Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 467

MANCHURIAN TRADE CENTRES

In addition to Mukden, the Treaties made with China in 1903 by the United States and Japan secured the opening of Antung and Tatungkow in Manchuria. By an additional agreement made between China and Japan in December, 1905, the following inland places in Manchuria were opened to trade on the dates specified-September 10th, 1906, Tieh-ling, Tung-chiang-tzu and Fakumen; on October 8th, Hsin-min Fu; on December 17th, Manchuli, Harbin, Ch'ang-ch'un (K'uan-ch'êng-tzu) and Kirin; on December 19th, Tsitsihar (Pu-k'uei), the capital of the northern province of Hei-lung- chiang; and on June 18th, 1907, the remaining seven places-Fêng-huang-ch'êng (T'ing) Liao-yang, Ninguta, Hun-ch'un, Sansing, Hailar and Aigun-were declared open as a preliminary step prior to the adoption of special settlement regulations. Only at Mukden and Harbin are Foreign Consulates, other than Japanese, established.

On March 9, 1932, a new "State of Manchukuo" was established at Hsinking (formerly Changchun), the new Capital, as an independent Republic, under the rulership of P'u I, the ex-Emperor of China, dethroned by the Chinese Revolution of 1911, and the latter was enthroned as the Emperor Kang-tê on March 1, 1934.

Japan, San Salvador, Italy, Germany and Nationalist Spain have accorded recognition to the new State.

MUKDEN

Fêng-tʻien

(Mukden is the Manchu Name)

(JAPANESE: HŌTEN)

Mukden, is the capital of the province of Fêng-t'ien (F). It was the ancient seat of the last dynasty of China. Though nominally opened to international residence and trade by the Commercial Treaties concluded by the United Statesand Japan with China in 1903, it was not really opened until 1906, for in the Russo-Japanese war the city became one of the strongholds of the Russian forces, from which, however, they were eventually driven by the advancing Japanese army after one of the most decisive battles of those times. When peace was concluded and the troops were withdrawn the trade possibilities of the province began to receive increased attention. The principal trade of Mukden has been in grain, such as beans and millet; there is, also, a considerable trade in skins, furs and bristles. The chief imports are Japanese and European textiles, hardware, cigarettes, sugar and kerosene oil. Since 1932 the Japanese have started many industries, among which may be mentioned the manufacture of machines, machine tools, paints, dyes, pencils, sauces, beer, confectionery, leather goods and cotton spinning. The Chi Tung Tobacco Co. and the Toa Tobacco Co, maintained cigarette factories in the International Settlement. Minerals and metals are mined and smelted in the neighbourhood of Mukden. Rice-farming, also, is on the increase, there being some 10,000 acres under cultivation in the Mukden and Sinmin districts, Other crops grown in the neighbourhood are cotton, millet, Kaoliang and groundnut.