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tratlön and such other Colonies and Possessions, including the Cape, Natal, and Newfoundland, an may agree to the ld. rate, as to which I will cause you to be furnished with further inform- ation at a later date.
CHINA GYMELANIU TRADE BEFORY
cannot in their opinion fail to benefit British | THE ILLNESS OF THE EMPERORIU Trade in the Far East.
THE SITUATION AT PEKING. The following telegrams are translated by the Kobe Chronicle from Japanese vernacular papers :-
Peking, 14th October.
4I have also agreed; on behalf of the above mentioned Crown Colonies, to the introduction of a triple scale of parcel postage for parcels exchanged between the Colonies and the United Kingdom which was proposed by the Postmaster The Tsungli Yamen sent Shokei to the various General at the Conference, viz-A parcel Legations representing the foreigners recently weighing not over 3 lbs. 1/-; over 3 but not assaulted in order to tender an apology, but the over 7 lbs. 2/-; over 7 but not over 11 lbs 3/Ministers have expressed strong resentment I am also recommending the adoption of the that the Chinese Government should have sent reduced postage rate for letters, and of the new a subordinate official on such a mission. In triple scale of parcel postage to those Colonies consequence of the Ministers protests, Prince in which, though not possessing responsible Ching made a visit to the various Legations Government, the legislation is not controlled by yesterday and conveyed an apology from the the Crown
Government.
THE PEKING-HANKOW RAILWAY
The N. C. Daily News publishes a Peking telegram of the 13th October stating that the direction and construction of the. Lu-Han Railway is ordered to be under the joint con- trol of Yu Lu, Viceroy of Chibli, and Changi Chih-tung, Viceroy of the Hukuang provinces. This decree of the Empress-Dowager, our contemporary says, shows that she has not dared, after all, to touch H.E. Chang Chih-tung in spite of HE.'s well-known liberal views and favour shown to several prominent members of the Reform Party.
THE CANTON-HANKCW RAILWAY.
It appears, according to the Sinwenpao, that the survey of the proposed railway between Canton and Hankow will soon be commenced, as arrangements have already been made for the work by the Chinese officials, who are now only waiting for the arrival of the American engineers recommended for the purpose by H.E. Wu Ting-fang, Chinese Minister at Washington. A telegram, it is asserted was sent the other day to Washington hastening the departure of the engineers from the U.S.- N. G. Daily News,
THE NEWCHWẠNG RAILWAY.
BIGNING OF THE CONTRACT“ The following telegram dated Peking, 11th October, is translated by the Kobe Chronicle from a Japanese paper-
The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank has signed the contract with the Chinese Go. vernment in regard to the loan for the New chwang Railway! The amount to be advanced is £2,300,000 The Bank has obtained as security for the loan the railway between Shanhaikwad and Peking and the privilege of working mines in the vicinity of the railway north of the Great Wall, in addition to a Government guarantee: The railway will be worked under the joint supervision of English men and Chinese, and will be completed in three
years
THE BERESFORD MISSION.
RESOLUTIONS FROM SINGAPORE..
The Committee of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce have forwarded the subjoined re-
solutions to Lord Charles Beresford-
Peking, 15th October.
A rumour is freely circulated that the Em- press Dowager is resolved to depose the Emperor. Prince Li is said to have remonstrated against the proposal, but without effect, and it may be put into force any day. The rumour, however, lacks confirmation.
Tokyo, 15th October.
A Peking despatch of the 14th inst, received in: Tokyo states that the interests of the Powers in Peking being contradictory no conference has yet been held. The political barometer has fallen very low, and a storm threatens at any moment, but everything is quiet at present. In most cases the troops landed will not be with: from the preparations being made by each drawn without something being conceded, and
retain the guards for a long time. Power, it would seem that it is the intention to
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Ministers are busily exchanging visits with A later telegram states that the Foreign each other, and it would.seem that a conference is being arranged.
what to do to suppress the insurrections and The Chinese Government is at a loss as to has ordered the Viceroys of various provinces to appear in Peking. It is doubtful, however, if Chang Chih-tung will obey the summons.
|
Shanghai, 20th Octobers It was known privately in Shanghair tion had been admitted with the First Tuesday that the Dootor of the French Leg terpreter, M. de Vissière, to see the Emperor, and yesterday the Echo de Chine issued as an 18th of October "Extra" the following telegram, dated Peking,
the Emperor was known and any appeal * As soon as official news about the illness of
made to every physician in the Empirejs the Minister for France offered the servicen of Doctor Dethère, medical attaché to the Leu gation. The proposition was accepted and afterut a report from the Throne, Doctor Dethever wanti called yesterday by the Emperor and he pros ceeded immediately to the Palace, accompanied!!. by the first interpreter of the Legation, Mr^ Vissière.
of the Empress Dowager.
"The consultation took place in the presence/
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caused a profound impression in Peking"
The news of this important proceeding has
As Mr. de Vissière is well acquainted with been no imposition, but opinions will differ any the appearance of the Emperor there can have to the object of the Empress Dowager in allowanc ing her Imperial nephew to be seen by a foreign doctor.-N. C. Daily News.
REPORTED ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF THE EMPEROR.
It is stated from Peking that His Majesty Kuang Hsä contrived not many days ago to escape from his prison in the island at the confined by the Empress Dowager since the Southern Lakes, Eho Park, where he had been✨. coup d'état. But when his Majesty got to thờy-
in his Majesty's face. of the Empress-Dowager, shut the great gates Park gates, the Imperial guards, all creatureB I
who dared not offer the Imperial person. A crowd of ennuchs any violence or attempt to use force in pre- venting his Majesty walking to the Park gates, however, followed him in a body and upon the gates being closed they all knelt in front of the Emperor beseeching his Majesty with tears to have mercy on them and not attempt to escape, for it would mean the death of all of them as well as of the guardsmen at the gates were he Great Britain is not content with obtaining ato do so. The guardsmen also kowtowed and contract for the construction of railways between Peking and Chinkiang and other places in the same direction. She desires further concessions, hoping to practically occupy the Yangtze valley and to secure sovereign rights over Kowloon. The other Powers have obtained very liberal concessions in China compared with those se- cured by Great Britain, and this fact excited much discontent in England and stirred the Go- vernment to more resolute action.
THE AIMS OF THE POWERS IN CHINA, A telegram which purports to have come from Peking in published in the Tokyo papers, and gives the following succinot account of the wants" of the various Powers now competing in China:-
Germany desires to extend the limits of the territory in occupation at Kiaochau and obtain entire sovereignty over it. She has, it is true, obtained prior rights of railway construction in Shantung, but desires further concessions.
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joined in the general prayer while on the other hand they sent one of their number to apprise the Empress-Dowager at Peking of the matter. The Emperor finally took pity on his suppliant subjects and quietly, returned to his prison, N C. Daily News.
THE IMPERIAL ACTORS AND THE EMPEROR'S FOREIGN CLOTHES.
Some surprise was felt among theatre-goers in Peking, writes our native correspondent, during the recent coup d'état, at the sudden disappearance of several well-known and famous actors who frequently played before the Em- Russia has an ambition to extend her rule. over the whole of North China. As a first become known that the head of the troupe, peror in the Palace Theatre. It has now step, she desires to obtain prior rights of conunder directions from one of the Em
Emperor's structing railways that will form a network in confidential eunuchs, smuggled in the palsooj fall communication with the Siberian system. one day, a suit of European clothing, hat, boots, Russia also desires to establish full sovereignty sto., for the Emperor's use. These clothes were over Talienwan and Port Arthur, now held on discovered by the Empress Dowager and en- lease from China.
quiries were set on foot as to how they had got into the "Forbidden Precincts." The actoru heard of this and so cleared out of the capital at once.-N. C. Daily News.
France, having abandoned for the present any designs in Hainan, désires to obtain con-
"The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of all members of the Chamber, desire to record a cordial vote of thanks to the Right Honourable Lord Charles Beresford, M. P., for his address at the cessions in Kwangsi. public meeting held on Saturday, the 4th September, explaining his views on the question of opening up trade in China.”
With regard to the special points brought forward by his Lordship in his speech, the Committee feel they are such as affect more partionlarly trading interests in China, and that it would be courteous, on their part, if they refrained for formulating their own views until an expression of opinion has been given by the Chambers of Commerce in Hong kong and in Shanghai.”
"As to the suggestion of a Commercial Alli- ance, the Chamber would add that any strong international combination at the present time having for its object the opening up of China, without preference being given to any Power:
Italy had no special necessity to send Lega- tion guards to Peking, but nevertheless followed the example of the other Powers. She desires to obtain rights of working certain iron and coal mines north of the Yellow River, construct- ing railways, and securing rights of navigation.
1
THE MEN THE EMPRESS-DOWAGER.
TRUSTS.
According to a Peking official of high ran now on his way to his home in the South, the men in whom the Empress Dowager has the It is stated from Peking that when Sir most trust, at the present moment, are • Chang Yin-huan, the ex-Vice-President of the Lu and Kang Yi, ex-Governor of Kuangtung, Board of Revenue, started for his long journey and now President of the Board of War. The to Kashgaria the other day, the only persons latter has been most energetic in trying to who went to see him off at the West gate were stamp out reform, while the former bas, so his foreign friends from the various legations, always counselled moderation. Jung Lu, but that of the thousand and one men who had ever, is the most dreaded man in Peking to de been his colleagues and dependants not a single as well as the most powerful. Chung Li, Pre soul was visible in the vicinity on that day.-N.sident of the Board of Funishments and Com 10. Daily News.
mandant of the Peking Gendarmerie, is also a
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