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November 13, 1895.7
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miral for support, or has he been limited by the traditionary caution of the Foreign Secretary plus Sir HALLIDAY MACART- NEY?". That seems rather a curious way of putting it that the retiring Minister should meet the community in order to as sure them that Codlin, not Short, is their friend. We may be quite sure that if Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR does afford an interview to his countrymen either here or at Shang- hai he will make no attempt to whitewash himself at the expense of Lord SALISBURY or Lord ROSEBERY; he could not do so without being guilty of official disloyalty. Possibly he may think it his official duty, in the present critical position, to observe complete reticence; but we are sure the com- munity would be extremely gratified if he could's his way to the position in which he leaves the various matters connected with tradal interests that are supposed to have been occupying his attention. And if he does elect to make such a statement the China Association rather than the Chamber of Commerce is the body to which it should be made. The Chaniber has thrown aside its character as a British institution and, ignoring the British Minis- ter, has placed itself in communication with the doyen of the diplomatic body. The China Association on the other hand is an exclusively British body. We were formerly accustomed to look on the Chamber of Con- merce as also a British body, to which, how- ever, other nationalities were admitted and welcomed; and that the foreign members have rendered very good service to the Chamber and to the colony no one will be disposed to deny. But now that the Cham- ber has chosen another channel than the British Government through which to press its views, it is only reasonable that if the British Government or its high officers have any communication to make to the British community they should select a British institution like the China Association as the medium for such communications.
to make some statement as
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
free access to the province and the means of communication were improved, as they naturally would be if foreigners gained an established footing the trade would receive an impetus and development which would be very welcome in these days when English manufacturers are crying out for new markets and the development of old ones. Much attention is at present being bestowed on Yunnan, which is difficult of access and of doubtful value as a market for foreign goods. Hunan, on the other hand, is easy of access, is of undoubted wealth, and England has only to say the word to have it opened. When the Commercial Mission promoted by the Blackburn Chamber of Commerce arrives no doubt Hunan will attract its attention, and its opening up to foreign trade will be urged.
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THE MAHOMMEDAN REBELLION.
“in greater hurry. still, for he "merely looked into the lake and left "before the Governor could reach him. That was excessively unfortunate, but it is to be hoped that the mischief, will shortly be repaired by the arrival of a British expedition which will carry the work through. The programme should be to first. obtain an Imperial decree declaring cartain. places in the province open ports or trading stations, and then to send the expedition to provide for the peaceable installation of the Consular officers. The expedition would be essential, because if the matter were left entirely in the hands of the Chinese the business would never be satisfactorily put through; but it would not necessarily be a hostile expedition, as in the event of an Im-.. There would be no opposi-perial decree being granted Her Majesty's tion worth consideration, although the Chi- forces would really be supporting the Im nese authorities would no doubt try to make perial authority. But whether with or with- it appear that the step would be fraught out the free assent of the Peking Gov. with the greatest danger, as they did when ernment it is important that Hunan should an expedition was spoken of in connection be opened, and the sooner the better. with the anti-foreign disturbances of 1891. Sir HALLIDAY MACARTNEY at that time wrote to the Foreign Office as follows:-
The Minister has heard with much con- cern of a rumour to the effect that some gunboats might possibly be sent to the Tungting lake. He thinks that to do so "would be a great mistake, and a step which would be fraught with much danger; one which might provoke the people of Hunan to acts which it would be difficult for the Imperial Government to control. The Hunauose, among whom are some tens "of thousands of disbanded soldiers and many retired military officers, being of a very brave, warlike, irascible disposi- tion, any attempt to coerce them might, as "the Minister once before remarked to the Foreign Office, lead to difficulties for the Imperial Government, at least as great as "those which the British Government have lately had to contend with in the case of "Ireland. Having, from their remote and "secluded position, been brought less into "contact with Europeans than the people "of most other parts of China, they are The proposal that the province of Hunan
naturally more strange to European ways, should be opened up to foreign trade, which "and therefore more disposed to resent any excited a good deal of discussion some time "attempts. at proselytism to Christianity. ago, has again been brought forward by a "Their case, in the opinion of the Minister, series of articles in the N. C. Daily News."is not one for coercion, but one that, The notorious CHOU HAN has his home in` whilst education and enlightenment are Hunan and it is from that province "being diffused amongst them, calls for that the anti-foreign literature which "judicious management, and much forbear has such a baneful effect ́ emanates. The ance." As our contemporary remarks, opening up of the province would do this of course brought Her Majesty's Gov much towards putting a stop to this ernment to the stool of repentance at once, vile stream, especially if CHOU HAN so the Hunanese were left in "their remote were placed in careful custody for the re- and secluded position" to have another four mainder of his life and prevented from fur- years' "education and enlightenment diffused ther carrying on his evil work. Our Shanghai amongst them" by Messrs. CHOU HAN and contemporary can hardly believe that Sir Co., with the result that the province is now N. R. O'CONOR has left Peking without more closely shut up than ever. The writer securing the capture and punishment of goes on to show how impossible it would be "CHOU HAN," but we are inclined for Hunan to offer any resistance to an ex- to think that that dangerous firebrand pedition and urges that it is quite a mistake will be left unmolested, except that the to suppose that the " very brave, warlike, Chinese authorities, having had perhaps as "and irascible disposition of the Hunanese much of anti-foreign disturbances as they would be exhibited towards anyone who think prudent. for the time being, may had the power to retaliate.
The only recommend him to keep quiet for a time. danger would be that as soon as the officials Independently of CHоυ. HAN and his in- "understood that a real expedition was famous propaganda, however, there are very intended-and ten thousand times better good reasons why the opening of Hunan none at all than a make-believe: it would whould be insisted upon, in the interests of be spotted at once, and do infinite mis- foreign trade and of the development of chief-they would turn it back by meet- China. The province is rich, so much, 80ing all demands before it crossed the Tung- that the famines and periods of scarcity. ting. When the Initin entered the lake which from time to time afflict most other "last August, the Governor, Wu TA-CHENG, parts of the Empire are unknown there. "hurried down to meet it, prepared to Foreign goods find their way to Hunan in offer any terms to stop its coming on, considérable quantities, but if foreigners had "but unfortunately the Frenchman was
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It is at all times exceedingly difficult to obtain accurate information in Chiun, and events transpiring, in the interior must necessarily become known tardily to the outside world. In the maritime provinces and along the great inland waterways news travels with considerable rapidity, more especially when supplemented by the tele- graph wire; but even when these aids to the dissemination of information are invoked the quality thereof, so far as veracity is con- cerned, leaves much to be desired. During the recent war with Japan the telegraph was largely put into requisition, and the of the most result was the circulation highly sensational and mendacious reports that could be imagined. Scarcely a defeat · was sustained by the Chinese but it was "famous immediately transformed into a victory," in which the slaughter of the enemy was depictell with a reckless exagger- ation as unblushing as it was improbable. The almost unfailing unreliability of all Chinese telegrams ultimately secured for them general contempt and incredulity, with the result that, even when accidentally approximately near to fact, they were greeted with unbelief. If that was done in districts tapped by the telegraph wire last year, what may be expected of the reports hatched in the far north-west of the empire during the Mahommedan rebellion now pro- ceeding there? Any intelligence con- cerning the spread of that insurrection therefore may safely be regarded with suspicion if not with absolute indifference.
The news so far received of this rebellion has not been very favourable to the Chinese Government. Indeed it may be said to have been the record of a succession of dis- asters, from which the Imperialists appear to recover. Events unable to rally or hitherto described bear a very striking resemblance to the early triumphs of the Taipings: the Mahommedans in Kansph seem to have met with no check, and their
report, successes, according to have only been limited by the powers of advance possessed by the
The first series of reverses gents. recorded were quite sufficiently serious, but later accounts indicate a still graver condi- A correspondent of our tion of affairs. Shanghai morning contemporary, evidently a missionary gentleman, writing from Hsian-fü, in the province of Shensi, under date of the 1st ultimo, says that the rebellion is proceeding apace. The Mahommedana, equally with the Japanese, find the Im
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