Directory_and_Chronicle_1928 — Page 479

CHINA

495

F

Japanese residents has risen by over fifty per cent. since 1915. The Russians have in- reased by 300 per cent. in five years, but their numbers show a small reduction during the past two years (1924: 85,766; 1925: 79.785). The Chinese Maritime Customs Returns or 1926 showed the number of commercial firms to be 7,574 in 1926 as compared with 743 in 1925 and 7,286 in 1924. Japan headed the list with 4,446, followed by Russia with 964, the United Kingdom with 714, America with 510, France with 192, Germany with 314, Portugal with 177, Italy with 50, Denmark with 39, Holland with 32, Switzer- and with 29, Belgium with 28, Norway with 24, Spain with 8, and Sweden with 7; but, As the British Commercial Attaché has remarked, much depends on the definition and

tatus of a commercial firm.

The principal dependencies of China have been Mongolia, with an area of 1,288,035 quare miles, and some 2,000,000 people; and Manchuria, with an area of 362,000 quare miles, and an estimated population of 13,700,000. Outer Mongolia in 1912 sserted 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, Shasi, Ichang, Chungking, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wênchow, Santu, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Canton, Samshui, Wuchow, Kongmoon, Nanning, Kiungchow, Pakhoi and Chengteh. Lungchow, Mêngtsz, Szemao and Tengyueh, on the frontiers of Tonkin and Burmah, are stations under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs. Mukden, Antung and Tatiengkow and other inland places in Manchuria, Kweihuichang, Kalgan, Dolonor, Chihfeng, Taonanfu, Hulutao, and Lungkow have also been declared open to foreign trade. The import trade, exclusive of the Colony of Hongkong, centres chiefly at Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow and Canton, while the bulk of the exports pass through the ports of Shanghai and Canton. The annual value of the trade of China coming under the supervision of the Imperial Maritime Customs was as follows:-

Net Imports from Foreign Countries.

1924...............Hk. Tls. 1,018,210,677

1925....

1926...

""

""

947,864,944 1,124,221,253

Net Exports to Foreign Countries.

Hk. Tls. 771,784,468 776,352,937 864,294,771

""

""

Total of Foreign trade.

Hk. Tls. 1,789,995,145

""

""

1,724,217,881 1,988,516,024