April 6, 1903
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT worse must be said of the on the ground of the establishment THE UNREST IN CHINA. ommodation, which does not enter concerned being an agency or branch of a
(2nd April) ightest degree into the thoughts of British firm. He mentions a recent case eamer owners or agents. The fact of from Hongkong in which he was able to secure We do not know whether there are many. fter is that while there is ample the reduction of a shop tax because he was readers in the Philippine Islands who
of passenger traffic to pay one or able to show that the sum demanded, was accept as gospel all that they - three well-appointed and reasonably excessive in proportion to the business bold, black type in the Manila füst passenger steamers, the whole as at done. "To have raised the question of there are they must be moments present conducted, and divided amongst agency would have been simply to invite ing news of another war by tho number of equally bad and equally "the Chinese authorities to move me to call against China, Passengers who inefficient steamers, leaves scarcely any "the firm to account for a breach of Treaty." from Manila during the last few days, indeed, profit for any. Already the continental Mr. CHENNELI: also deals with the pro-have been somewhat astonished to find their lines are beginning to see that there are visions of the Treaties regarding transit expectations in this respect disappoints some pickings to be had out of this much passes which he describes as a fertile breed. On looking through our Manila files wo Had neglected line of business, are we to waiting ground for contention, and makes sone several New York telegrama referring and see another profitable source of busi- useful suggestions on the subject which the question. The situation in China hess taken out of our hands, as in the case bave been largely adopted in Sir. JAMES says one of the 22nd inst., “has reached of the ocean passenger traffic, or are our MACKAY's treaty. On the subject of the point and it is only a matter of days when local companies before it is too late to recovery of debts due to foreigners from the Powers will again have to Intervené to make an effort, though a late one, to occupy Chinese in the interior, the Consul shows prevent further bloodshed.” It is added thất the position?
that this is not always to be accomplished reports from Washington state that there with either promptitude or case. "In have already been diplomatic exchanges on country where the general standard of the subject and it is known that active morality, as between merchant and mer preparations are already under way in the chaut regarding commercial contracts is so War Department. There is much more to singularly high as it is in China, the the same effect. In China everybody knows At the same difficulty of enforcing them by legal process this to be ridiculous. is extraordinary," he declares. There are time we cannot be blind to the fact that occasional exceptions, of course, but the there is a great amount of unrest in the Consul says that unless the debt is covered Northern as well as in the Southern pro by cargo on which the foreigcer has a lien, vinces, and it would perhaps be unwise to or by something that can be used as ignore altogether the warnings that have security, the usual experience is that the recently been given of the ominous character claim is finally written off as a bad debt. of the signs of storm and tempest in the The debtor absconds to some more or less North. inaccessible place in the interior, and there bribes the focal magistrate sufficiently to make him refrain from taking any active steps, so that in the present inefficient and corrupt state of the Chinese Courts local action is almost nugatory.
TRADE IN THE INTERIOR.
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(Daily Press, 2nd April) An exceedingly interesting and very valu able Report respecting the province of Kiangsi by Mr. W. J. CHENNELL, H.M.'s Consul at Kiukiarg, was presented to both Houses of Parliament in February. In thirty-seven foolscap folio pages of type Mr. CHENNELL has dealt with the history of the province, its population (which he estimates at between ten and twelve
While the revolt in the Tro millions) its lurge towns, central adminis- tration, finances, and its relations with
Kwang appears to be spreading, it would foreigners. Under this last heading the
seem to be really less dangerous, from Consul has much to say which shows how
international point of view, than the my- exceedingly jealous the Chinese authorities
sterious movements of Prince Toan" and are of any effort on the part of the
General TUNG FU-HSIANG. According to rumours in the North these two evil spirits foreigner to extend his operatio.8 beyond the Treaty port. Mr. CHENNELL mentions, Finally, Mr. CHENNELL, looking at the have been plotting to renew the troubles of for instance, that in December, 1901, a hopeless poverty, the universal backward. 1900, and have been steadily organising the complaint was addressed by the Provincial ness and stagnation in the midst of almost hordes of Kan-su and Shensi, and even the authorities to the Consular Body in which unlimited natural wealth, where the appli- Mongols of Alashan with the two-fold object evangelistic work by native Curistian pastors cation of foreigu capital-anxiously seeking of setting PU-CHUN, the ex-Heir Apparent,
would not only bring in was declared to be illegal and a breach of employment
on the Dragon Throne, and exterminating the Treaty, the Tuotai being directed to returns " beyond the dreams of avarice foreigners. And the reports further in- obtain from the British Consul a list of but would introduce prosperity, plet.ty, dicate that the movement has the active all natives so engaged in connection with activity, and all those elements of material support of the Empress-Dowager, notwith- British Missionary Societies with a view progress of which the country is so pitifully standing that she is professing an earnest to suppressing this form of activity through-in need, asks a question which has often desire to encourage the most cordial
"Is it necessary
relatious with the foreign ladies in the out the province. This request, and the been asked before: contention upon which it was founded, "that the foreigner, with all the re-capital. Nothing is more difficult than to could not, of course, for a moment be generating possibilities of Western entertained; but, as Mr. CHENNELL goes "civilisation, should be confined within on to point out, the authorities were on the narrow limits of a Treaty port, or firmier ground in a protest which they raised only allowed outside as the guest or last year against the establishment of "visitor or paid employee of Chinese? branch agencies by non-Chinese firms at "Would it not be better to throw down various points in the interior of Kiaugsi. "all barriers and open all the interfor Their contention, and the Consul con- "to the residence and enterprise of all ceived it to be entirely borne. out "nations ?" Mr. CHFNNELL answers the by the existing Treaties, was that no question, as we should answer it ourselves, foreigner or foreiga firm can establish a by saying that under existing or any branch in the interior away from a Treaty probable future conditions, the Treaty port port, saving the provision of the Japanese system with a rigid distinction between the Treaty of 1895 by which warehouses can be temporarily leased for the storage of the firm's goods. Mr. CHENNELL, by the way, draws attention to what we believe is a fact, that the word "temporarily in this The Freach Committee of Asia held its connection has never been authoritatively annual banquet in Paris on 21st Feb. Among the interpreted, and he makes the suggestion guests were the Ministers of Siam, Corea, and M. Etienne, Vice-President of the that it should be defined to mean
·Chamb.r, and president of the committee, was definite term," so as to include a lease of
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port "and the "interior" is of the essence of our relation with the Chinese Empire and is not lightly to be tampered with.
China
years. Where a foreign firm employe t in the chair, and there were also present at M.
native as agent, or correspondent, or salus-Senart, and Klobukowski. M. Etienne, in his an, or whatever he may be called, to du speech, said that the committee wished to business in the interior, such a person introduce Western ideas into the Far East and They is simply a Chinese trader and his establish freedom of emmeros there. shop A Chinesa shop. He has no locus had, he continued, no territorial designs. They standi-ns the ngent of a British firm. A only demanded the integrity of the Frosch Conful, Mr. ChenNELL says, is sometimes empire and reciprocal treatment burel on pacifio ideas. The Siamose Minister replie! for the asked by British merchants too btain for their foreign Ministers, expressing their thanks to Chinese representatives in the interior ex: the coinmittee for the welcome which had been emption from exactions, or other assistance,' extended to them.
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procure exact information on such subjects in China and these rumours must con. sequently be accepted for what they may be worth in the light of any accurate in- formation which may from time to time come to hand. At present, however, nothing has occurred to warrant any such statements as the Manila papers contain with reference to imediate intervention by the Powers.
THE SUPPLY OF LABOUR.
(Daily Press, 30th March.) One of the most pressing questions of the day, not only at home, but in most of the British colonies, is that of the supply of labour; and this, touching as it does im- portant considerations of finance as well as the higher instincts of race, may be said to divide the Empire into two hostile camps.
financier, anxious only for
investment for his capital, would
colonies with aliens of the working man, careful the standard of his daily exclude anyone likely to induce comp and would even go the length of ch out his brother not from quee inferiority of blood, but simpl self may be able leisure, doing for hir of labour; and for