August 2, 1902.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MARCUS ISLAND.
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heartiness. There is no lack of funds here, . negotiations long before the time when it is as at Shanghai, to tecessitate a curtail- hoped that the actual work can be be com- ment of the festivities. The native popula-menced. The question is one to which the tion, it is true, has already testified its Hongkong Government might profitably loyalty by illuminating houses and shops devote some attention. on the originally appointed night, but there can be little doubt that a second opportunity of decorating Chinatown will be not un- popular. The European residents, on the other hand, have not yet bad their chance, and there seems no reason why they should now hold back. The Clock Tower has been dismantled, for some reason, but we trust that the European population will not abandon its original intention of making the city look as gay, as possible for one right in honour of the King who is its ruler.
RAILWAYS TO CANTON.
town lies nearly forty miles below the commencement of the rapids and is acces- sible all the year to junks of considerable size, its opening would seem a distinct gain to commerce. Hukou, or Hckou, lies twenty-four miles east of Kiukiang, and is chiefly known as a market for black tea. Its nearness to Kiukiang may have militated against its establishment as a Treaty port. Chengtu, the capital of the province of Szechuen, is one of the most notable towns of China in many ways. Even in his time MARCO POLO found it "a rich and noble city," and it is beautifully situated, well Luilt, and elcan. The inhabitants of Cheng- tu have an excellent reputation-not an unimportant point, as there, were 800,000 of then when last enumerated. The trade of Tibet and Keko-Nor comes to Chengtu, principally in the shape of furs, drugs, and musk. That Great Britain has been unable
(Daily Press, 28th July.) to secure its opening is a great pity, and The arrival on the spot of the Americau at the same. time a less to China herself. superintendent of the Canton-Hankow Hsuchou, otherwise known as Suifu or Railway, as anticipated in the letter of our Hsuifu, lies also in Ezcchuen, is about 180 Canton correspondent to-day, points to a miles south-cast of Chengtu, and controls very speedy commencement of work upon the Yunnan-Szcchuen trade, Leside being this line, the most important railway so far itself in a salt and coal-mining and gold- planned in China. It also seems to indicate washing district. It is to be regietted that conclusively that the recently telegraphed this town, tco, must apparently still remain rumour of the selling out to a Belgian closed; but the Chinese have evidently syndicate of the American-China Develop fought hard against opening more new ports ment Company's interest in the railway than they are absolutely obliged to, and the was false. The news will certainly be concession of five now wrung from them is received with feelings of gratification and at least a step in the right direction. relief in Hongkong. The construction of a kome of the five are not looked upon as railway joining two such great centres as very valuable by many authorities, but, Hankow and Canton cannot but have most as the London and China Express wrote stimulating effects on local interests, while in anticipation last month, "cach one the fact that the Company constructing it "carries with it a certain immunity from is American, and not one possibly hostile to baneful Chinese practices, which should British commerce, is distinctly a matter assuredly lead to the extension of foreign for congratulation. It is premature, before "trade, even if few or none foreign firms the actual work on the line has begun, to become established at ports, a result we speculate at what date the two ends of the "bave seen at some of the more recently-line will be in communication, and local "opened Treaty ports." The fight for fresh Treaty ports is long and arduous, and the results are not always gratifying, but the progress is gradually leading up to what European residents must all hope for, the throwing open of China and the expan- sion thereby of international commerce,
HONGKONG AND THE CORONATION,
(Daily Press, 28th July.) We wrote a few days ago that the Corona- tion ceremony must be shorn of much of the representative character with which it was intended that it should be clothed. This was written, of course, with reference to the celel ration at home, but it seems that it is not only at home that the postpone- ment of the ceremony will bring about a lcstening of display. We lead in a Shanghai paper the letter of a corres- pondent who complains that the com- mitice in charge there of the arrangements for celebrating the Coronation intends to make a very much poorer show than would have been the case if the event had taken place on the criginal date. Iack of funds, says this corres ordent, is the reason for thus cutting down expenses. Now in Horgkong alto the impression bas gained gound that the ceremonial for the 9th August is to be of a far less imposing character than would have been the case last month. There appears to be no official wariant for this impression, but perhaps it is the silence so far of those concerned which has encouraged it. The speedy Iublication of the revised programme will therefore be welcome, for it would be extremely unfortunate should 2 mis understanding rob the celebration of its
obstacles are sure to arise to check progress. But it is to be trusted that it is only a question of a few years Lefore the project becomes an accomplished fact and the best benefits of Western civilisation are carried into new parts of China. It is generally recognised that, in the future education of China, railways must play a most important part, and hone look more promising than this line which is to take its start from the great city of Canton.
(Daily Press, 30th July.)
It seems that there is after all to be no international question about the small island which, after remaining unknown to almost the whole world, has suddenly sprung into prominence. The possession of Marcus Island apparently will not be allowed to become a subject of contention between Japan and the United States of America, the latter Power never having shown anxiety to see the "Stars and Stripes" hoisted over the island and being now unwilling to engage in contention over it. As the sup- posed discoverer of Marcus Island, Captain ROSEHILL, is not known to have abated his claims (which from the account which we published yesterday certainly appear strong), there may yet be negotiations about the ownership, but the New York Press, as our London correspondent informs us, is not sympathetic to Captain ROSEHILL'S side of the case, from which we may assume that the question does not arouse public feeling. REUTER'S telegram of the 25th instant, indeed, already showed this. Japan, on the other hand, has taken more energetic action, no doubt on account of the intention of working the island as a Government concern. Geographically con- sidered, Marcus Island would appear most naturally to Lelong to Japan, if to any nation, for from the latest information as to its position it is not far from the Bonin Islands, over which Japan's sovereignty is of course undisputed. It has been customary to regard the Bonin Islands as the easternmost of Japan's possession (south of the main islands, that is), but there are other islets east of the Bonins, which it would not be surprising to see Japan claim should they prove to have any commercial value. We do not imagine that any other Power would care to dispute the possession of such specks of land, undesirable as places of residence and not accessible except at certain periods of the year.
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THE ANGLO-CHINESE PRESS* AND CHINA.
It is only natural that with the expecta- tion of a speedy commencement of the
(Daily Prees, 30th July.) Canton - Hankow Railway, speculation The Japan Mail some days ago felt impelled should also be busy in the matter of the rebuke "the extreme grossness of Kowloon-Canton line, and even that it language and invective habitually employed should, as it appears to have done, cause by Shanghai and Hongkong journals when certain would-be enterprising 1eople to discussing the acts of the Chinese Court start buying land in the neighbourhood of and of Chinese high officials." The im- the expected terminus at Kowloon. Unfor- mediate cause of the Mail's strictures, tunately, however, it seems that the scheme however, was not a remark about any is still as much in the air as ever, without | Chinese dignitaries, but some certainly any prospect of a speedy materialisation. foolish headlines which were put over The building of such a line had been urged REUTER's telegrams about the movements repeatedly in the past ly various people, of Prince KOMATSU, in a Shanghai paper.* including ourselves, who look forward to The Shanghai journal, feeling that REUTER the growth of Hongkong on the mainland, gave considerable space to the doings of but there has been no indication of any the Japanese prince, to the exclusion of official sy nipathy. The construction of a other news, expressed this feeling in head- line northward from Canton would more lines above the telegrams which were intended than ever render it desirable to provide the to be humorous. The Japan Mail, dealing quickest possible connection between the with the question, said that it was incom capital of Kwangturg and our own possession parably more important that English ou the mainland. It may be argued that journals printed in Shangbai and China there is ample time before the Canton- should be persuaded to observe the ele- Haukow line takes definite shape to build mentary rules of politeness in speaking of balf a dozen Kowloon-Canton lines. But the Sovereign and of the high officials of this is not really so. As arrangements have the land whose hospitality these newspapers first to be made with the Chinese Govern-enjoy." We need not dwell on the fact ment, and everyone here is well aware what that in the island of Hongkong at least we delays this implies, it is urgent to begin do not enjoy the hospitality of China,
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