538
THE COMMERCIAL ATTACHE.
་
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
December 31, 1898.
(Daily Press, 28th December). As a nation we are prone to resent, and rightly so, any state interference with trade; nor, čas
a rule are we inclined to depend much upon state help in our commercial relations with other countries; but when we make up our minds that such state as sistance is both desirable and necessary it then becomes every individual's business to see that we get it and are not put off with some substitute by a department of our Government which, after all, has its being to further the progress of the people whose it is. Some time back there was a growing feeling that something must be done to bring the manufacturer and also the buyer of Chinese produce at home in to closer relationship with the needs of his Chinese buyers in the one case and the source of his supplies in the other. The Blackburn Commission and Lord CHARLES BERESFORD'S Mission are both the outcome of this feeling. It was also strongly urged that we should have a commercial attaché in China to gather information and to generally conduct a Bureau of Trade. The Government, feeling forced to do something in the face of this strong expression of public feeling, appointed the Consul-Gen- eral in Shanghai to take up the duties of commercial attaché in addition to his other work, paying him an extra £100 a year for doing it. There is probably no one who would refuse to acknowledge that it is impossible for one man to conduct both offices in a satisfactory manner, no matter how industrious he might be; and it is not difficult to see which duties are the most likely to be shelved in the pressing needs of every day work. The deduction to be drawn from this state of things is that we should first of all decide, do we or do we not require a commercial attaché in China? and if the reply is in the affirmative as it undoubtedly is, from the fact that the who has tried to ascertain from them how island, and they collect the Customs revenues
experience of not a few merchants both at who understands business in its practical home and alroad to read throngh a Consular | details, and whose sympathies and associa- trade report and see that the import of tions are with trade? Theoretically the woollens fell off 20 per cent., or the amount latter would be the preferable, but we are of cotton yarn increased by 10 per cent. at once confronted with the difficulty of over the previous year, and to accept the finding a man possessing the qualifications fact as being of a certain amount of interest
we have mentioned and at the same time from an abstract point of view, but prae- knowledge of the Chinese language,a tically valueless. He (the merchant) has without which his capacity for usefulness sold as inuch as he can and the fact of the would be confined within narrower bounds increase or decrease cannot affect him in tlian is desirable; and, furthermore, a mer- any way; and, moreover, if he is of an en- cantile man thoroughly suitable for the post quiring turn of mind and has time to go would probably do better for himself in through all the trade reports he will pro- trade than by accepting a Government bably find that the increase or decrease as appointment with a fixed salary. The choice the case may be. is perhaps due at the seems therefore to be confined to the Con- special port reported on to the raising or sular Service, and fortunately there are lowering of provincial taxation on that trade several members of that body who have route. In the case of buyers of exports the given evidence of aptitude for the work. difficulty of obtaining the required informa- Mr. HOSIE's interest in the products of tion frequently stops what would otherwise China is well known, and his report on prove profitable business. We now have Formosa isued some years ago and his before us a letter which has been following more recent report on the products and re- one of our Consuls about China for the best sources of Kwangsi indicate him as an part of a year, as it was known by the firm eminently suitable mau for the proposed at home that the Consul in question was office. Mr. BOURNE has also contributed familar with, and, in fact, had inade a study largely to our knowledge of the products of Western China. Some of the younger of the product about which they were
members of the Service are following in desirous of getting information. Had this firm been able to write to such a department the steps of these pioneers and would be as we suggest should be established, the further encouraged to do so if ultimate latest and fullest information on the subject appointment to the Bureau of Trade would have been at once placed at their dis-held before them as amongst the prizes
If the Bureau should be posal, with the result that buyer and seller the Service. would have been brought together at least established it is evident that the appoint.
ments in connection with it bine months earlier than was actually the
appointment was only made in deference to strong public representation-then see that we get a suitable man and pay him a suffici- ent salary. This would be more in accord- ance with our traditions than the present state of things, which is a disgrace to the Foreign Office who conceived it and the people in whose interests he appointment was made.
In using the term commercial attaché we perhaps commit the fault of using a French word where an English one would do, but it is by no means our idea that a French interpretation should be put upon the duties attached to the post in question. What is required, and what we should insist on having, is a man thoroughly conversant with China and its language and with a for the subject he is to take up. natural bent He should have his head quarters at one of the principal ports-Shanghi would with- out doubt be the most suitable and be in close correspondence with the various Consuls throughout China, over whom, in commercial matters, he would exercise cer- tain control, sufficient at least to ensure the researches and efforts of those gentlemen being directed into the right and most pro- fitable channels. All trade reports would be sent to him and a summary of the im- portant points, as far as trade is concerned, made from them and placed, in a complete and readable form, at the disposal of mer-
case.
mea-
The Customs Returns do in a sure supply information such as that re- quired by the firm above mentioned, but they cannot, from the nature of things, take the place of the returns which a commercial attaché would quickly have available for public information. The Customs Returns, valuable as they are, yet leave a good deal to be desired, as anyone can testify
much of (say) Szechuen produce is an export to a foreign country, how much an export to Hongkong, and how much domestic trade. One of the first duties of the officer appointed to the new department would be to summarize these Returns and show at a glance what was an export and what an import; to this he would add information, obtainable from other sources, showing the
chief producing or buying centre of each. Produce of all kinds would to a large extent occupy his attention, but it would not be confined to the mere compiling of statistics.
As an
"official broker" his services would be invaluable. Nor need produce alone be dealt with; railway and mining concessions, the erection of public works in China as affording a scope for the profitable invest ment of British capital, would all be within his sphere.
who have shown special aptitude and cannot go by order of seniority.
by selection from among be made.
JAPANESE KULE IN FORMOSA.
(Daily Press, 27th December.) The progress of Japanese rule in Formosa has up to the present point proved disap- pointing. The Japanese have occupied the
an administer the government in
the towus, but thei: authority is not respected outside urban limits. Banditti swarm in the country, and they are powerful enough to terrorise the peaceful inhabitants. Trade languishes because there is no security for property, and the agriculturists and planters only raise limited crop because they do not care to sow that others may possibly reap the harvest. The Government is just strong enough to tax the peaceable inhabitants and to make laws which are at present un- welcome to the Chinese, but they are not strong enough to repress disorder; they can give no adequate protection against the dis- affected in the hill districts, who with more cr less success maintain a guerilla warfare with the troops, set all authority at defiance, and make the lives of the industrious dwell- ers in the valleys a burden to them. The We will not trespass on the reader's Japanese evidently have no special genius time and patience any longer by argu- for colonisation; they more resemble the ments which are a foregone conclusion. French than the English in their methods. The need for a commercial attaché exists; They have yet to discover that a system an attempt has been made by the Foreign red tape and officialism will not pacif Office to supply the want, and it has failed. country, nor lead to the development It now remains for us to see that the remedy of its resources. So far the Tokys Govern- is applied by the creation of a separate de- ment do no seem to heve practised any partment and the appointment of a man to selection in their colonial officials. Nor do fulfil the duties required in it, The Cham- they appear to have encouraged any settle- bers of Commerce, both at home and in the ment by Japanese in Formosa. They have East, might with advantage give serious simply planted bodies of officials and troops attention to this matter. An important in the island without taking any effectual to put down brigandage and make
|
chants and manufacturers at home, who in point presenting itself for decision at the accepted and acknowledged.
their turn would be able to supply informa-outset would be the principle on which the tion and make suggestions, confident that in doing so their communications would receive attention and prompt reply, which under the present system is impossible. It is the
most of the few Japan- who have sought the island purposes of trade or explora have returned to their own country
selection of the attaché should be made. Meantime Should we go to the Consular Service to find⠀⠀ ese a man for the post, or try to secure one who for has had a thorough commercial training, tion