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clean copies of it shall be made, two in Chinese and two in German, which shall be duly signed by the Chinese and German Minister at Berlin and Peking. Each Power shall retain one Chinese copy and one German copy, and the agreement shall be faithfully observed on either side.
Dated, the 14th day of the second moon of the 24th year of Kuang Hsu. (March 6th, 1898).
H.R.Á. PRINCE HENRY IN PEKING. Preparations have been going on in Peking for some weeks past for the royal reception of Prince Henry of Prussia and especially in the German embassy, which the Baroness von Hey. king had arranged for the occasion in a princely
manner.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
those who now saw her for the first time. At the close of the interview Her Majesty distri- buted “orders" adorned with precious stones and other presents,-amongst them fans and pictures painted by her own band.
After this the Emperor himself was visited by the Prince, accompanied by his full suite and the members of the legation. The Prince handed over the presents sent by his brother, the German Emperor, and which consisted of won- derful specimens of the Berlin porcelain works, -vases of the much valued Sang de bœuf on bronze stands. The Prince sat in the seat of honour beside the Emperor, who expressed his satisfaction by repeated handshakes.
Immediately, as soon as the Prince had re. turned to his own pavilion, the Emperor replied to the visit by visiting the Prince, going on The foot from one pavilion to the other. Prince then conducted the Emperor into a small aside.room, where he had a long private conver- sation with him, the only third person present being the terman interpreter, Herr von der Goltz. Upon the Emperor leaving the pavilion, the German detachment of marines presented
arms and sounded the drums. This is the first
time that German, or indeed any European troops, have presented arms to a Chinese Em- peror.
At the close of these formal ceremonies, the Empress invited the Prince to inspect the beautiful gardens and plantations of the Wan- Chu-Shan. Thereupon His Highness and suite entered a small steam launch and were conducted to the different pavilion bordering the lake, all filled with choice works of art; among them, the painted studies of the Dowager Empress specially attracted the Prince's attention.
Baron von Heyking le t Peking to set out on the 13th inst. from Tak on board the Chinese man-of-war Chenhai to meet the Deutschland and receive the Prince. Upon landing at Taku, the forts, which had hoisted the German flag, thundered forth a salute, in which shared a Japanese gunboat and the British dispatch boat, the Alacrity. The Viceroy of Chibli, H.E. Wang Wen-shao, boarded the Chenhai, as she reached the landing stage, to welcome the Prince, who then set out for Peking in the special train built for the Dowager-Em- press, and reached Machiapu, the Peking term inus, at 3 p.m. Here Prince Henry was received by H.E. Prince Ching and the members of the Taungli Yamen, as well as by the German Le gation. Thence the Prince was carried into Peking in a special Imperial chair. On either side marched a detachment of German marines, näder Lieutenant Robert, with a martial bear ing that impressed not only the Chinese but the Ching's, which did great honour to His Ex- assembled Europeans, as a salutation from our national Fatherland. At the embassy, the Chi-cellency's chef de cuisine. Prince Ching toasted nese had erected two tents for a guard of honour Prince Henry and expressed the warm admira- during the Prince's stay. Immediately after
tion and friendly feelings entertained by the his entry presentations took place of Chinese Emperor of China for the Emperor of Germany, high officials, of the diplomatic corps, and of the
to which the Prince responded in similar terms. Germans resident in Peking. In the evening a
On the evening of this ever-to-be-remeinbered dinner, with twenty-four covers, was given by day, a dinner in honour of the Prince was given the Ambassador."
in the British Legation. Naturally the conver. sation at this dinner turned chiefly on the event of that morning and the new era now opened up in the intercourse of China with European Powers. It was such a triumph of German di- plomacy as the oldest experts had not deemed possible. Congratulations were showered upon His Royal Highness from all sides.
On the 14th of May the Prince assisted at the races and presented the German cup to the fortunate winner, Mr. Gwynne, Router's Agent. After this lunch was served in the Grand Stand, which was dressed with German colours. In the evening the whole diplomatic corps was invited to dine with the Prince at the embassy, when the band of [the Deutschland played in such style as to touch the feelings not only of the Germans present but equally those of other nationalities.
On the following morning His Highness displayed his vigour by rising at 6 o'clock in order to interview the Emperor of China at 7 precisely, in his palace of Wan-Chu-Shan. The Prince rode thither on horseback and dismounted at Niang-niang temple close by, where, with his suite, he donned his gala - uniform. Thence the party were
carried
in sedan-chairs to the charming summer palace of the Chinese Emperor,--the Wan-Chu- Shan, never before profaned by European foot. After the opening of the purple doors of the palace, the Prince and his attendant suite of military and civilians were conducted into a pavilion known as the Yi-Lan-Tien, where a Chinese déjeuner was laid out. Hence accom- panied by the LG. Minister, his Adjutant Commander Müller, and the Chief Secretary and Interpreter of the L.G. embassy, Freiherr von der Goltz, the Prince proceeded to visit the Dowager Empress.
Then followed a banquet at the Price of
This historical event is a testimony to the able work of German diplomacy, as well as to the fascination of Prince Henry's presence, such as cannot but inspire all Germans with a feeling of the Ostasiatische Lloyd by N. C. Daily News, exaltation and thankfulness.-Condensed from
THE FRENCH AT KWANG- CHAUWAN,
REPORTED INSULT TO THE GOVERNOR-
GENERAL AND ADMIRAL.
From an article in the Avenir du Tonkin we
learn that the Governor-General of French Indo-China has recently paid a visit to Kwang chauwan; the new French port in Kwangtung.
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Chinese language, and it is even said that as the boat put off from the shore to return to the ship stones were thrown by way of adieu.”
Our contemporary goes on to argue that French diplomacy has been all wrong, that the whole of the south coast from Moncay to Kwangchanwan should have been occupied, and it urges now a firm attitude. In the course of its remarks the Avenir states that the Chi- nese of Kwangtung have been incited against. the French "by the emissaries that our good friends the English have sent into the pro- vince" and that "an armed occupation has been rendered necessary by the bad faith of the local mandarins influenced by the English agents."
SHANGHAI AND THE MAIL SERVICH.
The following letter has been addressed by the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce to the Chairman of the P. & O. Company :-
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce,
16th May, 1898. Sir, This Chamber addressed the General Post Office, London, in January last, urging that it would be a very great convenience to the mercantile community of this port if the mail steamers were not despatched before noon on Tuesday, as work here on Sundays would thereby be to some extent avoided, but I regret to say that a reply has been received to the effect that "according to the statement of the contractors, the later departure of the mail steamers from Shangai, which would be neces- sary, would involve a Sunday departure from Hongkong and other disturbance of the whole Eastern and Australian services," and therefore
the desired alteration in departure from Shang- hai cannot be made.
The Chamber fail to see the necessity for a lengthened stay of the mail steamers at Hong. kong, as is at present the case, for strictly mail purposes, such stay, it appears, being for pur- poses of transhipment, a system which, if ad- hered to, should be accelerated so as to avoid what is, from the point of view of a mail con- tract, purposeless detention in Hongkong or an unnecessary early departure from Shanghai.
Under the present arrangement a P. & O. steamer leaving Woosung on Monday night.or early on Tuesday morning, and due in Hong- kong on Friday at noon (which would be 24 hours before time of departure from Hongkong). has over 80 hours for the passage to Hongkong which is frequently done by other steamers in
about 50 hours! The inconvenience caused to the mercantile community here, from whom your Company has derived liberal and -con- tinuous support, is one that is keenly felt, and which the Chamber ventures to think can at least be partially removed without detriment to your service, so that the Chamber trusts you may still see your way to arrange for the defer- ment of the departure of your mail steamer until Tuesday afternoon, which, allowing for arrival at Hongkong, will still give you nearly 70 hours for the passage and a stay of 24 hours in Hongkong.-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
E. F. ALFORD,
Chairman, The Chairman, P. & O. 8. N. Co., London.
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO,
No doubt he wished," says our contemporary, to prove, in concert with Admiral de Beau- mont, the possibility or impossibility of negotiat- ing the channel with the Vauban, On this point & prudent silence is preserved, and as it is to be supposed that this negotiation of
NEW TOWN FOUNDED. the channel would have been much spoken of The town of Gaya on an island of that name, had it succeeded we must conclude that it was
in Gaya Bay (British North Boeneo), has been The Empress received the Prince in a hall not realised. On the other hand certain facts destroyed by fire. The result has been its sub- adorned with every possible decoration of Chinese which have been carefully concealed are now stitution by a new township on the mainland to art, and an avenue of old cloisonné led to the yel- leaking out. The reception the Governor and the south of the Kabaluan river which falls low-carpeted throne upon which the Dowager Admiral met with was most singular. The into Gaya Bay. On the 8th instant. Mr. Cowie Empress was seated. Her Majesty, on whom no Chinese authorities simply abstained from all formally founded the township. It is hoped Europeanleye had ever gazed until this day,carried communication with the Western barbarians. that the town will soon become an important on a lively conversation with the Prince through It was in vain that one tried to notify them of railway centre, and commercial emporium. In the intermediary of Herr von der Goltz; and our arrival; no one could be found, for the Mr. Cowie's opinion, island settlements off the We are informed that this was not a mere inter- numerous administrative functions of the Chi-coast there are a. mistake. The extra ex- change of compliments but that, among others, nese mandarins had called them away to a dis. penditure of time and labour entailed in tran- the question of the reception by the Em-tance. Consequently there were no official shipping goods such as timber, etc., from the press, on a future occasion, of the ladies communications, and full licence was enjoyed mainland, to island ports of serious commercial of the diplomatic corps was discussed. We by a crowd of people, who acted with the more importance. At the new town, which is to are told too that the Empress, whose boldness inasmuch as no responsibility rested bear the name of Gantian, a short wharf is to Manchu headdress was covered with magni- upon them. Not only was the party that be built immediately, along side of which very ficent jewels, displayed an intelligence and landed officially ignored, but from a respect- large steamers witl be able to lie in four fathoms energy of character which greatly impressed I ful distance our sailors were insulted in the of water at any siate of the tide.—Straits Times,
!