April 22, 1897.|
THE CHINESE POSTAL SERVICE.
[EMORIAL FOR ITS ABOLITION BY THE
VICEROY OF: CANTON.
The following is a translation of a memorial presented to the Throne by H.E. Tan Chung- lun, Viceroy of Canton -
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
postal service must be regarded as an indispen- sible addition to the revenue, I beg to promise that I will do my best to find by some other means a sum equal to that amount, so that the revenue will be the same without the postal service.
COMMITTED TO PRISON FOR
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
305
THE TERRITORIAL DISPUTE BETWEEN PORTUGAL
AND CHINGAL
THE ISLAND OF DOM JOAO.
We translate from the Echo Macaense the following article, which appears bear some evidence of official inspiration.-
We congratulate ourselves and our fellow- pute between the Government of Macao and citizens on the amicable termination of the dis- the Viceroy of Canton with reference to the island of Dom Joao. The incident, which at disturbing the usual tranquil monotony of our first appeared to possess no importance, came near life. Thanks, however, to the prudence of the parties has determined a conflict which for a two Governments a solution satisfactory to both time became critical. It will be convenient to give an outline of the history of the case.
nation to establish colonies on the coast of
Although Portugal was the first European.. China, although amicable relations existed between the two Governments for three centuries and the Portuguese flag had flown hundred years, it was only in 1887 that for over the fortresses of Macao for more than three the first
between the two Governments. The Lisbon..
time a treaty was signed protocol of the 26th March, 1887, was of the Imperial Government of China in which the first document signed by a representative "China confirms perpetual occupation and Government of Macao and its dependencies by Portugal, as any other Portuguese possession." But neither this document nor the treaty of defined what were the dependencies of Macao the friendship and commerce which followed. it occupation of which China confirmed and which Portugal promised never to alienate without China's consent. This was a difficult point that was within a hairsbreadth of wrecking the laborious and prolonged negotiations that, commenced at Macao between His Excellency in 1886, were afterwards continued at Lisbon, Thomaz de Sousa Roza and Sir Robert Hart where the protocol was signed, and then trans- ferred to Peking. After a tedious delay of five months with the Tsung-li Yamen the Portu- postponing for further negotiation the delimita. guese negotiator got over the difficulty by yét tion of Macho and its dependencies. Accordingly Article 2 of the treaty was worded as follows:-
{
Although the postal service is in itself a trifling. T. Sercombe Smith (Acting Paisne Judge) gave In the Supreme Court on the 15th April Hon. thing, it bears rather hardly upon the people judgment in an action in which Sunder Singh A good many complaints have been raised respecting it, its existence is quite against the sued Chenk San Hop and another for 8700 due law, and the revenue derived from it is insigni-sented the plaintiff and Mr. G. C. C. Master on a promissory note. Mr. J. Hastings repre- ficant. Out of consideration for the con- venience of the people, I humbly beg Your appeared for the defendant. His Lordship Majesty to exercise your power to abolish the 12th August, 1895, the defendant Cheuk said-The case for the plaintiff was that, on it. The postal service was allowed to be established on the recommendation, of the San-hop signed with the name and chopped Tungli Yamen. It is under the direction with his chop, San-hop, Tsang-kee, a promis- of the Commissioners of Customs at the Treaty that interest at the rate of 3 per cent. a month sory note for $700; that it was orally agreed ports, and all the regulations, which are modelled after those of foreign countries, were framed should be chargeable; that the contents of the by Sir Robert Hart. When the regulations note, which was written in English, were were brought into effect at the beginning of explained to defendant by a solicitor's clerk; the first moon, the feeling of the people was passed from the plaintiff to the defendant; that that a sum of $679,in notes and silver-dollars much excited and many merchants went to the the plaintiff, the defendant, an Indian watchmen various Yamens to ask the officers to abolish called Mana Singh, in the employ of the Sani- the service. It has been decided that every tary Board, and the solicitor's clerk who wrote letter not exceeding two mace and five candareens is to be charged two cents as. and signing of the note, which was witnessed by the promissory note were present at the making postage. Such charge, I admit, is reasonable, Mana Singh and the clerk; that the defendant but the postage for a letter weighing two mace and six candareens is to be increased produced the blus paper on which the note was to four cents, and if there is more weight more
drawn up; that defendant had regularly paid postage is to be charged. This additional $21 a month as interest until two months ago; charge is not moderate. Moreover, people oftendant made default in paying interest; and that this action was brought because defen- quarrel about the balance, which might be that the difference between $700 and 8679 was improper, and they often make a great retained as interest for the first month. disturbance when an exchange between The case for the defendant was that he signed copper coins and silver coins takes place, and chopped the above promissory note under for they dispute about the weight and the market value of the silver coins. People were
the impression that it was a note for $100 in formerly allowed to deliver letter and transact renewal of a promissory note for $100 once business at their own convenience and for their Singh; but Sunder Singh, the plaintiff, was not made by his now deceased mother to Mana own benefit, but now if one letter is smuggled present at the time of the making of the pro- a cruel fine of fifty taels is imposed and if a letter which contains articles other than the missory note; that he took the promisory note letter is discovered a fine of five hundred taels made by his mother to Mana Singh, who tore is imposed. A person of the lowest class being sued on was explained to him, he was told that up; that, when the promissory note now fined fifty taels or a person of the middle class it was a promissory note for $100; that Sunder five hundred taels would be alike ruined. There Singh's name was not mentioned and that a sum has been no such oppressive law for the last of $700 was not referred to; that he did not bring two and a half centuries. The money derived from the fine is to be granted to the excise and did not have the paper stamped; that the blue paper on which the note was written ficers as a reward. The excise officers will he has paid to Mana Singh interest at the rate therefore pay great attention to the searching of 4 per cent. a month on $100, such interest of personal baggage for illicit letters, and the being credited to Mana Singh in the monthly passengers, seeing their things scattered about, milk account rendered by defendant, who supplied become very angry, and the Canton people, Mana Singh with milk. In addition to plead being notedly pugnacious characters, a serious ing the general issue, defendant. gave written disturbance resulting possibly in loss of life notice of two special defences, viz., frand and might easily occur. As the Commissioner want of consideration. under whose direction the postal service is is a
The law. would not foreigner, and if the people get so angry as to stir presume fraud, but does presume that con- up trouble, the local officers would find it difficult duly drawn up promissory note. The onus sideration has passed upon the making of a to protect him. Thus not only is the revenue
In view of this article it was evident was therefore, on the defendant, who did not that the island of Dom Joao, which was one of hampered, but there is likewise great danger deny his signature and chop, to prove that the dependencies of Macao claimed by Portugal, to the public peace. I know China is much
this promissory note drawn up in due form should continue as it then was without alter embarrassed in her financial affairs and there
was obtained by fraud and was made foration. But, the treaty having been signed on are many debts outstanding. We ought to exercise our utmost power therefore to raise
no consideration. Had he discharged this onus? The narrative of the plaintiff and his money. If we could create a new source of witnesses constitutes a well devised mosaic of revenue which would bring in one hundred thousand dollars or more a year it might be complicated detail in which it appears difficult to detect a flaw. So far as could be foreseen, a of some use, but the revenue derived from the uniform pattern was obtained. But the fore- establishment of the postal service is paltry.
sight of even crafty Indians and unscrupulous solicitor's clerks has a horizon; and the horizon in this case had been too limited. The source of that piece of blue paper was not sufficiently skilfully arranged for, that piece of blue paper is the cloud no smaller than a man's hand which has formed into a rain-cloud and obliterated with its deluge the colours of the mosaic. His Lordship did not believe Sunder Singh and Mana Singh when they said that defendant produced the piece of Lue paper, and he did believe defendant's denial on this point. Judgment would be for the defendants and under section 23 of Ordinance 12 of 1893 Sunder Singh and Mana Singh would be com- mitted to prison for three months for contempt of court. A stay of judgment was granted on the application of Mr. Hastings, on security for appearance being given.
During the first moon the postal revenue collected in Canton amounted to only 1,070 dollars, in Chin-chow to 290 dollars, in Pakhoi to 130 dollars, and in Kin-chow to about 100 dollars, the total sum being only about 1,500 dollars. . The busiest places in China are Shanghai, Hankow, and Canton. If the postal revenue in Canton is so small, the amount col lected in the other places can be easily estimated. China has hitherto treated the people with kind- ness and often hundreds of thousands of dollars are distributed to the sufferers from famine or other distress. Though China is now in great want of money, yet it is useless to care for such gmall revenue as that derived from the postal service, which causes great inconvenience to the people. If that small sum of about ten thousand taels per annum derived from the
***China confirms in its entirety the second the perpetual occupation and government of article of the protocol of Lisbon, relating to Macao by Portugal.
pointed by both Governments shall proceed "It is stipulated that Commissioners sp- to the delimitation of the boundaries, which shall be determined by a special convention; but so long as the delimination of the bound aries is not concluded, everything in respect to them shall continue as at present, without. addition, diminution, or alteration by either of the parties."
-
the 1st December, 1887, China in February, 1888, disturbed the status quo agreed upon by. ordering the construction of a guard-house on the island of Dom João for
accommodation
of half-a-dozen Chinese soldiers told off to be stationed there. The Government of Macao energetically protested against this at the time, an officer being sent to the Viceroy of Canton on the subject by the Secretary-General, then- Acting Governor Senhor Costa Duarte, but nothing was done.
Years passed without anything fresh occur-i ring, but during the administration of H.E. Senhor Horta Costa, in January, 1896, the Chinese soldiers of the guard on the island of Dom Joao began to c cause annoyance to the villages of the island opposite Taipa Fert, disturbing the tranquillity of the poor people, who were accustomed to look to the protection of our soldiers whenever they were attacked by the pirates who infest, these districts. It was then, and when there were also rumours that the Germans intended to anner, the island of Lappa, that the Governor of M Macao thought it prudent