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occupied space in the native press, probably grateful for some topic of actual news, out of all proportion to other subjects. The debates are attended by reporters from all the leading papers in Peking, and the speeches of members are chronicled at great length, though not in extenso. The best accounts of these debates appear in the " Northern Times," which is the organ of Mr. Lei Fen, a provincial delegate from Kiangsu, who has already made himself a great reputation as the leading orator in the Senate.
The struggle, which was inevitable, but of which the first active expression was the incident on the 9th November, as mentioned in Mr. Max Müller's despatch No. 413 above referred to, after simmering for some two weeks in the columns of the press, which duly reported that a certain grand councillor had stated à propos of the chief than the members of incident of the 9th, that he would rather meet a "Boxer the Senate, broke out again into active expression in the Senate on the 22nd instant. On the previous day edicts had been issued which embodied views in variance with the previous findings of the Senate on the subjects in question. The Senate moved that the grand councillors be impeached for disloyalty to the Throne, since they failed to advise for the good of the nation. The grand councillors are reported to have replied to the censure of the Senate that their signatures on decrees were derived from an ancient custom dating back to the times of the Emperor Ch'ien Lung (1735-1795), and that they were not responsible for the contents of these edicts. They are stated to have adopted an attitude of contemptuous indignation towards the threatened impeachment, declaring that were such impeachment made, either it would be treated with silent contempt or the Senate would be dissolved. Although a native paper has stated that the impeachment, which was undoubtedly drawn up, was presented on the 1st December, it is more probable that it was shelved, on reconsideration, by the Senate, and nothing has at any rate oventualised. The native papers have dropped the subject, and the Grand Council, though possibly more amenable, as evidenced by later decrees, continues its non-attendance of debates.
In connection with the Senate, it is worthy of note that a statement has appeared in a native paper to the effect that foreigners are most anxious to obtain introductions to provincial members of the Senate. Also, that a further article has appeared praising the capacity of this class of member in comparison with that of the special representatives of the various Government offices that attend the sittings on behalf of the Government. The sympathy of the press in the struggle with the Government has undoubtedly been with the Senate.
Opium.
The anti-opium agitation as directed against the import of Indian opium by the Chinese National Anti-Opium Society has been accorded the fullest hospitality in the columns of the "Peking Daily News." Long columns of correspondence on the subject have appeared in its pages, and the doings of the society have been recorded at some length. The paper, however, has refrained from comment on the question. Among the vernacular papers, the "Chung Kuo Pao "--which, as noted in previous press summaries, is not a very reputable paper of anti-foreign and anti-official tendencies-- has been the main supporter of the society. It has published a laudatory article on the work of Mr. Thwing, the American secretary of the society, and ever since its formation was recorded in its columns of the 15th November, the paper has paid considerable attention to the society's doings. The telegrams sent to papers and societies in England and America have been invariably duly noted, not only in the
'Chung Kuo Pao," but in other native papers,
The only other extracts of interest under this heading are :----
1. A statement that the Chibli Provincial Assembly has passed a resolution
forbidding the import of opium into the province after 1912; and
2. That the resolutions in regard to opium suppression which were passed by the Senate at its sitting of the 2nd December would appear to have their origin in three resolutions recorded by the native press as laid before that body by the United Provincial Assemblies Society at the beginning of November.
These resolutions, after showing in the preamble the fallacy of the much-used argument that if China ceases to produce before the termination of ten years it will only mean gain to foreign countries at her expense, advocate the immediate suppression of opium within China's boundaries. They point out that the anti-opium movement is one that concerns morals and good health, and that any temporary financial gain to foreigners should be a negligible factor. It is to be regretted that the senators, at the
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sitting of the 2nd December, preferred, like Rehoboam, to be led by the counsels of the young Anti-Opium Society rather than by the common sense advice of these sages.
K'aiping Mines.
Much interest has been shown by the vernacular press in this question. The history of the case up to date has been set forth on various occasions without bias, and the developments of the struggle between Chang Yen-mou (Chang-Yi) and the Chilli Viceroy are duly noted.
Early in the month it was announced that Chang Yi had been denounced to the Throne by the Chihli Viceroy for blocking the redemption project. Later a statement appeared to the effect that the Chihli gentry, disgusted for the same reason, were presenting a memorial in the same sense. It was then reported that the question of the redemption of these mines had been referred to a special committee of the Senate. This committee reported adversely on Chang Yi's memorial, and in consequence delegates were sent by his Excellency Tang Shao-yi to Tien-tsin to confer with the Chihli Viceroy on this important question. Meanwhile, Chang Yi is said to have presented a further memorial advocating the non-redemption of the mines.
Peking Syndicate.
On the 5th November a native paper contained a telegram stating that delegates had been elected by the Provincial Assembly of Honan to proceed to Peking to oppose the syndicate in regard to working iron mines in Honan. According to a paper of the 22nd, the whole province was bitterly opposed to such working. The gentry were fanning the opposition throughout the province, and were reported to have asserted that if the Wai-wu Pu and the provincial authorities were powerless to induce the syndicate to acknowledge the cancellation of the agreement (of 1898) violence would have to be employed. At all costs working must be prevented.
Railways.
The Chekiang and Kiangsu Railways questions have again this last month been under notice in the native press. As regards the latter, it was stated that the Board of Communications, on being approached by the railway company in regard to taking over the railway, replied that in view of the loss at present incurred in the working of the line, it was unable to do so except at 70 per cent. of the figure it had originally offered the company. The offer was refused.
As regards the Chekiang railways, further delegates are reported to have made their appearance in Peking. Their visit was expressly welcomed by the vice-president of the Board of Communications, Shen Yün-p'ei, but although their interview lasted some four hours, it appears to have been quite abortive. An explanation for the dismissal of Tang Shou-ch'ien was refused, and a discussion on the rights of the British and Chinese Corporation was productive of no results.
Szechuan Thibet Railway.-This project is still cherished by the native press. It was argued in a Shanghai paper that proper communication between Szechuan and Thibet was essential, since unrest in the latter now means unrest in the former. It was stated that a foreign loan for this purpose was in contemplation.
Hankow-Szechuan Railway-The agitation against Chiao Shu-nau, the director of this railway, reported in the "Summary for October," still sporadically continues. No further developments, however, appear to have occurred, except that Chiao has circulated a printed pamphlet all over Peking denying the accusations made against him.
Railways in Shantung.-According to the native papers the Germans would seem to be actively engaged in railway projects in Shantung, destined to secure the unquestioned supremacy of Kiaochow among the ports of Shantung,
According to a recent paper, German diplomacy has gained its point in regard to the place where the line from Ichou (in South-East Shantung-Ichou Kiaochow line) shall join the Chinan-Kiaochow railway. They advocated Kao Mi Hsien as the junction instead of Wei-hsien, as supported by the Chinese, no doubt in view of the contingent line from Wei-hsien to Chefoo.
A further article accuses the German consul at Chinan, who is travelling in Honan, with scheming to ruin the Kaifeng-Hsuchow-Haichow railway. They state that the object of his journey is "to spy out the nakedness" of the Chinese project,
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