CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
At the annual meeting of the chamber, held on the 5th instant, the Hon. T. H. Whitehead then proposed the following resolution, which was unanimously carried:
October 6, 1906.] observatory, calling the attention of said Gvernment especially to the scandalous alarm which, according to him, the alarming pre- dictions of typhoons sent out by this observatory and published in the newspapers of the neigh "The members of the Hougkong Gen boring colony frequently caused. The imme-eral-Chamber of Commerce desire to coavey diate effect of this accusation was the order given to the Rev. Father Jose Algae, S. J.. the by the Secretary of War of the United States expression of their extreme regret and that from that time all notices typhoons sent dissatisfaction at the unjustifiable attack made by telegraph from Manila to points outside, upon the Reverend Director of the Manila of the Ph lippine Archipelago should be Observatory and his colleagues by the director suspended.
of the Hongkong Observatory, and to the con sequent stopp ge by the American Government of the telegraphic meteorological warnings from the Philippines. The members desire to place on record their high appreciation of the very valuable servicos at all times rendered by the Directors of the meteorological department of the Manila Observatory to the mercantile and shipping community in Hongkong and China and their hope and expectation that in a very short time full justice will be done the Directors of the Manila Observatory by the acknowledg meat of the immense practical value of their labours in the past for the pab ic benefit and the cause of science, and the restrictions recently placed upon them being speedily removed.
The indignation which this act caused in the press of Manila and Hongkong, in marine circles and mercantile communities, and in general in all the inhabitants of the Far East, the curious reader may see in a collection of docaments entitled "The meteorological service of the Manila observatory vindicated, and rehabilitated", which was published in Manila about the middle of the present year (1899).
The Chamber of Commerce of Hongkong protested vigorously before the colonial government against the suspension of the announcements of typhoons from Manila, 80 contrary to the maritime and commercial interests of the Far East, in view of which the government of Hongkong addressed an official communication to the military governor of the Phi ippine Islands requesting the revocation of the order prohibiting the announcements of typhoots, as the director of the Hougkong observatory had not been authorized in any way for the request made on his own responsibility to the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, against the will of his own government and contrary to the welfare of the colony.
The governor general of the Philippines granted the petition of the colonial governor of Hongkong, and under date of April 3 the director of this observatory received an official communication in which said order was revoked and he was told to continue sending out from the islands his notices of typhoons which were so much desired in Hongkong.
In this way, thanks to the unanimous testimony of public opinion and especially to the att tude taken by the Chamber of Commerce of Hong- kong, the meteorological department of the anila observatory was reinstated in the esteem of the Government of the United tites which has begun to support this institution, recogniz. ing the same official character which the Spanish Go ernment gave it in 1884.
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British trade is only, however; on a par with her attempted monopoly in Manchuria, only feebly and partially thwarted by the weak and vacillating policy of the Government at home. It is curious to observe the methods by which Japan is endeavouring to centre in her own hands the effectual control of the whole of the trade of the Pacific. She has been seeking to establish at home a gigantic series of monopolies, only one of which, but that the most important, is that of the railways. This is, of course, a matter for Japan's own consideration, only as it is ultimately to be paid for out of British pockets it is a fair subject for British comment. At best, politically the policy is dangerous. But another, and even less defensible method is to be found in her wholesale subsidation of steamers and ship- ping generally, which forms an essential part of her policy. She has been endeavour- iḍing by such means to gain control of the entire carrying trade of the Pacific. True, Germany has herein set her an example, though on a small scale, but what Germany has been doing in a small way Japan has been essaying on a wholesale scale to the
It only remains for me to convey to you and your colleagues the thanks of this chamber and of the whole commercial community of Hong kong for the good service rendered them by the prompt and timely warnings sent by you ever since the establishment of cable com munication between Hongkong and Manila, and which We can not doubt have been the means of saving many lives and much valuable property. I must add in conclu- sion, that it is the hope of the chamber that the supply of this useful information will soon be resumed.
I have the honour to be, sir,
your most obedient servant,
R. M. GRAY, Chairman.
The Rev. JosE ALGUE, S.J., Director, Manila Observatory.”
MORE ABOUT JAPAN IN KOREA.
access to Korea.
(Daily Press, 3rd October.) Special information from Korea caused us on Sept. 24th to mention the manner in which Japan has succeeded while pretending to open up the country, in blocking outside The same, report mentions that about the
We are advised that same time a high official of the British Fleet already she has been throwing out feelers at Hongkong requested Admiral DEWEY to
with regard to establishing a differential re establish the broken cable, "if he did tariff there in favour of herself; if not of not wish to make himself responsible for altogether abolishing the duties. Korea, of the loss of life and property which would course, is committed by treaty to a tariff, doubtless result from the lack of telegraphic and without the consent of the contracting advices of typhoons from the Manila parties such a course would be manifestly Observatory." It also mentions, without illegal; but Japan has been permitted on suggesting the Consul's reason or reasons, such easy terms to assume what she professes that the American Consul at Hongkong to be merely a protectorate, but which in asked that the warnings should be sent to reality far more nearly approaches actual him in the same way as was done under annexation, that she conceives there will be the Spanish regime. There is a piece of little difficulty by taking gradual steps evidence, however, which will have still towards that end and calming down any greater weight in Hougkong, and which expressions of disapproval that may from some of the speakers at the Legislative time to time be raised. The steps she has Council on Sept. 27th might have over-recently been taking towards monopolising looked. What the Chamber of Commerce thought then they are kely to think now.
LE
Hongkong General Chamber
of Commerce, Hongkong, April 8, 1899, Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your
letter (with inclosures) of the 7th ultimo in which you inform this chamber that, in con- sequence of the Director of the Hongkong Observatory having addressed the Weather Bureau of the Government of the United States of America in very unfavourable terms relative to the Manila Observatory, accusing the Directors of sending sensational typhoon warnings to the newspapers in Hongkong." instractions have been given you to discontinue the dispatch of typhoon warnings to any place outside the Philippines.
Your letter was considered at the meeting of the general committee beld on the 2 th ultimo, when it was resolved to address the Hongkong Governmenton the subject before taking action, and copies of the letter with the replies received are now incloegd.
no small disturbance of her own revenues. Germany has little debt to hamper her expansion, while Japan has already heavily mortgaged her finances. We have already spoken of the manner in which these shipping subsidies have been made use of to interfere with the opening of Manchurian trade; but the amounts paid to the steamer lines do not in these cases end with the direct subsidies but are given on the understanding that in all cases the freights shall be preferential,. in many cases as much as fifty per cent; and even in some instances to guaranteeing losses. Our informant has also spoken of the practice of the Japanese Government in directly financing Exports, which by means of the banks and other large undertakings it has been doing on a large scale at the rate of four per cent. It was by such means that while the Govern ment was making promises to the British Government that it was by every means endeavouring to open up the country, and was desirous of nothing so much as the Open Door
it was, (in a way we have already accounted for with strict impartiality) flooding the country with its own goods. This, from the British mer. chant's point of view, was bound to look fishy; and he is not to be blamed if his judgment be a little harsh. Four per cent was of course a lower rate than private merchants elsewhere had been paying for accommodation, but his explanation of this was that the money thus used "to hinder British trade", had been " gently abstracted from British pockets". The British mer chant naturally hates to see British capitalists supplying his enemy with
the opening trade of Manchuria afforda very clear forecast of her intended financial policy for the future. Japan at the moment enormous garrison in is maintaining an Korea, out of all proportion to the necessities of the case should she intend only to exercise her "protectorate". This fact, and ber attitude towards the people and government of that country are sufficiently plain evidence were other wanting that her intention is As ber conduct in the simply to annex. peninsula has been directed to the exclusion of foreign trade; and has been commercially unfriendly to Great Britain there is hardly a decent plea wherewith to appeal to the British capitalist for help. The number and the cost of the Korean garrisons is studiously concealed in the last budget, and it is only by visiting the country itself that the enormous cost can be even approximately guessed. The practical exclusion from Korea of
专属
ammunition; but on all sides it is a matter
of business. If one be less patriotic than another, it will be perhaps the capitalist. Loans do not follow the flag"; they follow high interest.
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JUDGING CHINA.
(Daily Press, October 4th.) Yesterday we quoted some remarks by a contemporary which in varied forms we have frequently made before. Their general purport may be gathered from the comment that "it is one of the commonest habits of foreigners to speak and write in sweeping terms of all their Oriental neighbours as all supremely benevolent and ill-used, or as all rapacious and cruel ". This criticism, while just, cannot be accepted as it stands. Commentators striving to be honest and conscientious soon find that if they view