286
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[May 6, 1905.
THE MACKAY TREATY IGNORED. | do better than_to quote Mr. E. 8. LITTLE | numerous, and promising to utilise an ever
(Daily Press, 2nd May.) Mr. EDWARD S. LITTLE, writing to our
Shanghai contemporary, says: "I make here formally the charge against the Chinese Government that it has not only failed to carry out fully any single important clause of the Mackay Treaty, but that China is actively opposing in essential particulars both its spirit and letter." Similar state- ments in the London Times led to interpolations in Parliament, when EARL PERCT stated, according to REUTER, that the Government were not in receipt of information to support such statements. This unfortunate reply has been seized upon as an admission of ignorance. Whether the Government is ignorant, or indifferent, or both-and plenty of China-landers these things do steadfastly assert-Mr. E. S. LITTLE says sufficient to show that the government has no business to be ignorant. If anyone will mention any clause of the famous treaty of 1902-3 that is now actually in full operation, Mr. LITTLE says he will be It is happy to acknowledge his error. scarcely necessary to run through the sixteen clauses and as many sub-sections of the supplementary commercial treaty before replying to such a suggestion. He would be a bold man who would claim that any foreign agreement with China is or ever bas been "in full operation." The first article, relating to the obtaining of Draw- back Certificates from the Imperial Customs, is the one most nearly approaching the China has cor- standard of satisfaction. tainly taken no steps to "provide a uniform national coinage," and latest reports are that the authorities are strangely reluctant even to think about the promise contained in Article Two. If they are doing anything at all, it must be in deliberate and violent opposition to their pledge, for "coins of all sorts and conditions from some sixty mints are being constantly multiplied and debased, and to such an extent that a financial crisis is one of the probabilities of the future. Instead of one national coinage there are now dozens. The Government is robbing the people and debasing its coinage,' With regard to China's solemn engagements in respect of mining fights and regulations, we have written too re- cently on the subject to warrant repetition; but we may note that Mr. LITTLE is at one with us in declaring that China has taken every step possible to make mining by foreigners impossible. He says: have myself seen an official proclamation -giving a Chinese company permission to mines but containing a clause that the permit would be forfeited if any foreigners were admitted to the company and for- bidding the employment of foreign capital even in the nature of a loan." Regulations were published, and a trans- was specially made for lation of them the "
Directory and Chronicle;" but it is unnecessary to say that those regulations were very far from being of a sort "to attract foreign as well as Chinese capital [vide Article Nine]. The pity of it is that should acceptably revised regulations ever be forthcoming, they may be too late. The concluding words of the Artcle clearly show that the new' rules will not be retrospective, and in the meantime, sweeping concessions have been granted right and left by the provincial authorities. Mr. LITTLE's view is that comparison of promise and performance in this matter, reveals an insult.
"China has gone out of her way to insult the Treaty Powers" By far the greater portion of the treaty is devoted to taxation; and here we cannot
"
"I
19
ouce more.
He says:
increasing proportion of the American "All kinds of improvements were promised, grown fibre. In these parts of Australis Sir James Mackay was confident the Chinese that lie within the cotton belt (roughly
31
WBS
The
Government meant to institute reforms. I forty degrees each side of the equator) we
are told that "there is unquestionably venture to affirm that Chinese taxation is now worse than it has ever been. Since the Mackay considerable area suitable as regards soil Treaty has been signed things have gone from bad to worse, taxation has increased and foreign and climate, and large enough to provide for the present requirements of the British goods are not respected as they formerly were. Transit pass 8 are often utterly ignored and cotton industry. Queensland cotton goods taxed by likin officials quite regardless of grown in steadily increasing bulk until the extra payment of the half duty. Employés the subsidy was withdrawn, and then of British firms are arrested, imprisoned, and stopped. There was a temporary revival fined and redress is difficult or impossible to i 1890-97, due to fresh government in- obtain. British Consular archives, if opened to the public, would disclose many instances inducements; but the real value of the two proof of this assertion. Let the Government experiments lay in the proof that marketable cotton could be grown, and in the experience make the Tientsin Treaty effective and we
gained as to the most suitable soils. shall be much better off than now."
chief obstacle still in the way of extensive Australian cotton culture is to be found in the restrictions against the importation of cheap labour. Mr. BOTTOMLEY does not, therefore, expect the Queensland farmers under present conditions to regard cotton as more than an adjunct crop, for small five to ten acre plots, unless the Government cares to grant a bonus or to fix a minimum price. The same factors will influence_the enterprise in the northern territories where it is now being encouraged, with, in addition, the question of transport. There is here an indigenous cotton which yields, even in its wild or semi-cultivated state,” fibre of a fairly good quality; and he recommends initial experiments with this rather than with foreign varieties. Long stapled varieties of foreign cotton have, however, been successfully acclimatised at Palmerston. Along the northern coast, the Commissioner found a great deal of land admirably adapted for cotton culture," the conditions being all that could be desired.
All these things are not easily concealed, and we cannot believe the British Cabinet to be so ignorant as, say, EARL PERCY. We cannot think that the word "indifferent" is apt, either; and must fall back upon some theory that China is a political bogie at Downing Street; and that in order to enjoy the peace and quiet of a laissez aller or maskee policy, they are willing to sacrifice their few business compatriots who have been waving the Union Jack for them in these parts.
AUSTRALIAN COTTON.
grew before.
"
39
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11
(Daily Press, 3rd May.) The present position and prospects of cultivation in the Northern cotton Territory of South Australia is the subject of a long report by Mr. JOHN BOTTOMLEY, of Palmerston, for a copy of which we are indebted to the Minister for that Territory: Along with the report appears a coloured map of the world's "cotton belt," which
December, during the summer shows large areas on the north and east of the island continent devoted to experimental rains, would be the proper time for planting, We fear that the colouring has the ripening beginning in May and June, culture. not been very carefully done, for surely it when it is always cool and dry up there. incorrect to describe the whole of China, The population of this Northern Territory barring a narrow strip bordering on Tibet, is composed of 900 Europeans and 2,700 experimental cotton Asiatics, mostly employed in mining, pearl- as devoted only to
Whites get # growing? However, the report is of more ing, and cattle raising. importance; and its opening words are well minimum of eight shillings a day, the Asiatics seven shillings. Cheaper calculated to emphasise the value of the from five to
labour is necessary. "I therefore respect- efforts of those who are endeavouring to make a plant of cotton grow where none fully suggest to your Government that the At the present day. Mr. Federal Parliament be asked to sanction the introduction of Indians-fellow-subjects BOTTOMLEY reminds us, cotton occupies more attention in the commercial world of the Crown-to a portion of the Northern Territory, under such restrictions as are than any other product. It is certainly now the most important fibre which enters enforced in the importation of coloured into the commercial life of the textile in labour for pearl-shell fishing." It is quite dustry; and there is probably no texture pathetic to follow Commissioner BOTTOMLEY in his further pleading, that these Indians more universally worn than cotton. long as its price, relative to that of other "could be confined solely to growing cotton and such other tropical products in which fibres, remains as at present, there seems to be no limit to its production and con- it is impossible to employ European labour." sumption." During recent years consump-Pathetic, because we know how unreasonably tion has always equalled production, and if deaf to all such guarantees are those afflicted one be increasing faster than the other, that by the bogie of coloured competition. We one is consumption. Supply will
would greatly like to see such a development overtake demand until the production is
take place, and its success (given cheap Japan consumes labour) would be largely assured by the enormously increased. practically the whole of the Chinese crop, absence of the hurried picking frequently which amounts to thirty-six million pounds.'
necessary in America, by the absence of insect pests, and by the presence of such an Obviously it was wrong to indicate China as
Southern adjacent market for the staple as is Japan, a merely experimental farm. America, which exports two thirds of its importing £7,000,000 worth annually. crop, has some millions of bales more to dispose of than it had in 1903. But this increased production of the raw material, supposing that it were likely to continue over several seasons, does not take away the object and occupation of the British Cotton Growing Association. It was not only the temporary shortage of raw cotton that called that body into existence three years ago, but the recognition of the fact that American mills are becoming more
*
So
never
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RUSSIAN CREDIT. (Daily Press, 4th May.) Most people will continue to cling to and main. "the evidence of their senses, tain that Japanese credit is superlatively good because the whole world is rushing to buy her paper, and that Russian credit is bad because even with onerous terms Russia is finding difficulty in raising a new loan.