Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 599

Shensi

Kansu

Sinkiang

Manchuria

Shantung Szechuen Hupch.

.....

CHINA

Population

9,465,558

Anhui

5,927,997

Chekiang

2,519,579

Fukien

13,701,819

30,803,245

Kwangtung Kwangsi

49,782,810

Yunnan

27,167,244

Kweichow

535

Population

19,832,665

...

22,043,300

13,157,791

37,167,701

12,258,335

9,839,180 11,216,400

:

Total: 427,679,214

Not included in the above (no data available) :-

(a.) 1 Hsien and Mongolia in Peking District.

(b.) 3 Hsien in Manchuria District.

(c.) Tibet.

Of

The total number of foreigners in China was given in 1925 as 336,841. these, 218,351 were Japanese, 79,785 Russian, 15,247 British, 9,844 Americans, 3,050 Germans, 3,739 Portuguese, and 2,576 French. The total of Japanese residents has risen by over fifty per cent. since 1915. The Russians have increased by 300 per cent. in five years, but their numbers show a small reduction in 1925 as compared with 1924 «(1924: 85,766). The Chinese Maritime Customs Returns for 1925 showed the number of commercial firms to be 7,743 as compared with 7,286 in 1924. Japan headed the list with 4,708, followed by Russia with 932, the United Kingdom with 718, America with 482, France with 176, Germany with 318, Portugal with 174, Italy with 46, Denmark with 45, Holland with 35, Switzerland with 25, Belgium with 25, Norway with 16, Spain with 16, and Sweden with 6; but, as the British Commercial Attaché has remarked, much depends on the definition and status of a commercial firm.

The principal dependencies of China have been Mongolia, with an area of 1,288,035 square miles, and some 2,000,000 people; and Manchuria, with an area of 362,000 square miles, and an estimated population of 13,700,000. Outer Mongolia in 1912 asserted her independence of Chinese sovereignty, and obtained the formal recognition of Russia, but under the Russo-Chinese Treaty concluded in 1915 the suzerainty of China was recognised and the autonomy of Outer Mongolia agreed to. Towards the end of 1919 Outer Mongolia petitioned to return to the authority of Peking. The petition was granted, and the several treaties with Russia were abrogated. Conditions in Outer Mongolia, however, have been by no means stabilised by the ostensible return of Mongolia to China's fold. The invasion of Baron Ungern von Sternberg with an anti-Bolshevik army in February, 1921, caused the intervention of Soviet Russia, whose troops, having dislodged Ungern's men, entered into possession of Urga, the capital of Mongolia, and the Territory stretching up to the Russian frontier. Inner Mongolia has been formed into three special administrative districts, viz., Jehol, Chahar and Suiyuan. Manchuria has in recent years been steadily and rapidly colonised by Chinese, who greatly outnumber the Manchus in their own land. Tibet-which is also practically a dependency of China and whose actual status is still an outstanding question between Great Britain and China-has an area of 643,734 square miles and a population of over 6,000,000. Down to 1910 it was ruled by the Dalai Lama, but subject to the Government of Peking, which maintains a Resident at Lhassa. In consequence, however, of the Dalai Lama's refusal to comply with the demands of Peking, a Chinese military expedition was dispatched to Lhassa, and he fled to India, where he remained for over a year. Meanwhile, the great revolution broke out in China. The Tibetans seized the opportunity to proclaim their independence, and again a military expedition was sent to Tibet, but more conciliatory methods had to be adopted. The Chinese troops were withdrawn and the Dalai Lama returned to the Tibetan Capital. The tripartite conference at Simla in 1914 to determine the status of Tibet and delimit the boundaries ended in failure, no agree- ment being arrived at. The Dalai Lama visited Peking in 1921 and was received in audience by President Hsu Shih-chang.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

The ports open to trade are :-Newchwang, Chinwantao, Tientsin, Chefoo, Woosung, Shanghai, Soochow, Chinkiang, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hankow, Yochow, Chang- sha, Shasí, Ichang, Chungking, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wênchow, Santu, Foochow, Amoy,