Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 772

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CHINA

revolution being to organise an expedition "to punish Yuan Shih-kai." Within a couple of months this movement was effectually suppressed by the Central Government, and the leading spirits of the revolution fled the country. Among them was Dr. Sun Yat- sen. Thereupon the President and his Cabinet showed a greater determination to secure more effective control over the provinces. The first thing to be done was to confirm the President in his office, and Parliament, evidently impressed by the confi- dence the country had shown in him during the late troubles, elected him President of the Republic for the next five years, and Li Yuan Hung, who since the first Revolution had remained in command of the troops at Wuchang, was elected Vice-President. Hardly a month had elapsed since his election before the President startled the country by the issue of a mandate ordering the expulsion from Parliament of all members who had been identified with the Kuomingtang, the political Party which had promoted the abortive revolution. This order was instantly obeyed, and the result of it was that Parliament was unable to sit for the remainder of the year, as without some of these members it was impossible to form a quorum in either House. Altogether 313 members were expelled, and the party was suppressed as a seditious organisation throughout the country. It is noteworthy that notwithstanding these drastic measures the President loses no opportunity of proclaiming his faith in the future of China under a Republican form of government, but to use his own simile, the "Nurse must not provide the infant with food only fit for adults."

The amount of the public revenue of China is not yet definitely known. During the past few years national budgets have been compiled, but they are untrust- worthy, and since the Revolution more chaos than ever seems to have prevailed in the financial administration. A statement made by the Premier in November gave the national revenue for the first half of 1913 as not more than Tls. 58,000,000. The Imperial Maritime Customs receipts form the only item upon which exact figures are obtainable, and these for the year 1912 amounted to Tls. 39,950,612. With the signi- ficant exception of the Maritime Customs, which is under foreign control, no item of revenue shows any elasticity, though it is possible that the Salt Revenue may do so when Sir Richard Danes scheme of management is in full operation. The Land Tax, Salt Revenue, Lekin or Native Customs, where they are still under native control, are all about the same figures as they were ten years ago, although it is a matter of common notoriety that these sources of revenue have increased indefinitely. Many modifications were decided upon in 1901 in the fiscal plans of both the central and provisional governments to enable China to meet the obliga- tions created by the indemnity paid to the Powers on account of the Boxer rising in 1900. In some districts Lekin and Native Customs were brought under the control of the Imperial Maritime Customs and hypothecations made on the salt revenues. The tariff was raised to an effective 5 per cent. ad valorem. These innovations will obtain till 1940, when the amortization of China's obligations will be complete.

China had no foreign debt till the end of 1874, when a loan of £627,675, bearing 8- per cent. interest, was contracted through the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, under Imperial authority, and secured by the Customs revenue. Afterwards a number of other loans, of comparatively moderate amount, were contracted, mostly through the agency of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and several of them have been paid off. Up to 1894 the total foreign debt of China was inconsiderable, but subsequently exten- sive borrowings had to be made to meet the expenses of the war with Japan and the indemnity, which was Tls. 200,000,000 (at exchange of 3s. 34d.), with a further Tls. 20,000,000 for the retrocession of the Liaotung Peninsula. The last instalment was paid in 1898, and the total indebtedness of the country up to 1900 was £55,755,000, the princi- pal loans being the Russian of 1895, the Anglo-German of 1896, and the Anglo-German of 1898, each of £16,000,000. The country's obligations in 1901 were increased by a sum of Tls. 450,000,000, the amount of the indemnity paid to the Powers to meet (1) the expenses of the Expeditionary Forces, and (2) claims for compensation for losses to missions, corporations, individuals, etc. Several minor loans were subsequently obtained chiefly for railway construction, and China's total foreign debt outstanding amounts now to about £150,000,000. As a result of the Revolution China's indebtedness has been increased by an international loan of £25,000,000, and at the time this work went to press the Government is negotiating for a further loan.

AREA AND POPULATION

China proper, extending over 1,335,841 square miles, is divided into eighteen provinces. According to the latest official estimates the area and population of the various prefectures and provinces are as given :-