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represent them. These arrangements were undertaken by Commandant Chang-pin-kao, to whom great credit is due.
Of some thirty cases left, in about a third places and men had not been identified from the Chinese names given. The Deputy Commissioner has since inserted Shan as well as Chinese names in his complaints, and this procedure may facilitate settlements. Of the remainder, some cases were said to have been settled directly with the complainants; in others the accused were in British territory. It was arranged that some cases should be settled in accordance with Kachin custom, and the remainder were put back for various other reasons.
The Tengyueh Ting on arriving at Man-ai sent in a dozen complaints against Bhamo district, and protested because none of them were settled. He also proposed that if the Bhamo cases were not settled in three months they should be written off, but naturally I could not agree to the proposal.
Chen Kang. The present Taot'ai (Ch'in Shu Sheng) is a member of the "Hsin Tang," which may be called the "Young China" party. Its chief aim is to be against the foreigner in everything, and its second is frankly revolutionary. The Taot'ai is unscrupulous and untrustworthy. When he was Prefect of Ch'u Ch'ing (lat. 25° 31′; long. 103° 43'), meetings were openly held in that town applauding the murderers of En Ming, the Anhui Governor, who was assassinated last year.
Ch'in Taot'ai received his present appointment in consequence of a signal act of discourtesy. The Yunnan Governor-General invited him to be present at a dinner to which he was inviting His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu. Ch'in refused on the ground that the latter was a foreigner! The Governor-General was so impressed that he made him acting Taot'ai here. He bullies the General and the Ting by telling them he will report them to the Governor-General if they do not do exactly as he wishes, and he gives out that he receives daily private telegrams from his Excellency, which everybody knows is untrue.
It is worth noting that all the Chinese members of Sir Robert Hart's Customs staff here belong to the "Hsin Tang."
Wenchow.
Ch'i Hsu, who was Prefect at this port in 1900, has again been appointed to the same office.
He was considered mainly responsible for the attacks on converts and the destruction of missionary property in the Wenchow district in 1900, and was fined 5,000 dollars as a punishment. He has since reformed, and is a friend of the missionaries, who believe in his sincerity. The facts that his son has been taught English and that his grandson is engaged to be married to the daughter of an Englishman would seem to bear out the opinion that his anti-foreign ideas have changed.
Chinese Press.
Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway: Loan Agreement.
The "Eastern Times," after publishing the text of the above Agreement, contains in its issue of the 15th March an article entitled "Complete Defeat of the People."
In spite of the vaunted negotiations between the Government and the people, the Government, as things have turned out, has scored a double victory; it has avoided the appearance of harshness, but has got its own way just the same. Similarly, with regard to the people's defeat at the hands of the foreigners, since the publication of the Agreement it is seen that the people can do no better than the Government, and the foreigners score a double victory; they get their way, but can say that the loan has not been forced upon the people.
But, although the nation is utterly routed, defeat has been turned to victory before now, and there is hope that by success in future cases the disgrace of the present incident may be wiped out.
In the same issue this journal, reviewing the net results of all the negotiations, makes the following remarks:-
1. The arrangement by which this line is to connect with the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, which, of course, will connect with the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze line, is like threading fish on a willow twig (for convenience in handing to others), the Provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang representing the fish (to be eaten).
2. The Agreement calls the railway an Imperial undertaking, while the Memorial calls it a private (mercantile) undertaking, i.e., for abroad it is Imperial, for home it is private. Why are the Chinese Commercial Companies thus hidden from sight like a man's mistress and not allowed to appear?
3. Much has been said as to the loan and the railway being kept separate. But the stipulations in the Agreement that the Engineer-in-chief shall be British, that the surplus revenue of the line shall be deposited with the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation, and that the railway accounts shall be kept in Chinese and English are all inconsistent with this statement.
In fine, the Agreement is dubbed an Agreement for the mutual hoodwinking of natives and foreigners, of higher and lower classes.
Thibet.
The "Shun Tien Shih Pao" of the 25th March contains the following as regards Thibet:-
Chang Ta Chien, the Assistant Amban, has telegraphed to the Grand Council, asking them to present a Memorial on his behalf with reference to the present state of affairs in Thibet. The following are the main points alluded to:---
1. The object of the Viceroy of India in having trade marts opened is really to encroach on Thibetan territory, and we must take our precautions beforehand.
2. The Thibetan people are gradually coming to regret their former attitude, and are desirous of returning to our allegiance. The only thing to be feared is that the Dalai Lama may prove troublesome, and it would be desirable to have the administration of the country put in order before his return.
3. Chang Ta Ch'en proposes that over 100 cadets, who have finished their course in the military academies, should be sent to Thibet to assist in reorganization of army.
4. He also makes the following suggestions with regard to the administration of Thibet:-
That the Dalai Lama should be given a higher Chinese rank, and should be paid a salary on a liberal scale.
That a special Board for the administration of Thibetan affairs should be established, having at its head a Prince or other officer of high rank and several subordinate officials.
As there is at present no army in Thibet, he suggests that some thousand men should be transferred there from Chihli,
He suggests that the funds required for military and police purposes, the development of mines, reclamation works, banks, &c., amounting to over 3,000,000 taels, should be furnished by the Board of Finance.
The Memorial has been sent for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Army Board. A Memorial on Thibetan affairs has also, it is stated, been submitted by the Amban, Lien Yu. He recommends that the project of making Thibet a province of China should be postponed for the present, but states that, owing to the excessive pretentions of the Dalai Lama and the insubordinate attitude of the Thibetan officials, the administration of the country is very difficult. He suggests that a special Commissioner should be sent to Thibet to organize the Government of the country. He complains that the 200,000 taels, for which he applied some time ago, have not been sent by the Board of Finance, and states that if Thibet is to be made into a province 200,000 or 300,000 taels will not be sufficient for the purpose.
Political Societies and Meetings.
Regulations for the control of societies and public meetings have been drawn up by the Bureau for the Study of Constitutional Reform (Hsien Cheng Pien Ch'a Kuan). These regulations refer more particularly to societies and public meetings having a political object, and provide that when it is proposed to establish such a society, or hold a public meeting, notice shall be sent to the local authorities or police. Soldiers, police officers, teachers, students in colleges, boys under 20, and all women, are not permitted to become members of a political society. Secret societies are forbidden, and the local authorities should always have the right to dissolve any society or disperse any public meeting which they consider dangerous to the public peace. Membership of a
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2
3
654
represent them. These arrangements were undertaken by Commandant Chang-pin-kao, to whom great credit is due.
Of some thirty cases left, in about a third places and men had not been identified from the Chinese names given. The Deputy Commissioner has since inserted Shan as well as Chinese names in his complaints, and this procedure may facilitate settlements. Of the remainder, some cases were said to have been settled directly with the com- plainants; in others the accused were in British territory. It was arranged that some cases should be settled in accordance with Kachin custom, and the remainder were put back for various other reasons.
The Tengyuch Ting on arriving at Man-ai sent in a dozen complaints against Bhamo district, and protested because none of them were settled. He also proposed that if the Blamo cases were not settled in three months they should be written off, but naturally I could not agree to the proposal.
Chen Kang. The present Taot'ai (Ch'in Shu Sheng) is a member of the "Hsin Tang," which may be called the "
Young China"
party. Its chief aim is to be against the foreigner in everything, and its second is frankly revolutionary. The Taot'ai is unscrupulous and untrustworthy. When he was Prefect of Ch'u Ch'ing (lat. 25° 31′; long. 103° 43'), meetings were openly held in that town applauding the murderers of En Ming, the Anhui Governor, who was assassinated last year,
Ch'in Taot'ai received his present appointment in consequence of a signal act of discourtesy. The Yunnan Governor-General invited him to be present at a dinner to which he was inviting His Majesty's Consul-General at Yunnan-fu. Ch'in refused on the ground that the latter was a foreigner! The Governor-General was so impressed that he made him acting Taot'ai here. He bullies the General and the Ting by telling them he will report them to the Governor-General if they do not do exactly as he wishes, and he gives out that he receives daily private telegrams from his Excellency, which everybody knows is untrue.
It is worth noting that all the Chinese members of Sir Robert Hart's Customs staff here belong to the "Hsin Tang."
Wenchow.
Ch'i Hsu, who was Prefect at this port in 1900, has again been appointed to the same office.
He was considered mainly responsible for the attacks on converts and the destruc- tion of missionary property in the Wenchow district in 1900, and was fined 5,000 dollars as a punishment. He has since reformed, and is a friend of the missionaries, who believe in his sincerity. The facts that his son has been taught English and that his grandson is engaged to be married to the daughter of an Englishman would seem to bear out the opinion that his anti-foreign ideas have changed.
Chinese Press.
Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway: Loan Agreement.
The Eastern Times," after publishing the text of the above Agreement, contains in its issue of the 15th March an article entitled "Complete Defeat of the People."
In spite of the vaunted negotiations between the Government and the people, the Government, as things have turned out, has scored a double victory; it has avoided the appearance of harshness, but has got its own way just the same. Similarly, with regard to the people's defeat at the hands of the foreigners, since the publication of the Agree- ment it is seen that the people can do no better than the Government, and the foreigners score a double victory; they get their way, but can say that the loan has not been forced upon the people.
But, although the nation is utterly routed, defeat has been turned to victory before now, and there is hope that by success in future cases the disgrace of the present incident inay be wiped out.
In the same issue this journal, reviewing the net results of all the negotiations, makes the following remarks:-
1. The arrangement by which this line is to connect with the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, which, of course, will connect with the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze line, is like threading fish on a willow twig (for convenience in handing to others), the Provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang representing the fish (to be caten).
2. The Agreement calls the railway an Imperial undertaking, while the Memorial calls it a private (mercantile) undertaking, i.e., for abroad it is Imperial, for home it is private. Why are the Chinese Commercial Companies thus hidden from sight like a man's mistress and not allowed to appear?
3. Much has been said as to the loan and the railway being kept separate. But the stipulations in the Agreement that the Engineer-in-chief shall be British, that the surplus revenue of the line shall be deposited with the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation, and that the railway accounts shall be kept in Chinese and English are all inconsistent with this statement.
In fine, the Agreement is dubbed an Agreement for the mutual hoodwinking of natives and foreigners, of higher and lower classes.
Thibet.
The "Shun Tien Shih Pao" of the 25th March contains the following as regards Thibet:-
Chang Ta Chien, the Assistant Amban, has telegraphed to the Grand Council, asking them to present a Memorial on his behalf with reference to the present state of affairs in Thibet. The following are the main points alluded to:---
1. The object of the Viceroy of India in having trade marts opened is really to encroach on Thibetan territory, and we must take our precautions beforehand.
2. The Thibetan people are gradually coming to regret their former attitude, and are desirous of returning to our allegiance. The only thing to be feared is that the Dalai Lama may prove troublesome, and it would be desirable to have the administration of the country put in order before his return.
3. Chang Ta Ch'en proposes that over 100 cadets, who have finished their course in the military academies, should be sent to Thibet to assist in reorganization of army.
4. He also makes the following suggestions with regard to the administration of Thibet:-
That the Dalai Lama should be given a higher Chinese rank, and should be paid a salary on a liberal scale.
That a special Board for the administration of Thibetan affairs should be estab- lished, having at its head a Prince or other officer of high rank and several subordinate officials.
As there is at present no army in Thibet, he suggests that some thousand men should be transferred there from Chihli,
He suggests that the funds required for military and police purposes, the develop- ment of mines, reclamation works, banks, &c., amounting to over 3,000,000 taels, should be furnished by the Board of Finance.
The Memorial has been sent for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Army Board. A Memorial on Thibetan affairs has also, it is stated, been submitted by the Amban, Lien Yu. He recommends that the project of making Thibet a province of China should be postponed for the present, but states that, owing to the excessive pretentions of the Dalai Lama and the insubordinate attitude of the Thibetau officials, the adminis- tration of the country is very difficult. He suggests that a special Commissioner should be sent to Thibet to organize the Government of the country. He complains that the 200,000 taels, for which he applied some time ago, have not been sent by the Board of Finance, and states that if Thibet is to be made into a province 200,000 or 300,000 taels will not be sufficient for the purpose.
Political Societies and Meetings.
Regulations for the control of societies and public meetings have been drawn up by the Bureau for the Study of Constitutional Reform (Hsien Cheng Pien Ch'a Kuan). These regulations refer more particularly to societies and public meetings having a political object, and provide that when it is proposed to establish such a society, or hold a public meeting, notice shall be sent to the local authorities or police. Soldiers, police officers, teachers, students in colleges, boys under 20, and all women, are not permitted to become members of a political society. Secret societies are forbidden, and the local authorities should always have the right to dissolve any society or disperse any public meeting which they consider dangerous to the public peace. Membership of a
1
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