January 27, 1898. ]*
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
BRITISH GIRLS IN PERIL AT SHANGHAI,
and basely to the kidnapping of a Chinese sub- ject in London and the attempted smuggling of him abroad under false pretences, and he fails to prevent the kidnapping of English girls There are at the present moment four young for conveyance to China. Surely it is time English girls in Shanghai, possibly more, the that Her Majesty's Ministers ceased to recog-youngest only seventeen years old, who were nise him in any official or other capacity-for married in London to Chinamen, some of them it is thought that he dictates, with other of members of the Chinese 'Legation in London, China's European advisers, their policy in brought out by mail steamers as the wires of China-and that they advised Her Majesty these Chinese and deserted here, exposed to against receiving him at her drawing rooms. perils which we know of, but need not It is reported that another of China's foreign particularise. One of them, quite a young advisers obtained his influence with the Chi-girl, was left in an empty house with nese, and ousted a predecessor, by supplying a nothing in the world but er night-dress, young French girl to Prince. Kung for a con- her- supposed busband having stripped the onbine.
house of everything. She was discovered by a kind-hearted neighbour, who heard her crying and sobbing for twelve hours continuously. What can become of these poor girls but one fate? They have no friends here, no money, and they are afraid to go home and tell their friends there what has happened to them.
BRITISHER..
Hongkong, 20th January, 1898. THE HISTORY OF THE KOWLOON CON CESSION
Post hoc propter hoc is an argument much in favour with children and uncivilised peoples. It has been much in evidence recently in China. The raid on Kiaochau by the German fleet took place certainly after the murder of the missionary priests at Yenchow. As we showed last month it had no more to do with that murder. than have the Goodwin Sands with Tinterden steeple. It had been arranged long before, and the fleet had actually refitted for the purpose before the news arrived. It was perhaps natural that the German Government should seek to put forward the murder as the cause of their action, but it lowers our faith in human mature to find the statement reiterated by the Emperor, who did not hesitate to call Heaven to witness his veracity. Last mail we have been treated to a reassertion of the old argu- ment. The British Government, we are told in so many words, have annexed a portion of the Kowloon peninsula as a set off against Ger. man interference in Shantung The statement is as baseless us the other.
There is a British subject acting as Secretary to the Chinese Legation in London, though it is surprising to us all out here that after our. Foreign Office the Sun Yat-sen case
to recognise him. Does. should continue he know of the marriages that the younger members of the Legation contract at home? No one knows better than be what fate the girls these men marry are coming to. Does he warp their friends and do everything in his power to prevent these sacrifices? Do these friends make enquiries for themselves from people who know something of China ? Some body must be responsible for this crime, and we cannot blame the poor victims. Here is an opening for the Ladies' Benevolent Institution, and if it requires funds with which to assist these unfortunate girls, we are sure that English purses will be open at once that this terrible scandal in our midst may be removed. —N. C. Daily News.
ANOTHER" EUROPEAN. ATTACKED IN SHANTUNG,
A correspondent writing from Chefoo on January 10th, in reference to the reported attack by natives on a European agent of a Bible Society recently in West Shantung writes as follows concerning the affair:
The first public an- nouncement came indeed after the action of the German fleet, but the rectification was really as old almost as the hills. It was mooted at the time when the British Government gave permission to China to establish a Custom House at Kowloon, to levy dues on native craft conveying goods to and from the colony
On New Year's day the British Consul at to the interior. By the complaisance of the British authorities the collection of the Chefoo received a telegram from Chi-Ming,
been foreigh Customs. has
dated January 15th, stating "Beaten four considerably increased, and it was natural, that that times, Yenchow-fu district, returning Chefoo in return something would be done. The Emberley." The Roy. W. H. Emberly, formerly principle of extending the somewhat confined of the Wesleyan Mission, is the gentleman in area belonging to the colony on the Kowloon question and he had recently joined the British and Foreign Bible Society, and started in No. side of the harbour was in fact acknowledged as
vember to visit the western part of Shantang a reasonable request by Peking, but British Ministers were dilatory, and sleep was pre- province. On receiving the telegram the Con- ferred to action at the legation. Sir Nicholas sul with commendable activity sent to the Taotai and urged him to make every possible O'Conor, however, took the matter up and a convention was drawn up and agreed to extend enquiry, which the Taotai did, and received ing the colony across the hills which dominate information to the effect that Mr. Emberley Hongkong to a transverse line to be drawn had been molested while selling books in Chu. from Deep Bay to Mirs Bay. The justice off. This being over he went further on and he was again molested. The authorities on the claim was never called in question by the Chinese, nor indeed, seeing that valuable learning this sent soldiers to the scene, who consideration had been given, could it brought the rev. gentlemen away in safety and At the urgent solicitation of Portland he was sent under escort to Chi-Ming. This is all the news we have had concerning the dis- Place the affair was, however, postponed pend- turbances so far, but we hope to see Mr. ing the completion of the treaty with Japan, the Chinese pleading that it might be permitted Emberley at Chefoo this week safe and sound. to remain over
—Shanghai Daily Press. for
"convenient season." & more Such convenient season, however, in the case of nations, as of individuals, rarely comes. Sir Claude MacDonald took up the affair where it had been left by his predecessor, and again brought affairs to an issue. But meanwhile and came the occupation of Kiaochau, what might have seemed the con- venient season again proved the contrary.
The late announcement has, as we have seen, been taken as an indication that that arrange- meent at Kowloon has been carefully libelled as England's quid pro quo for the occupation of Shangtung. The whole affair is a strange comment on the absurdity of one British Government after another throwing discredit on its own minister at Peking in response to a suggestion from Portland Place. Had it not been for this the cession would have been com- pleted some four years ago, and no opening for misconception have been left-Shanghai Daily
be.
Press.
"
THE OPENING OF HUMAN.
A telegram received recently from Changsha by the local mandarins states that the gentry and merchants of Hunan and Hupeh intend to run a line of steamers between Hankow, Shasi, Wachang, Ichang, and points in Lake Tungting as far as Changsha, the capital of Hunan. The steamers of the new company will be allowed to carry cargo in addition to passengers and tow junks in the waters not yet opened by treaty to foreign vessels. This prohibition to carry cargo for fear of evading likin duty has been the great obstacle to native merchants establish ing successful steamship companies in inland waters.
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and advises Governor Ch ́ên to encourage the Hunanese to be prepared to compete în trade with foreigners by having their own steamer and cargo transporting facilities. In conclusion the Viceroy Chang says: "I am never far wrong in my political forecasts and I can as- sure you that the time has arrived when neither your people nor the Central Government will be able to prevent Hunan province from being opened to international commerce."-N. Ở, | Daily News.
In a confidential telegraphic dispatch from the Viceroy Chang Chih-tung to Governor Chên Pao-chen of Huuan, the former earnestly warns the latter to be prepared for the opening zoon of Hunan to foreign international trade,
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DEATH OF GENERAL. JŪNES.
Shanghai, 14th January.
The news of the death of General A. E. Jones, the United States Consul at Chinkiang, was received in Shanghai yesterday morning with very general regret, the lowering of the consular flag to half-mast being the first in- timation. General Jones, who was a native of Virginia, was about 65 years of age. During the Civil War he was an officer in the Southern army, and followed Lee in his campaign. After the war he went to Mexico and served the ill- fated Emperor Maximilian, following which he was in the French army in Algeria. When the amnesty was proclaimed he returned to America and took up his home in Minnesota. In 1880 he was appointed Consul at Nagasaki, and six years later was transferred to Chinkiang. He was always prompt and efficient in the per- formance of his duties. Being retained in office by successive administrations it remained for the present to remove him at a time when long and faithful service could well have been re- warded by his, retention, and when impaired health and age would naturally have been more appreciative of the recognition due to loyalty, The General was a most genial companion and his occasional visits to Shanghai were always a source of pleasure to his friends here. About two months ago he was in Shanghai. He was then looking feeble, but his unfailing vivacity left his friends unprepared for the sad news which arrived yesterday. A warm-hearted, generous man is dead, and he has left only friends behind; friends who deeply sympathise with his widow.-N. C. Daily News.
MINERALS IN HỤPEH,
Mr. Gervase Cooke, M.I.M.E. who is en- gaged prospecting in the province of Hupeh has lately furnished to the Viceroy Chang Chih- tung a detailed report of his investigations. In addition to ascertaining the locality of other coal measures, he has inspected the existing mines, in the working of which he suggested certain improvements. Iron appears to be fairly plentiful in the districts visited by Mr. Cooke, and samples of copper, silver, and gold were submitted to him for examination. Mr. Cooke discredits the Manganshan coal mines having been on fire, as was reported some months ago, and declares that after inspecting the mines he could not find a trace of fire, although water bad been allowed to get into some of the levels Mr. Cooke strongly criticises the state of things at some of the mines under foreign managers, and mentions that one colliery which only started about four years ago at a cost of The.
600,000 under German management now ap pears to be finished.-N. C. Daily News.
THE BELGIAN LOAN.
It will be news to most people, we fancy, to learn that as a matter of undoubted fast the first instalment of the Belgian Loan has arrived in China. It lies in the Russo-Chinese Bank at Shanghai and amounts to no less than £250,000 sterling. It was transferred from the Bank of Brussels to the Russo Chinese Bank on the 4th inst. But it is not in the form that Sheng expected and he is unable to‘“ handle’ it without the full consent of the chief director of the Belgian Byndicate. We deeply sym- pathise with Shengyin his disappointment in this respect, which must be very bitter par ticularly at the approach of the festive and profitable season of China New Year! The heartless Belgian financiers have tied their money up with the banking equivalent of bands of steel, and the money, whether in whole or in part, can only be drawn out of the Bank by M. Hubert, who alone has power to draw cheques
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