8
00
Via Narin.
Via Irkeshtam.
Brought forward
Fouds. 1.281
Roubles. 18,010
Carpets
Sal-ammoniac
Woollen sacks
Hair ropes or cords
Felt hats
Fur hats or caps
Corals
Clover seeds
Medicinal herbs
Alum
Pouds. 1,227,379 41 2,745
Roubles. 1,626,045 420
64,980
208
1,831
350
39
1,300
118
77,209
43
240
74
2,040
511
2,958
320
750
Toilet white paint
28
715
Common soap
545
2,319
Toilet articles
6 funts.
Other goods
[15
35 550
••
181
Total
1,400
18,745
133,237
1,939
1,817,191
IMPORTS to Kashgaria from Russia in 1905.
تھا
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[13057]
No. 1.
92
[April 23.j
SECTION 1.
22,320
3,000
2,081,216
706
706
497,236 29,366
526,602
(No. 1.) Sir,
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received April 23.)
Hanoi, March 8, 1907. IN my despatch No. 7 of the 24th December, 1906, I gave a summary of the speech of M. Broni, then Acting Governor-General, at the meeting of the "Conseil Supérieur" of Indo-China. I have now the honour to report that a further meeting of this body took place in Hanoi at the end of February under the presidency of M. Beau, the Governor-General. This meeting was rendered necessary by the fact that the Budget for 1907 could not he definitely fixed at the last Assembly, a telegram having arrived while the "Conseil" was sitting, from the Minister of the Colonies, disapproving of the Budget presented, and insisting on a reduction of the estimated revenue and a corresponding reduction in the expenditure to be effected on the personnel. The changes involved in this adjustment having been made, the "Conseil Supérieur" reassembled in extraordinary session on the 21st February.
The first words of M. Bean in bis opening speech (which was entirely devoted to financial matters) came as a pleasant surprise to the public. As may be seen from my despatch quoted above, M. Broni at the last meeting did not take a very encouraging view of the financial situation of the country, and announced that the deficit at the end of the year (he was speaking on the 14th December) would probably amount to 2,500,000 dollars. M. Beau began by referring to this, and stated that in France at the Ministry it was feared that even this sum would be exceeded. After speaking of the apprehensions which this prospect raised in France, which appre- hensions he had not himself shared, M. Beau announced that the Budget for 1906, which was thus expected to close with a deficit of over 2,500,000 dollars, will actually close with one of less than 800,000 dollars. This figure, he says, has been carefully and conscientiously worked out, and there is no room for error.
It certainly appears somewhat extraordinary that there should be so large a difference in estimates made within little more than two months of each other. M. Beau explains that certain items which could really only be known in January were considerably under-estimated; that a credit of 630,000 fr. on account of the Chinese indemnity had been forgotten; and, finally, that sufficient allowance had not been made on account of the savings resulting from the rise in the exchange rate of the dollar. Malicious persons say that M. Broni, who has retired on a pension upon the abolition of his post as "Secrétaire-Général," deliberately presented matters in their most discouraging aspect for the purpose of discrediting M. Beau's administration. This, however, appears incredible.
The debit side of the Indo-China account is now presented by M. Beau as follows:-
Viâ Narin.
Vià Irkeshiam
Pouds.*
Cotton tissues, unbleached
13
Roubles.
338
Pouds.*
Cotton tissues, dyed and printed
190
8,175
4,948 33,466
Roubles,
130,440 1,368,678
Adrianople tissues
12,862
459,695
Cotton yarn, unbleached
988
Cotton yarn, dyed and printed
1,613
60,815
Woollen gouds (cloth)
Matebes
Sand sugar..
Other goods
160
10,620
817
12,900
2,208
13,248
76
2
Total
205
8,588
57,067
In transit from China-
Silver, in bars
Various goods
Total
VALUE of the Credit Rouble at the Kashgar Bazaar in 1905.
January
9 tenga 40 pool.†
February
9
45
July August
10 tenga 05 pool.
10
07
32
March
#
46
September
10
26
サラ
35
April
10
BL
October
10
22
"T
"
May June
10
02
November
10
09
31
5
+3
10
08
December..
10
"
00
13
9 tenga 39 pool average.
Dollars.
Deficit from Budget of 1905
522,826
Balance of Indo-Chins subvention towards the expense of building the
Yunnan Railway
2,997,568
Estimated deficit from Budget of 1906
800,000
Total
4,320,394
0
* 1 poud 36-112 lbs.; 62 pouds 1 tou (approximate).
+ By the normal rate, the tenga, containing 50 pools, is equivalent to 10 kopelts.
بوو
possesses
Against this the "caisse de réserve of the "Budget général bonds of a value of 5,423,830 dollars, leaving a surplus of assets over liabilities of 1,103,436 dollars.
M. Beau went on to enumerate the various alterations which had been made in the new Budget, but these only present a local interest. The Budget for 1907 fixes as the amount of both receipts and expenses the sum of 31,298,000 dollars (about 3,560,000l. at the present rate of exchange).
It may be of interest to record M. Beau's remarks upon the Yünnan Railway. He recalled that the sacrifices which the Colony had agreed to in 1901 for the construction of the line were two :--
1. The payment of a capital sum of 12,500,000 fr. (500,0007).
2. An annual subsidy of 3,000,000 fr. (120,000l.) for seventy-five years.
[2472 %-1]