government of the duty of attempting to bring the Board up to its proper strength The present position appears to be entirely unconstitutional.
According to the Progrès de Saigon the
B-
LONDON, 9th May. Five thousand Chinese troops are being des- patched from Canton to Formosa to assist in suppressing the probable opposition of the Black Flags to a Japanese occupation of the island, It is believed that the troops are not very re liable and that they are likely to side with the Black Flags.
plague has broken out at Lungohow and many deaths have taken place. The authorities in Tonkin and Cochin-China are taking precau- tionary measures,
The ratifications of the treaty of peace between China and Japan were exchanged at Chefoo on Wednesday last.
LONDON, 10th May.
arrangement with Japan for the payment of the war indemnity is to be the placing of thé
control of the Powers.
The Temps believes that the basis of the
Chinese Customs under the guarantee and
LONDON, 11th May. It is announced from St. Petersburg that thé sent in the Pacific will not be reduced until the Russian, German, and French squadrons at pre- final settlement of the China-Japan trouble.
LONDON, 13th May. Viscount Kaba-Yama has been appointed Viceroy of Formosa.
gradnally withdraw her
Japan intends t
troops from the mainland of China as the war indemnity is paid.
Russia is negotiating with Japan in a friendly manner, with a view of settling the points of the China-Japan treaty that remain in dispute.
THE POSITION IN SOUTH FORMOSA.
FROM A CRRESPONDENT]
ANPING, 9th May. The Centurion, with Admiral Fremantle on board, called at Auping on the 1st on her way to Tamsni and the North. The Admiral landed and after a careful inspection of the place decided to land forty marines from H.M.S. Leander for the protection of the settlement. R.M., were landed on the morning of the 3rd The men, under the command of Lient. Wylde, and quarter. d in the house lately occupied by the German Consul. The little settlement looks like a garrison town, sentries being posted at different points and drilling being carried on every day in the compound of the British
Consulate.
The country continues to be in a very dis turbed state, and a large robbery of opium and treasure valued at $15,000, on the high road to Lokang, has intensified the general feeling of insecurity.
H.M.S. Leander is anchored off Anping.
A Peking telegram of the 3rd inst. to the N. C. Daily News, referring to the ratification of the treaty, says :-If the treaty is observed there is small chance of Government reforms, and many Chinese people preferred that the Japanese should reach Peking, as compelling a change. if the treaty is followed. The Emperor is in a There are threats already from the Chinese army
critical position on account of ceding territory, yet he is the hope of China. If the treaty had been in other terms and had not included terri-
tory there would have been no foreign complica tions. It would have been easier for the Em peror and would have better assured Chinese
reforms,
*