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September 17, 1898.]
SUPREME COURT.
September 12th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. JUSTICE WISE (PUISNE
JUDGE.)
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THE DEMURRAGE CASE.-JUDGMENT, In this case M. A.A.de Souza and Co.. of Stanley Street, sought to recover from Bradley and Co., of Queen's Road, the sum of $300 for demurrage of the steamer Astrid. Plaintiffs claimed that defendants did not give the steamer quick despatch, the discharge not being com- pleted until the 23rd May whilst it ought to have been completed at noon on the 21st May.
His Lordship, in giving judgment for defen. dants with costs, said in his opinion plaintiffs put themselves out of court by the two letters' they wrote on May 21st.
Mr. H. L. Dennys was solicitor for plaintiff's and Mr. Master for defendants.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CHINESE CUSTOMS,
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LETTER TO THE LONDON CHAMBER.
The following letter has been addressed by the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce to the President of the Loudon General Chamber of Commerce-
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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· AGUINALDO'S MOVEMENTS.
SHIPPING REGULATIONS.
235
for collecting duties in the waters of the bar. THE SITUATION IN MANILA. bour itself. To such proposals, it is needless to say, there is universal objection in this colony, where the opinion naturally obtains | that the Chinese Government should col- lect its own revenue in its own territory, 18 is done by every other Government. To allow the new territory to be throttled by a network of Chinese Customs stations and cruisers hemming it round, with a central es- tablishment in the colony, would be to effec- tually hamper the development of its trade and industries which might otherwise be confidently looked for.
TRAMWAY STRIKE. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Manila, 5th September.. Aguinaldo has at last decided to chango his headquarters. He has been reported as doing so many times, but each time he remained at Bakor. It can now be said with authority that Under the provisions of the Agreement he will more therefrom. While he does not known as the Opium Convention, 1885, hego-state positively the location of his capital it will tiated to give effect to the Additional Article to probably be Mololla, which is to the north on the Chefoo Convention, the Hougkong Govern the line of the railway lending to Dagupan. ment undertakes to see that all opinin arriving There are several good reasons for the change- has to be reported to the Harbour Master, and which his officers adrance, althongh Aguinaldo no opium can be exported withont uotice to that himself says little about plans that involve his official. By this means smuggling has been personal movements. At the present time he greatly reduced, but if it be desired to narrow
is between two divisions of the American army this down to ranishing point no doubt further one at Manila and one at Cavite, practically steps, either by the establishment of handed within their lines-of-easy observation if not warehouses for opium and limiting the prepar operations and within year shelling distance of ation of the drug to local consumption and the the American fleet. If there is to be any troublé supply of the American and Australian markets with the Americans, which for the good. of the could be taken by the Hongkong Government. Philippines as much as Americans is to be de. This Chamber has no desire to see one cent of plored, it is good strategy for him to change revenne collected at the expense of the Chinese his present position. Then, again, he intends Treasury, but it is profoundly convinced that to combine and unite his forces by going to the the freedom of the port can only be properly north and place himself where he can be in safeguarded by the withdrawal of the Chinese close touch with the more powerful leaders of Customs Stations to Chinese territory and the that section. Still another reason is that he refusal of permission to the Chinese Customs will be on the line of the railway, where if neces- officials to collect duties in the colony or its sary he can either escape to a point further north and get away into the mountaius, or ent the line to prevent the American transport of troops or connection with supply points in the rich provinces between Manila and the Gulf of Singayen. where the railway now ends.
waters.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, Sth September, 1898. Sir, The Committee of this Chamber take this opportunity to ask your assistance and co-operation in securing the best interests of It has been urged that the facilities asked this colony, which are in danger of suffering for by the Chinese Customs are regarded in injury from certain stipulations in a Conven- some way as a quid pro quo, for the extension tion recently negotiated for its intended special of territory. With regard to this contention. benefit. I refer to the Convention sigued at this Committee would point out that British Peking on the 9th June by Her Britannic trade has for the past thirty years been suffer Majesty's Minister with the Chinese Governing serious loss consequent on the failure of ment to secure an extension of the boundaries of Hongkong, and the text of which agreement has been published in The Times.
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One clause of that Agreement provides that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction, and that the existing landing place near Kowloon city shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, mer- chant and passenger vessels, which may come and go and lie there at their pleasure, &c. This clause can only be considered detracting most seriously from the value of the concession, inasmuch as it leaves in the centre of a British possession a jurisdiction and auth- ority which are alike foreign and antagonistic to all our ideas of jurisprudence and govern- ment, and for that reason alone is to be earu- estly deprecated. Apart from this, however, is the absolute certainty that such deference to the supposed susceptibilities of the Chinese Go- vernment must act prejudicially upon the minds of all the natives, who under these circum- stances will assuredly regard the Chinese rather than the British Government as the predomin- ant Power, a result so patent that it seems in- credible an arrangement of this nature could ever have been considered. The city of Kow- loon itself is an insignificant place, but it has always been a thorn in the side of Hongkong since the latter became a British colony, lying as it does on the other side of the centre of the harbour, while its gambling dens have repeatedly caused serious trouble to the Col onial Government. The insanitary condition of the place also renders it a source of danger to the health of the colony. The reservation of the only landing place and the waters of the bay for the use of Chinese war vessels and revenue cruisers-for no merchant steamers frequent the place is tantamount to the es tablishment of a Chinese port for the use of Chinese Customs cruisers, c., within a British harbour, a position without & parallel in any other part of the world.
Although no mention of such specific pro- posals is contained in the Convention, this Com inittee have reason to know that the Chinese Imperial Maritine Customs have put forward certain claims, in connection with the protection of their revenue, which include the retention of all their existing stations in the new British territory, and to have further facilities granted
the Chinese Government to carry out the cou- ditions of the Treaties, which loss if placed in the scale would still leave a large balance at the debit of China.
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There are still other reasons for this change of base. Undoubtedly Aguinaldo is frightened as to the future. He could not be called a great, brave man himself and hence he cannot indi-
vidually inspire his men and followers so that they will always stand by him. Unless he goes to the north he fears that he will lose his hold on This extension of territory, though of his chiefs in that section or that they will se- great strategic and military value, would parate themselves from him and proclaim an certainly never prove of equal commercial other as President. As each day passes Again- importance unlesss it were free from the aldo sees the weakness of his cause and the restrictions with which the Chinese Imperial frailty of his claims developing into absolute Maritime Customs seek to fetter not only it failure) unless the Philippines shall be returned but also the parent colony. Taking this into to the Spaniards, when he would indeed have á He knows secretly consideration, this Chamber is of opinion that just cause of fighting. the colony had better remain in the position that he has committed a great crime in proclaim- antecedent to the convention of June last rathering independence; he is well aware that, but for than accept the new territory with the condi- American assistance, he would never have been tions now sought to be attached thereto.
where he is to-day; he is conscious that he owes almost everything to American assistance and co-operation, and is likewise mindful of the fact that he is almost guilty of the gravest treachery towards the United States in assuming the at- fitude which he has in his relations with the United States officials in his proclamations, and in the instructions and orders which he has is sned, realizing at the same time that the great Powers of Europe will never recognize his claim to independence.
The Committee have addressed the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Colonial Government at length on this important ques tion, and now beg that your Chamber will not only give its most earnest attention thereto but will throw the whole weight of its great influ ence in favour of this colony.-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
R. M. GRAY,
Chairman. The President, London General Chamber of
Commerce.
DISMISSAL OF LI HUNG-CHANG.
SIR CLAUDE MACDONA D SCORES.
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE" DAILY PRESS,”]
Shanghai, 9th September. An Imperial Edict issned on the 7th instant reliers Li Hung-chang and Chin. Isin, the Manchu President of the Board of Revenue, from their duties in connection with the Tsungli
Yameu.
Yu Lu is appointed Minister of the Yamen and President of the Board of Rites.
Sir Claude MacDonald scores.
The Tientsin correspondeut of the N. C, Daily News writes:-Re the Newchwang Line. one of the Jardine boats went out of Taku last week with 1,500 coolies for this work; this is by far the greatest number which has ever left our port at once. The ship presented a curious sight as she had the barrows and other tools slung outside the taffrail, from want of room.
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In view of all these conditions Aguinaldo intends to he ready to run if compelled. If his magnificent blutf fails he must get out of the way, and he knows of it. If this running shall be from the Americans I pity him, because there are 15,00 men here that will never stop till they find him if they are ordered to bring At the same time if he will him into Manila. pursue the honourable course and not take advantage of the nation to which he owes everything, and gracefully accept its chief con- trol, if the Paris tribunal so decides, he will find these Americans equally ready to protect the rights of Philippinos and do their best to promote the prosperity and welfare of the na- tives as well as Americans and foreigners.
The great error of Aguinaldo and his fol- lowers is that they do not realize that Ameri- caus are almost as different from Spaniards as white from black and that the former's ideas of
government, freedom, and justice, are entirely unlike those of the latter. Just because the Am- erican authorities cannot and do not in a few days completely change the administration of affairs in Manila, and even allow a few Spanish officials to remain temporarily in their places, the insurgent leaders blindly argue that there
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