Claims and Treaty Rights.
4.2
Crossing the lofty Ta Hsiang Ling Pass (9,300 feet), the path descends to Chungchi-Hsien, the meeting point of the main road from Tibet to China and the road from Yunnan zid the Chienchang valley (Marco Polo's Caindu). Fulin has communication with Chiating-Fu by means of the Tatu River, available only for rafts on account of the falls and rapids. There is great trade here in white wax insects, which are carried to Chiating, and also in copper from the S. and cotton and salt from the N. The route between Yachou and Ningyuan passes near the territory of the independent Black Lolos, who commit frequent depredations, especially in the autumn. After traversing the Hsiao Hsiang Ling Pass (9,800 feet) the road is cut through a gorge till near Luku, beyond which it ascends a low plateau, enters the Chienchang valley (almost surrounded by lofty mountains), and runs towards Chienehang-Fu or Ningyuan, a town with numerous pack animals. The plain between Luku and Ningyuan is well irrigated, and is noted for its fertility throughout Western China. It produces rice, poppy, cotton, tobacco, medicines, dyes, &c., together with minerals. It exports silk to Yunnan and pine boards to the N. But the chief product is the white wax insect. The people wear Tibetan and Lolo fabrics, or cottons from Hankow. Imports from the Yangtze are expensive on account of high freights and likin, and Mengtsz is said to be getting the trade owing to the use of transit passes. There is at present incessant traffic between Yachou and Ningyuan, but little between Ningyuan and Tali. (An important road con- nects Ningyuan with Huilichou, five stages, and a less frequented one connects it with Likiang). This district might well be supplied from Burma við Tali. There is little cultivation beyond Ningyuan until Hangehou. Yenyuan is the capital of a district bordering on Yunnan, rich in copper and salt and white wax insects. Carts are here used for transport. From Paiyenching to the Yunnan frontier, a distance of 40 miles, Mr. Hosie's journey occupied five days, the route traversing almost impenetrable pine-covered mountains and uncul- tivated country. Yungpei Ting is important only as the place where Burma trade by way of Tali-Fu stops. Before the rebellion a broad highway is said to have connected Tali-Fu with Ssuchuan along this route.
But it seems probable that the Chienchang valley, the inost important part of the route, has been rather overrated, and that this direct but difficult road from Tali-Fu to Ssuchuan is, and can be, of little commercial importance.
(5.) Rivalry between England and France.
Owing to the contiguity of their territories to Yunnan, England and France both have claims to share in its trade, and it is the desire of each to attract the trade of Western China generally. France has hitherto proceeded mainly through Tonkin, while England has operated from Burma and from the West and Yangtze Rivers. M. Gaston Rouvier contends that England has conquered Burma and occupied the Shan States only in order to attack China; and he asks if there is any means of preventing England from taking Yunnan except for France to forestall her. The present position of affairs is this. By the declaration between England and France of 15th January 1896 relating to Siam and other matters (Article 4), all commercial and other advantages that have been or may he conceded in Yunnan and Ssuchuan to either party shall be rendered common to both. This arrangement put the two nations on an apparently equal footing. But it has not prevented them from improving their relative positions. England has replied to the French advance upon the Mekong (which M. Brenier admits was political rather than commercial in its objects) by a re-adjustment of the Burma-Yunnan frontier and by the opening of the West River up to Wuchow. France has rejoined by prolonging the Langson railway towards Lungchow, and, what is much more important, by securing the concession of a railway from Pakhoi to Nanning. In the immediate future the contest must be on the West River.
In con- structing a line to Lungchow the aim of the French has been partly to get the direct traffic (mainly aniseed), partly to attract the trade of Kwangsi, and partly to divert the trade which passes into Yunnan and other provinces from Pakhoi. A railway from Pakhoi to Nanning, if controlled by the French, must give them a yet stronger hold over the upper waters of the West River and also give them priority in the trade with east Yunnan, south Kueichou, and
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Kwangsi. When the Chinese Government proposed at the request of the British Ambassador to open Nanning as a Treaty Port, the French "Chargé d'Affaires protested violently (telegrams 21st, 25th, and 31st January 1898), thus showing that the object of the French is to oust British trade from the Upper Sikiang. M. Brenier says plainly that if the French are to hiuder England from draining part of Yunnan by the West River, the Langson-Lungehow line must be extended to Nauning or even Pose, which is the great market of Kwangsi and feeds the whole of south Kueichou up to Ngan Chouen. He states that all cotton yarns for Kueichou go through Pose, and that at Tcheulin, a stage before Ngan Chouen, there are 25 shops doing business in cotton yarus supplied by Nanning merchants. He considers that a railway would hring Pose within four days of the port of Haiphong in Tonkin, and suppress any possible foreign competition in the regions it would traverse. According to the Customs Report on Lungchow (1897), civil engineers are engaged in sur- veying rival routes of penetration from Tonkin into China in order to report to the French Government. It is reported that French officers and a band of Annamite soldiers are exploring Yunnan on the pretext that it is the hinterland of Tonkin (Times, 21st October 1898).
At present the British are fortunate in having secured the opening of the West River to Wuchow and a tardy enforcement of transit passes. Their goods can thus be more cheaply laid down in Kwangsi, Kueichou, and Yunnan. But a French railway from Pakhoi, unless French and English goods can be transported on equal terms, will be a serious competitor with the river route, and the only possible way for England to redress the balance and save her trade is by firm insistence on the opening of Nanning and Pose as Treaty Ports.
Sauchuan.
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The French are endeavouring to improve their position in Tonkin, and Tonkin, railways are projected not only to Yunnan-Fu, but from Hanoi to Luang Yunnan, and Prabang and from Laokai to Ssumao. Although, however, the more sanguine spirits count on trade being opened up even as far as Ssuchuan and Tibet, it is hardly probable that much of the traffic will penetrate beyond Yunnan- Fu, for the opening of Chungking has given to the Yangtze routes the trade of north Yunnan. It deserves special notice that the important Lyons Com- mercial Mission (which included engineers, silk specialists, a cotton expert, and an expert in fibres) devoted attention mainly to Ssuchuan, making a thorough investigation (enquête approfondie) of its resources and particularly inquiring into the production, qualities, prices, &c., of silk. The cotton expert mentions plain and figured satinettes, printed drills, &c., as cotton goods in which the French might compete with the British. The Lyons Mission with thirteen delegates traversed over 10,000 miles, while the Blackburn Mission of three delegates (with no experts except in cotton) traversed only 4,300 miles. There appear to be many indications that France is now directing special attention to Ssuchuan and the Yangtze valley, and the necessity that England should secure a stable footing in that region becomes more and more urgent.
The French are also coveting territory on the Upper Mekong, and writers The Mekong. in French reviews strongly advocate the annexation of the territory to the N. of French Laos. A French gunboat has ascended the Mekong as far as Kenghung. England surrendered to China certain rights over Monglem and Kenghung by treaty of 1st March 1894 (Art. 5). China has already alienated a part of this territory to France in contravention of the treaty, and it has been once more agreed in a fresh treaty (4th February 1894) that neither Mongiem nor any part of Kenghung on the right bank of the Mekong, nor any part of Kenghung now in the possession of China on the left bank, shall be ceded to any other nation without previous arrangement with Great Britain.
(6.) Conclusions.
Amid many diversities of opinion about Yunnan, writers agree that no Difficulties of route gives ready access to all parts of the province. The nature of the trade. country, the bad roads, and the present modes of transport must prevent trade from penetrating far from Burma, Tonkin, or any other countries on the frontier except on a limited scale. Still less can it be expected that any important trade can take place between Burma and Ssucluan, which are 60 marches apart. A still longer transit would be necessary for goods
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