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THE COMMERCIAL TERMS OF THE CHINA-JAPANESE TREATY
abuses.
[April 25, 1895.
SON wrote a memorandum on inland towns in Kwangtung, in which he suggested as points for residence Shaochow-fu on the North River, Shaoking-fu on the West River, and Poklo, Sheklung, and Hwei- chow-fu on the East River, Fatshan, and Taeleing. Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON, it should perhaps be noted, was not in favour of the opening ap of the interior. Concentration, he said, and not extension, should be the foreign merchant's object, the former being strength and the latter weakness and he suggested as places of residence the towns named only in the event of the policy of which he disapproved being decided upon. Having briefly described the various towns seriatim, he wrote:-"There may be other "towns in the interior of equal importance, "but I have little or no information about "them.
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I have been up the great West "River, second only to the Yangtsze in size, so far as Wuchow-fa in Kwangsi, some 194 "miles. The towns, however, were poor in appearance, and there was little evidence "of trade. It is apparent, therefore, that "the centre of commerce is the rich alluvial "districts that surround Canton in a radius "of 170 iniles, and beyond that, as far as I "have seen, mountain land, ancient and "rather dilapidated walled cities, and a spare population prevail." The selection of Shaoking by the Japanese would appear to be an endorsement to some extent of Sir BROOKE ROBERTSON's views on this point. In 1885, however, when the French treaty relating to the frontier trade between Torkin and South-western China was under consider- ation, and Mr. Consul GARDNER was asked to report on the probable effect of that agree- ment on trade by the West River, while re- porting that he did not consider the trade via Tonkin would materially interfere with the West River trade, he strongly urged the opening of Wuchow. If a treaty port was to be opened on the West River, he said, he thought Wuchow should be selected, and he set out his reasons as follows:-"In the "first place, because I am told that Wu- chow is about the highest point of the West "River easily reachable by steamers, Se. condly, because Wuchow is situated at the junction of the West River and the Fu "River.
The Fu River is itself an im- portant waterway flowing through a rich district and passing various populous "towns such as Kwei-lin, etc. Its im- portance was greatly increased some years ago by the digging of a canal connect- ing it with the Siang River, which, after passing the important towns of Yung-chow, Heng Chow, and Chang-sha, flows into the Tung-ting Lake. The Canton boats I saw "at Ichang in 1873 had come from Canton by the above route." Kwei-lin, the capi
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
has speedily gone to sleep again and the hopes have been in a large degree dis appointed. Whatever progress takes place in China will have to be forced upon her Whatever differences of opinion may pre-from without. The special feature of hope- veil as to the territorial concessions be made by China to Japan all parties will be fuluess in the present situation is that pres- united in hailing with some measure of satis-sure is now likely to be applied at closer faction the commercial terms of the new quarters and more continuously, for Japan treaty. Several new ports and inland towns is, by reason of her grographical situation, are to be opened to trade, including Nanking in a better position than any of the Euro- and Peking, lekin taxes are to be limited to peau Powers to enforce speedy compliance 2 per cent., and permission is to be given to wih just demands or redress of flagrant the Japanese, and, therefore, under the fav opred nation clause, to the subjects of other treaty powers, to open cotton factories and to THE OPENING OF THE WEST RIVER. engage in other industries in China. The It is reported that amongst the Chinese question is, how far will these terms be en-ports to be opened to foreign trade under forced? Under the existing treaties goods the new treaty with Japan is Shaoking. having paid import duty should be subject This means the opening of the West River only to an additional two and a half per to steam navigation up to that point. Some cent. for transit duty, but as a matter of fact disappointment will be felt that the river is the provincial authorities impose almost what not to be opened to a greater extent, but it will squeezes they like on foreign merchandise, now be for the British Minister to again urge especially in the South where the transit pass this matter and endeavour to secure further regulations have been openly flouted. So, concessions. Mr. O'CɔNOR has always taken a again, with regard to the import of machinery; warm interest in the project for the opening the Chinese Government have no right what-up of the West River and he may be relied ever to prohibit its import, yet they have upon to do his best in the matter, but bis successfully done so. Will similar infractions hand would probably be strengthened by of treaty stipulations be tolerated in future? another memorial from the Hongkong Cham- Probably not, at least so far as Japan ber of Commerce. Wuchow, in Kwangsi, is concerned. The active and enterprising some twelve miles from the Eastern boundary merchants and manufacturers of the Land of of that province, and at the junction of the the Rising Sun will be enger to take the Fu Ho with the West River, has hitherto fullest advantage of the privileges secured been regarded as the port to which it was by the new treaty and their Governmet will most important to obtain access, and after be vigilant in the protection of those it Nanning. The West River has been privileges. We may expect, therefore, that surveyed to Wachow and is navigable not only will there be a considerable increase up to: that point by vessels drawing in the trade in articles of import, but that 12 feet. The navigability of the river be there will also be a rapid expansion of yond Wuchow is a matter of some uncer- manufacturing industry in China, especially tainty, no detailed and scientific survey hav- in the manufacture of cotton goods, and ing been made. As to the accessibility of that Shanghai and the Yangtsze ports will Wuchow to steamers, however, there is no become a second Lancashire. Europeans doubt, and the place being a large trade will be at liberty to take part in this great junction that is the point to which im- industry and no doubt some of the surplus mediate attention should be given. Its dis- capital of the West unable to find profitable tance from Canton is about two hundred employment there, will find its way out to miles. Shaoking, on Shuibing as it is more China. Many English manufacturers have set generally called, although ranking politically up establishments on the continent of Europe before Wuchow, is inferior to it in mercantile when circumstances made such a movement importance. It is a town of some 20,000 seem desirable, either on account of hostile inhabitants, about uinety miles from Canton, tariffs, cheaper labour, or, what has becomean and was formerly the capital of the Kwang- important item, to secure the advantage for tung province. The Viceregal yamen is still their shipments to Asia and Australia of maintained there and the Viceroy visits it the cheaper freights which British sipping three or four times a year, travelling, it may companies charge from Continental ports as be remarked, by steamer, one of the gun- compared with those charged from home ports, boats of the Canton flotilla being used for In China the advantages offered to capital His Excellency's conveyance. Shaoking as employed in the cotton industry will be cheap a trading centre has not attracted very labour, a supply of the raw material close much attention from foreign travellers hither- at hand, a ready market, and the total sav to, but possibly the Japanese, with their ing of ocean shipping charges. With such efficient intelligence service, may have formed inducements as these it can scarcely be a juster appreciation of its importance.tal of Kwangsi, is situated about 150 miles doubted that some of the Lancashire manu-In the report of Mr. Moss, who up the Fu Ho. As was pointed out in the facturers will open establishments in China. made an expedition up the West River on memorial of the Hongkong Chamber of Com- From one point of view that may inspire re-behalf of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce to the Foreign Secretary two years gret, for it is not without a feeling of dis-merce in 1870, Wuchow was the first place ago, hitherto Kwi-lin has becu sparsely sup content that one can see particular iu- noticed of any importance from a trading plied with piece goods, etc., under transit dustries transferred from his own country point of view. Mr. H. SHROFTER, of Canton, pass from Hankow, although its distance is to another, even though compensation may who made a journey up the river in 1886 three times greater thau that from Canton. be anticipated in a general increase of trade and wrote an excellent monograph on its For all practical purposes, the memorial in other directions. But whether English tradal capabilities, says :— "As matters went on to say, Kwangsi and Kweichow are capital and enterprise are used in the develop" stand at present only two ports can be shut out from participation in foreign trade, ment of the colon industry in China or not," taken into consideration. The first and, and Yunnan is only reached at great cost it seems certain that the development will "for the present, more important one is from Tonkin and the Yangtsze ports, whence take place, provided the terms of the treaty" Wuchow-fu; the second, Nanning-fu. goods are sent under transit pass; but the are duly carried out. And the growth of Steamers should also be allowed to touch, total volume of trade is exceedingly limited manufactures should bring in its train the" for the purposes of landing or shipping owing to distance and cost of transport. It construction of railways and in fact the gen-« passengers and goods into or from native is important, therefore, that steam naviga eral opening up of the country. But we have« boats, at Shaoking-fu and Tu-shing." In tion should be permitted to the highest ac- to reckon with the painful facts that China 1868, when the question of the extension to cessible point. It must not be supposed, is essentially unprogressive and that her British subjects of the privilege of residence however, that the opening of Wuchow would official system is hopelessly corrupt. Bright and trade in the interior was under consi- lead to the establishment of a flourishing hopes have been entertained after her pre-deration in connection with Sir RUTHERFORD foreign settlement at that port. Trade vious rude awakenings, but the country ALCOCK's convention, Sir BROOKE ROBERT- would remain for the most part in the
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