May 27, 1899.]
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRALE REPORT.
making water in the forehold only, The second us, however, important to point out its efficiency, officer with a boat's crew was dispatched early the more so as the registration of chops at the next mornning to Sasebo, the nearest port, for Imperial office of Trade-marks in Tokyo can be the purpose of sending a message to the local obtained without great trou le and at a rela- agents asking for assistance, but on arrival at tively very small cost through an agent-in that place the men were detained by the antho-preference perhaps a European lawyer. rities, who treated them suspiciously as they were Such measures should prove of great value not in possession of passports (!), and in spite of in dealing with the competition of Japanes explanations it was not until half-past three inhongs, which, as time progresses, will yet be the afternoon that the message was sout. more felt by Europeans. Four thousand bags of rice and sugar have b`en jettisoned and the remainder of the cargo has been salaved and brought to this port. and pum sing machinery have been sent to the vessel by the local dockyard authorities, but Dr. Nippen states that the vessel is in a dan. gerons position and thinks that the hopes of saving the vessel are very slight
Divers
Nagasaki, 20th May. The Benlawers was successfully floated early yesterday morning and came into harbour under her own steam at half-past ten a.m.
She will go into dry dock as soon as a berth is vacant, to ascertain the extent of her injuries. It is surmised that the repairs will take a month to execute.-Nagasaki Press,
JAPANESE COMMEKCE WITH CHINA AND TRADEMAKKS. The following "Communicated" article is translated from the Ostasiatiche Lloyd:-
Japanese commerce which, of late years, has made such satisfactory progress for the "Laad of the Rising Sun," has, with special regard to the export to China, increased in tremendous proportions. The statistics, which are annually published by the Japanese Customs Administra- tion (Annual Returns of the Empire of Japan), show for the last 5 years the following figures:-
Chinese Treaty Ports. Yen.
1894-8,813,987.38
1895-9,135,108.66
1896-13,823,843.67
11
Hongkong.
Yen. 16,199,480.73 18,362,802.02 19,965,899.72 25,390,293.92 31,473,895.70
1897-21,325,065.42 1898-29,193,175.14 These figures for the treaty ports, in five years show an increase of more than 230 per cont. and for Hongkong nearly 100 per cent. The question involuntarily arises whether, con- sidering the tenacious clinging of the Chinese merchants to old custom what is called "unfair competition does not play an im- portant role in the matter.
We are far from discrediting the progress which Japanese industry has achieved in the last five years, but, after all, there is something difierent in producing large quantities of mer- chandise and finding a market for them specially in China. China, as everybody, knows, is the land of "chops," that is to say of acknowledged trademarks.
With incredible tenacity the Chinese mer. chants stick to their old chops.
The rapid increase of Japanese goods sold to China, however, is in direct contradiction to this idea. The question is in what way have Japanese managed to treble their commerce with China despite this impediment in so short & period? Even in China, cheapness and quality are not the only factors.
It is well known, that Japanese merchants are not very scrupulous in their choice of trade- marks, and foreign merchants, residing in Japan, can tell many a tale in this respect.
A PERIL US. VOYAGE.
441
mans at Kiaochow, who have turned the people off their ancestral estates, compelling them to accept the sum of $30 per mow for the land, and the meanest trifle for the houses they are driven from. The more intelligent Chinese with whom Ţ have conversed say that in this matter they consider
I on this subject Germans less to blame than the native middle- men they employ,, and the general impression is that if the foreigners understood what in justice is being done in their name, they would put a stop to it
the
A pleasing Contrast is drawn between the action of the Germans at Kiaochow, and the English at Weihaiwei, who tolerate no oppres- sion, but on the contrary do thoir unmost to pro. tect the native from these of their own nation who would frece them. In the district under English rule at Weibaiwei, the owners of land their poperty,. or if their land is required by the are as free as in other ports to sell or retain local government, a reasonable price is always given.
REPORTED RENEWAL OF DISTURB- ANCES IN SZECHUEN,
We take the following from the China Gazette:-
Nagasaki, 19th May. The US. transport Pennsylvania, now in port from Manila, ou her way up on the 16th iust. spoke in lat. 31.37 No.. long, 127.44 E., the American barque Hesper, Captain Soder- gren, owned by Mr.-Billings, of San Francisco. The latter vessel left Port Townsend on the 9th March last with a cargo of lumber for Kiaochow. On the 28th April, in lat. 22.35 N., long. 144.20 E., in the neighbourhood of the Ladrones, a terrible hurricane was encountered during which the ship shifted her deckload and was thrown on her beam eud. The main rail, stan- | chios, and bulwarks were destroyed by the storm and in twelve hours' time the vessel became totally water-logged, with four feet of water all over the deck and with a list of fully eight planks to port. In this condition the vessel had sailed nearly 1,000 miles
It is reported that fresh troubles have broken when the Pennsylvania met her. 120 miles from
out in Szechuen between the populace and the here. The chief officer of the transport was
Mission Etrangere converts, and it is now re- sent to offer assistance, either to bring the opa-
ported that the French Missions have been tain and crew away or to tow the vessel to this attacked at Fun-yang and that many persons port, but both, offers were firmly refused. Cap-
were injured. It is said that the French Bishop. tain Sodergern, having come so far unaided,
has started for the scene of the disturbance; desires
which is regarded as very-serious and no doubt to reach his destination and he is confident of success.
comes very opportunely (if it was not purposely The vessel pre-instigated) for the furtherance of Frenou terri sented an unique appearance viewed from torial claims in Szechuen, which lately have the transport. The captain, who is accompanied been having a "set-back." by his wife, has his quarters in a tent, erected
A few more ont- on one of the higher portions of the deck.
rages will help the claims along swimmingly Captain Doxrud, of the transport, kindly fur-
and strengthen the hands of M. Haas who is nished the barque with a quantity of provisions, leaves his port for home.
very anxious to distinguish himself before he and finding that no further services were re- quired proceeded to this port, where on arrival he reported the matter to the U.S. Consul. A telegram has, it is understood, been sent by the latter to the ship's agents at Kiaochow, and it is very probable that a steamer or gunboat will be dispatched to the vessel's assistance by the German authorities, to whom the cargo is consigued. At the time the transport left the barque, the latter was about 500 miles from Kiaochow and if she is favoured with fine weather, another seven days will probably bring her memorable voyage to an end cerely to be hoped that the plucky captain and crew will reach their haren of refuge and the news of their safe arrival will be gladly wel- comed.-Nagasiki Press.
It is sin
AFFAIRS IN SHANTUNG.
THE CAUSE OF THE DISAFFECTION, ENGLISH AND GERMAN METHODS CONTRASTED,
|
|
ANOTHER KAILWAY RUMPUÏ.
A RUSSIAN LINE TO: KALGAN, The China Gazette of the 16th May says:- We understand that there is another great rumpus in Peking over the Railway Question, and that a state of unusual excitement prevails amongst the high Chinese officials in the capital. It is said that Russia has demanded the right to carry a totally new branch of the Traus-Siberian line, or rather # feeder, from somewhere near the junction of the Shilka with the Amur, sonth to Kalgan, which is comparatively speaking whitbin
a stone's throw of Peking. It is said by Russia that this line is provided for on the general. agreement made by Directors Hu and Mai with Count Cassini, governing the construction of Russian railways in Chinese territory. This is denied by the Chinese, who regard such a line as a very immediate menace to China's tottering The Chefoo correspondent of the Worcury sovereignty in the north, which no doubt it is. writes under date of 13th May as follows:- But whether the proposed line is something en- The condition of Shantang is just now most tirely new or not does not matter; if Russia deplorable, and although the majority of the wants it she will have it, more especially as it people are as peace-loving as the natives of all lies north of the Great Wall, north of which other provinces, the prevalent feeling of unrest Great Britain, according to her now under- is not unlikely to show itself in acts of violence, standing with Russia, will not interfere with and thus further trouble will be brought on the Russia' railway programme as long as the latter innocent, if not on the guilty. The district confines her operations to her own sphere. No devastated by the breach of 'he Yellow River is doubt, the line to Kalgan, whether constructed of course, suffering most, but the long season of from Aigun or Maimatohin (Kiatkha) will take drought is causing much anxiety everywhere, for off a tremendously troublesome section of the the wheat crops are stunted, the grain thin and trans-Siberian line and moreover it will shrivelled, and the spring crops show no signs most certainly be constructed and it will as of appearing. Many farmers have wisely kept certainly be extended to connect with the There being no law for the protection of their seed in bags, knowing that to sow it in Russian system in Shausi, which is expected trademarks in China, such conduct cannot be mere dust would be to throw it away, and those she will begin to construct next year. The met by prosecution on the ground of British, who sowed, in hope of the usual life-giving. Chinese officials are now beginning at last German, or other registrations. It is to be feared showers, are regretting having done so. for the to see the real meaning of the Anglo-Russian that if the Europeau merchants do not energeti- ground is so dry that hardly a blade of grass | agreement and that it means that China is to cally call for redress, soon each single firm may or the usual luxuriant weeds are to be seen. find its dearly introduced trademarks on Japa These, and nearly all other calamities are beintegrity" will be preserved
be treated as a quantite negligeable." China's as long as nese produce without being able to protect them-lieved by the ignorant and superstations to be Russia merely railroads through her particular selves. or prosecute the oulprits.
sphere and Great Britain does likewise in bers! Chins is now so mad that her big men in Pek. ing talk widly of opposing Russia's demands, by force. But this is sheer folly. The real oruz is who is to connect Peking with Kalgan,- China herself, or an American byndicate-or a
It is therefore natural, that, from a Japanese standpoint, the temptation was close at hand to imitate for their own produce the old European
chops" so well-known to the Chinese mer chants. This has gone eveu so far as to place the full name of a Europeau firm on Japauese goods...
There is one means of averting this danger for European firms reeiding in China, viz., the secur ing of lawful protection in Japan. Such precan. tions have so far been very rarely taken. "In the interest of the European commerce, it seems to
due to the presence of foreigners whose evil ways are abhorrent to the gods of the land! and the missionaries have to bear much of the ill will which this belief gives rise to.
Another, and more reasonable, canse of irri. 'tation is the overbearing conduct of the Ger-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.