656
1
6
There have been two affairs at which we may to some extent take pleasure. American missionaries having occupied a mission site at Hai Tao, in Huchow, and the district officials being unable to recover it, and an appeal to the United States' Minister evoking a still more unfair judgment, which the people of Huchow would not recognize, Chang Ch'un, a military officer, and Liu Teng Ju came forward and took the matter up with the Americans, and their spirit and good cause overbore the Americans and secured the return of the land occupied.
Again, the Shansi gentry, being unable to make headway against the oppressive action of the Peking Syndicate, sent a delegation in the 8th moon to Peking to negotiate direct with the British. The Wai-wu Pu appointed the former Shansi Judge, Ting Pao Chuan, to back them up, and the victory remained at last, in the 12th moon, with the Shansi men, who redeemed the mining rights of the Peking Syndicate for over 2,000,000 taels. From this one sees the comparative power and capital of the nation and of the Government.
These two cases are the only ones of the past year which can give satisfaction. The success is due to the efforts of the people. How can it still be said they are incapable?
In the 6th moon, the prohibition by the American authorities at San Francisco of Chinese children attending schools for white children being extended to Japanese children, serious trouble arose between Japan and America. America proving in the wrong, Japanese children were allowed in the schools on the score of not being of Mongolian race. Later the American Labour Union agitated to drive out the Japanese, and frequently wrecked Japanese shops and stopped their trade. International relations became more and more strained, and the United States' Government dispatched a squadron to the Pacific, and the outcome of the matter is still to be seen. Chinese Government is helpless in face of the expulsion of Chinese children from the schools, and even expressed extreme gratitude to the United States' Government for the return of part of the 1900 indemnity.
In the 9th moon the agitation about the foreign loan for the Su-Hang-Ning Railway began. The origin was the Tsung-li Yamên's blunder in causelessly yielding to others' claims, and then the Wai-wu Pu procrastinated and shilly-shallied, and not only took no notice of the Decree sanctioning Chekiangese merchants building the railway, but blindly made a Loan Agreement without reference to any one else, and thus caused a violent agitation throughout the south-east.
The Kiangsu and Chekiang Company insisted on the original scheme, and the Chinese people hurried to help by subscribing capital, and in a very short time 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 taels were forthcoming--an unprecedented occurrence, and one proof of innate patriotism; but the Wai-wu Pu, pressed by the British, was unable to think of any plan for putting things right. Although four representatives from Kiangsu and Chekiang went to Peking to thresh the question there, their idea of putting things right proved to be only hovering about, and so popular excitement ran higher than ever. This matter is not settled in principle up to the present moment, after four or five months' suspense.
The other cases where foreigners scored were when the Germans were allowed to mine coal at Tsu Ch'uan, in Shantung, and the Russians to mine gold at Ku Lun (Urga), in the Tse-tsin Khanate of Outer Mongolia, at Iliochi. The Mongol Princes of the eastern part of Tushet'u Khanate wired to have the Concession cancelled, but in vain. The French stationing soldiers at Mengtse, the American oil installation at Wuhu, the prevention by the French Minister of the project of the Lienchow gentry to build a railway from Pakhoi to the West River on the score that it would interfere with the French Railway Concession, and the Government humbly giving way to the French, are other cases in point. Again, when the Government wanted to build a railway from Hsinmintung to Fakumen, the Japanese also openly put a stop to the project, saying that if their wishes were not respected they would use force.
So at present the sphere of lines successfully put under Chinese management is extremely narrow, being solely Kiangsu and Chekiang lines and the Kwantung portion of the Canton-Hankow Railway; and of these the former is objected to by the Wai-wu Pu over the Su-Hang-Ning case, and as to the latter, continual party strife rages.
From this it is evident that China is surrounded by foes, whose only anxiety is lest they slacken in their efforts to block her future business. Besides, the passing of mining rights into the hands of foreigners, as the Japanese at Tayeh, the French at Tachiehlu and Kueichou, is hard to enumerate.
Kirin-Kalgan Railway.
The Japanese and Chinese engineers should complete the survey of the line shortly, and will then return to Mukden to prepare an estimate of the cost. The question of raising a loan will then be discussed. It is stated that work will be begun in April, but there are said to be serious differences of opinion between the Chinese and Japanese engineers, each claiming the right of control over the workmen employed on the line.
Motor-car Service in Mongolia.
The proposal to establish a motor-car service in Mongolia has already been sanctioned. Capital to the amount of 100,000 dollars has now been raised, and two cars of 24 h.p. are to be purchased with a view to establishing a service between Kalgan and Urga, each passenger to be charged 30 taels. Two new cars are to be purchased every six months.
The Company applied for a monopoly of motor-car services in Mongolia, and offered to carry the Chinese mails free from Kalgan to Urga. The Board of Communications have objected to the monopoly being granted, and have declined the offer to carry the mails on the ground that it might lead to disputes with the Russian Post Office.
The Peace Conference.
Lu Chêng Hsiang, the Chinese Delegate to the Peace Conference, who returned to Peking recently, has presented a secret Memorial to the Throne giving the results of his observations at the Conference and during his stay in Europe. It is reported that he takes a very pessimistic view of the result of the Conference, and considers that the mutual jealousies among the Powers are so strong and the desire for peace so half-hearted that serious results are bound to ensue within the next few years. He considers that China's only chance of being able to hold her own in the coming struggles lies in the reform of the Administration and the establishment of a constitutional Government.
Chinese Fleet.
Some time ago the Chinese Minister in London was directed to make contracts for the construction of men-of-war, and it is stated that Wang Ta Hsieh, the Commissioner to England to study the Constitution, has now been directed to assist the Minister in this matter.-[Extract from Chinese press.]
Reorganization of the Chinese Navy.
It is reported in official circles that the reason for delay in proceeding with the reorganization of the navy is not lack of funds, but that the Empress-Dowager hesitates to take any steps in the matter because so few of the Imperial clansmen and other Manchus are qualified for posts in the navy.--[Extract from Chinese press.]
Proposed Parliament,
The Hunanese gentry have requested the Censorate and Board of the Interior to present a Memorial on their behalf praying for the establishment of a Parliament elected by the people.
The Grand Canal.
A Memorial has been presented by the Board of Communications with reference to the proposed improvement of the Grand Canal so as to render it navigable for steam-launches. The reports of the various provincial authorities concerned are to the effect that the canal could not be made navigable for steam traffic except on certain sections and at great expense. They recommend, however, that certain improvements shall be carried out which will facilitate the navigation of the canal by junks. Extract from Chinese press.]
Residence at Shanghae for Nanking Viceroy.
It has been proposed that the Viceroy should reside at Shanghae for a certain period every year in order to facilitate the arrangement of international questions.
1
656
1
6
There have been two affairs at which we may to some extent take pleasure. American missionaries having occupied a mission site at Hai Tao, in Huchow, and the district officials being unable to recover it, and an appeal to the United States' Minister evoking a still more unfair judgment, which the people of Huchow would not recognize, Chang Ch'un, a military officer, and Liu Teng Ju came forward and took the matter up with the Americans, and their spirit and good cause overbore the Americans and secured the return of the land occupied.
Again, the Shansi gentry, being unable to make headway against the oppressive action of the Peking Syndicate, sent a delegation in the 8th moon to Peking to negotiate direct with the British. The Wai-wn Pu appointed the former Shansi Judge, Ting Pao Chuan, to back them up, and the victory remained at last, in the 12th moon, with the Shansi men, who redeemed the mining rights of the Peking Syndicate for over 2,000,000 taels. From this one sees the comparative power and capital of the nation and of the Government.
These two cases are the only ones of the past year which can give satisfaction. The success is due to the efforts of the people. How can it still be said they are incapable?
In the 6th moon, the prohibition by the American authorities at San Francisco of Chinese children attending schools for white children being extended to Japanese children, serious trouble arose between Japan and America. America proving in the wrong, Japanese children were allowed in the schools on the score of not being of Mongolian race. Later the American Labour Union agitated to drive out the Japanese, and frequently wrecked Japanese shops and stopped their trade. International relations became more and more strained, and the United States' Government dispatched a squadron to the Pacific, and the outcome of the matter is still to be seen. Chinese Government is helpless in face of the expulsion of Chinese children from the But the schools, and even expressed extreme gratitude to the United States' Government for the return of part of the 1900 indemnity.
In the 9th moon the agitation about the foreign loan for the Su-Hang-Ning Railway began. The origin was the Tsung-li Yamên's blunder in causelessly yielding to others' claims, and then the Wai-wu Pu procrastinated and shilly-shallied, and not only took no notice of the Decree sanctioning Chekiangese merchants building the railway, but blindly made a Loan Agreement without reference to any one else, and thus caused a violent agitation throughout the south-east.
The Kiangsu and Chekiang Company insisted on the original scheme, and the Chinese people hurried to help by subscribing capital, and in a very short time 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 taels were forthcoming--an unprecedented occurrence, and one proof of innate patriotism; but the Wai-wu Pu, pressed by the British, was unable to think of any plan for putting things right. Although four representatives from Kiangsu and Chekiang went to Peking to thresh the question there, their idea of putting things right proved to be only hovering about, and so popular excitement ran higher than ever. This matter is not settled in principle up to the present moment, after four or five months' suspense.
The other cases where foreigners scored were when the Germans were allowed to mine coal at Tsu Ch'uan, in Shantung, and the Russians to mine gold at Ku Lun (Urga), in the Tse-tsin Khanate of Outer Mongolia, at Iliochi. The Mongol Princes of the eastern part of Tushet'u Khanate wired to have the Concession cancelled, but in vain. The French stationing soldiers at Mengtse, the American oil installation at Wuhu, the prevention by the French Minister of the project of the Lienchow gentry to build a railway from Pakhoi to the West River on the score that it would interfere with the French Railway Concession, and the Government humbly giving way to the French, are other cases in point. Again, when the Government wanted to build a railway from Hsinmintung to Fakumen, the Japanese also openly put a stop to the project, saying that if their wishes were not respected they would use force.
So at present the sphere of lines successfully put under Chinese management is extremely narrow, being solely Kiangsu and Chekiang lines and the Kwantung portion of the Canton-Hankow Railway; and of these the former is objected to by the Wai-wu Pa over the Su-Hang-Ning case, and as to the latter, continual party strife
rages.
From this it is evident that China is surrounded by foes, whose only anxiety is lest they slacken in their efforts to block her future business. Besides, the passing of mining rights into the hands of foreigners, as the Japanese at Tayeb, the French at Tachiehlu and Kueichou, is hard to enumerate.
Kirin-Kalyan Railway.
The Japanese and Chinese engineers should complete the survey of the line shortly, and will then return to Mukden to prepare an estimate of the cost. The question of raising a loan will then be discussed. It is stated that work will be begun in April, but there are said to be serious differences of opinion between the Chinese and Japanese engineers, each claiming the right of control over the workmen employed on the line.
Motor-car Service in Mongolia.
The proposal to establish a motor-car service in Mongolia has already been sanctioned. Capital to the amount of 100,000 dollars has now been raised, and two cars of 24 h.p. are to be purchased with a view to establishing a service between Kalgan and Urga, each passenger to be charged 30 taels. Two new cars are to be purchased every six months.
The Company applied for a monopoly of motor-car services in Mongolia, and offered to carry the Chinese mails free from Kalgan to Urga. The Board of Communications have objected to the monopoly being granted, and have declined the offer to carry the mails on the ground that it might lead to disputes with the Russian Post Office.
The Peace Conference.
Lu Chêng Hsiang, the Chinese Delegate to the Peace Conference, who returned to Peking recently, has presented a secret Memorial to the Throne giving the results of his observations at the Conference and during his stay in Europe. It is reported that he takes a very pessimistic view of the result of the Conference, and considers that the mutual jealousies among the Powers are so strong and the desire for peace so half- hearted that serious results are bound to ensue within the next few years. He considers that China's only chance of being able to hold her own in the coming struggles lies in the reform of the Administration and the establishment of a constitutional Government.
Chinese Fleet.
Some time ago the Chinese Minister in London was directed to make contracts for the construction of men-of-war, and it is stated that Wang Ta Hsieh, the Commissioner to England to study the Constitution, has now been directed to assist the Minister in this matter.-[Extract from Chinese press.]
Reorganization of the Chinese Navy.
It is reported in official circles that the reason for delay in proceeding with the reorganization of the navy is not lack of funds, but that the Empress-Dowager hesitates to take any steps in the matter because so few of the Imperial clansmen and other Manchus are qualified for posts in the navy.--[Extract from Chinese press.]
Proposed Parliament,
The Hunanese gentry have requested the Censorate and Board of the Interior to present a Memorial on their behalf praying for the establishment of a Parliament elected by the people.
The Grand Canal.
A Memorial has been presented by the Board of Communications with reference to the proposed improvement of the Grand Canal so as to render it navigable for steam- launches. The reports of the various provincial authorities concerned are to the effect that the canal could not be made navigable for steam traffic except on certain sections and at great expense. They recommend, however, that certain improvements shall be carried out which will facilitate the navigation of the canal by junks. Extract from Chinese press.]
Residence at Shanghae for Nanking Viceroy.
It has been proposed that the Viceroy should reside at Shanghae for a certain period every year in order to facilitate the arrangement of international questions.
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.