I
150
REVISION OF THE CHINESE TARIFF.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A RUSSIAN PORT IN MANCHURIA.
It will be remembered that a Reuter's message, dated the 18th June, stated :—“ LI "HUNG-CHANG denies the existence of a "secret treaty between China and Russia, "but admits that a Russian railway will be "built through Manchuria." In the tele- gram dated 23rd August, Reuter learns "that LI HUNG-CHANG has made no con- "cessions to Russia, but that he has favoured a junction of the Amur lines with Mau- "churia. No Convention had been signed "and no port ceded to Russia." The latter statement is undoubtedly confirmatory of the first, and we may take it for granted that, if no treaty on the subject has been signed, it has been agreed between the two countries that their railway lines shall meet. This is pretty plain to the most casual observer of events in the Far East. The castern terminus of the Trans-Siberian Rail-
The statement made by The Times, that Lord SALISBURY has informed LI HUNG- CHANG he is in favour of the principle of in- creasing the tariff of duties on imports into China, but that he must consult the Cham- bers of Commerce in Shanghai and elsewhere before giving his consent, is satisfactory, as confirming the pledge given by the noble Lord to the China Association, dated the 2nd July, "that no change shall be made "in existing Treaties without previous "reference to those who are specially in "terested in the importation of British goods into China." We trust, however,
that no revision of the tariff will be con-
sented to unless and until other demands which have been put forward shall have been conceded by China. The Burmah frontier question, the rectification of the boundaries of this colony in compensation
for the cession of the Shan State to France
[August 27, 1896
of
This vessel arrived two days.
MR. JOHN ANDREW AND THE TRANSIT PASS TRADE.
From the minutes of the last meet the Committee of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce it will bet Mr. JOHN ANDREW's claim for loss i through the illegal action of the auth at Wuchow has been satisfied. It will be remembered that Mr. ANDREW took up to Wuchow a cargo of goods under transit pass, but was followed by a small Government steamer sent to warn the merchants that if they had any dealings with him they would after Mr. ANDREW and before any of the be punished. goods had been delivered or paid for, though contracts had been entered into and pay- day. The result of the warning was that the ment against delivery was to be made next merchants who had entered into contracts came to Mr. ANDREW and asked to be way is therefore not to be Vladivostock, but allowed to cancel their bargains. The matter sume Chinese, or rather Manchurian, port was represented to the Consul at Canton on an unfrozen sea. Vladivostock may be and after a good deal of negotiation a pro- by the Peking Government, and the open- good enough for an arsenal and a rendezvous clamation was issued which should have ing of the West River and other inland for the vessels of the Pacific Squadron in declared that merchants were at liberty to waterways of South Chiua to foreign trade the summer, when its climate fits it to deal freely with Mr. ANDREW, but which, as and steamer navigation are matters that become a sanitarium for the troops, but should all be definitely settled before the it is not an ideal position for the terminus Government steamer above mentioned had a matter of fact, after denying that the revision of the tariff comes into discussion. of a vast railway from Europe. The Rus-
come to Wuchow in connection with the No doubt LI HUNG-CHANG and the Minis-sians are not prepared to demand all they matter, went on to say that merchants were ters of the Tsung-li Yamen would like to
want at the moment, but they certainly at liberty to trade with Mr. ANDREW, but put this question into the forefront and make have long indulged the hope that their new
that as soon as the goods passed into their its concession the condition for agreeing to great high road across the empire will have hands they would be charged with lekin and other demands, but we hope Lord SALISBURY
for its eastern end a great commercial port duty again. The matter was again repre will firmly refuse to allow the negotiations as well as a strong fortress capable of keep sented to the Consul, and by him to Peking, on this subject to be hampered with any ing open communication by sea the whole and in the end the obstruction of the Chinese other issues. The concession in no case
year through. There may have been no officials was overcome and the cargo duly could be entertained unless the Chinese Convention signed, and it is possible that disposed of. Mr. ANDREW's venture was Government are prepared to give guarantees LI HUNG-CHANG way really think that that the single levy will clear the imports of Russia only desires to connect the Trans- an attempt to establish trade under transit pass, and the officials, who in the South have all further exactions and make them free to Siberian Railway with the Chinese system always been bitterly opposed to that system to go through any part of the Chinese Emin Mauchuria, which at present consists of and had hitherto succeeded in setting the pire. This is the position that should be the branch line from Tientsin to Shan-hai-provisions of the treaty in that respect at taken up, and it would require very good kwan. We have said he may think this, defiance, strained every nerve and used all guarantees indeed to satisfy British distrust but we credit him with greater perspicuity. their tortuous methods to retain their illegal of the unspeakable mandariu,
He must be very blind if he imagines that
squeezes. The prompt and vigorous action Russia will ever be content to have the Paci- taken by the Consul at Canton, Mr. FRASER, fic end of her great railway in a foreigu and by Mr. BEAUCLERK, then Charge country. Whether that terminus be in
d'Affaires at Peking, were, however, effec- Korea or Manchuria, it will assuredly pass tive in breaking down the opposition and into Russian hands. The probability is securing official recognition of Mr. AN- that the astute ex-Viceroy forsees this, DREW's rights under the treaty. Then came but with the characteristic procrastination the question of compensation for the loss and fatalism of his race he hopes that mean and delay to which he had been subjected. time some fortuitous development of events Mr. ANDREW was detained at Wuchow may occur, as in the case of the retrocession for over two months and was clearly entittled of the Liaotung peninsula to China by to compensation, and his claim has now been Japan, to prevent this disaster. For disaster satisfied. The amount, $2,182, is a very it would necessarily be to China, as Peking moderate one and considerably less than we would then inevitably fall under the in- should have expected Mr. ANDREW would fluence of Russia, and China would lose the have appraised his loss at. What is of more very semblance of independence. Suffi
importance than the amount, however, is "cient unto the day is the evil thereof" is, the comparatively prompt settlement of the contributed by British trade, it would be unfortunately, the motto of more states- claim and the principle it establishes, and the height of folly to tax that trade for the men than those of Peking, and at the the Minister and Consul are to be con- enrichment of a Government that has uni- present moment most European statesmen gratulated on having carried the matter formily and insistently shown nothing but seem incapable of looking forward or work- through with so little delay. It is now bad faith, ingratitude, and meanness to Great ing for the future. France especially has Britain. Such a concession should, as we given herself over into the keeping of her open to any one, we take it, to convey
Reuter informs us that Russia is favour- ably inclined to ! revision of the Customs tariff, but that Germany awaits the action of Great Britain, and France desires the opinion of her Minister in Peking before giving any reply. The decision, however, really rests with the British Government. As in the case of Japan, other Powers may negotiate new treaties or tariffs, but they are not likely to come into operation, any more than did the new American Treaty with Japan, until Great Britain has first been reckoned with. There is no reason
why the British Government should put themselves out of the way to oblige China and increase her revenue. Considering that more than three-fourths of that revenue is
have said, not even be considered until the present matters in dispute and demands made by Great Britain have all been satisfactorily arranged. When the path has thus been smoothed it may be found possible to come to some workable plan whereby the con- cession asked by Li HUNG-CHANG may be
made.
The Danish Government has appointed Mr. Carl Stahlgren to be Consul at Tientsin. Mr. Stahlgren, who was in China last year, is the head of a Danish company which has been established to do import and export business with China. The head office will be at Tien-
sin.-N. C. Daily News.
big ally, whom she fatuously worships, and is ready to do anything that the wisdom of the Bear may suggest. Great Britain has no wish to stand in the way of any laudable ambition of Russin, but as the designs of the latter seem to be dictated by distrust, if not unfriendliness, it is necessary for British statesmen to keep on the alert to see that in the prosecution of Muscovite desigus British interests shall not suffer.
At Shanghai on the 21st August a foreigner was severely bitten by a mad dog. Three or four natives were also bitten by the animal, which was afterwards killed.
goods up
the West River under transit
pass. No doubt the officials will for a time continue to throw every obstacle they can in the way, but Mr. ANDREW's case proves that those obstacles can be overcome by firmness and determination. The came gentleman is now engaged in another ven ture of a similar kind, and when the officials become convinced that further opposition is useless we may look for the smooth ing of the transit pass system. If this really brought about foreign trade China will be much indebted to M DREW for having taken such initiative in the matter through successfully
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