July 22, 1899.]
dispersed, and a part of the stolen money was recovered, some fifteen or seventeen hundred dollars. Finally, all danger being over, the Tantai on the 3rd July issed a notice that those who wished to leave could do so and that he would give them an escort of fifty men. A party accordingly left on the 4th, at eight o'clock in the morning, arrived at Manhao at ten o'clock the following morning, and an hour lator took junk for Laokay, and on the 7th arrived at Hanoi.
Such are the facts as narrated by eye-wit- nesses. There was no question of an attack on the Europeans auder pratext that the Chinese thought they were going to deprive them of their mines or because they regarded the com- inga and goings of the missions as a taking of possession. Far from regarding the Europeans with disfavour many Chinese have already offered capital to a French contractor and un- dertaken to assist him to the atmost of their power. The fact that members of the mission have remained on the spot to continue their survey instead of returning to Tonkin proves conclusively that the situation is now quiet and that the peace was not disturbed with the ob- ject of injuring the French. The affair was simply one of those quarrels so common amongst the Chinese and which may mislead newcomers bat should not seriously disturb those who have had previous experience of such occurrences. Work on the railway has been in nowise com- promised but is being pushed forward with re- doubled activity.
or
As to the agents who represent France in the district, whether the Cousul his locum tenens, it seems to us, says the Avent, that they lost their heads when they should have remained cool. A Consul who counts four years' residence in Yunnan should have understood the nature of the move. ment from the outset.
Our contemporary goes on to blame the Consul for not having telegraphed particulars and to criticise the Governmental intelligence depart ment!
T.IE CUSTOM-HOUSE AT TSINGTA.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. !
73
Kiaochau Government and the Customs, and | THE U. S. MINISTER AND SHE NEW. expressed the confident hope that they would be maintained for the benefit of the Colony."
-
CONDITIONS IN JAPAN;ialini
We can quite understand Mr. Ohlmer ba. Mr. A. E. Buck, United States Minister se ing unable to avoid remarking on the very Japan, in view of the coming into operation o unique conditions in which the new Custom-the New Treaty between the United States a house was placed and expressing a conviction Japan on the 17th of the present month, issue that, as the new inst tution was to be adminis-a-notification to his nationals and which › tered on a liberal and rational basis, it would said considerably contribute to the prosperity of the The Rescript of His Imperial Majesty the new trade contre. It is obvions, too, that the Emperor, as also the several notifications by His Governor was justified in drawing attention to Excellency the Minister President of State and the amiable relations existing between the Kiao-Their Excellencies the heads of Departments chau Government and the Customs-some Ger- of the Government, already published enjoining, mans and others trading at and with Tsingtao as they do, upon all Japanese subjects - their: may think that amiability may be carried too far, duties in respect to foreigners, have been read --but we should like to hear the Governor explain with mucli satisfaction by me, as they will the grounds for his confident hope that these be by all United States citizens, not only in relations will be maintained for the benefit of Japan but in America as well. In liks spirit the Colony. We have never written and do attention is called to the duty which, I trust, not propose to write a word against the Im- will be the pleasure of all citizens of the United perial Maritime Customs as an institution as States, under no circumstances to give sny long as it confines itself to its proper places, canse of complaint either to Government official but we do not think that a free port is a proper or other Japanese subjects. In their relation place for it. 'The German merchants at
with the people of this country they should Tsingtao are, we understand, strongly opposed show at all times, by their demeanour and by to it, and they seem to think. 88 ૧ their every act, such sentiments of regard for German correspondent writes ns, that Chinese those with whom they will necessarily be assocf- diplomacy has got the better in this case of ated and for all laws regulations and customs, the Deutscher Michel," in being thus allowed as will demonstrate that reciprocal' friendship. to hinder the prosperous development of the reasonably expected of them in response to the so-called German aphere of influence.
kind, considerate, and just treatment enjoined The German merchants at Tsingtao complain on all Japanese subjects by His Imperial Mas that the establishment there of a Chinese Cus-jesty and by the high officials of the Govern tom-house will soon prove to be an intolerable ment. obstacle to the full development both of the im- The United States was the first of all the port and export trades, will be an annoyance to Powers to enter into "a Treaty of Peace, Amity the steamer lines, and even to the German Go- | aud Commerce," with Japan. From that time vernment authorities, and will have to be rele- the bonds of friendship uniting the two count gated to its proper place ou the frontier. Theries have become stronger with passing years fact that Tsingtao was an entirely free port and it is the duty of all citizens of the United was a great inducement to Chinese merchants States in this country to see to it that nothing to come there to trade; but this inducement on their part is done to cause reflection upon is now lost, and all foreign merchants also the people of their nationality. in China have as our correspondent sug- gests, the right to protest against the short- sightedness of the German authorities who, with the object. laudable in itself, of facilitat ing the work of the Chinese Customs, nearly killed the bright prospects their intel ligent Emperor created with a master-stroke."
"have
The German merchants at Kiaochau are dis-
What is a Free Port? It is always under. stood that it is to the foresight and enterprise of the German Emperor himself that Germany owes the possession of Kiaochau, and that it posed to regret that their officials act in cases was the decision of Emperor William that of this kind without cousulting, or paying Kiaochan, or rather Tsingtao the Settlement, sufficient attention to, the commercial com. should be a free port. By a free port most of munity who are far better acquainted with the past and present local conditions. As the British as, English, Germans, and others, understand an absolutely free port like Hongkong or Sin- merchants in China have been asking for the gapore; it was supposed that it was the success appointment of a purely commercial attaché to and prosperity of these ports-where a Custom-
the British Legation, so the Germans suggest house officer is unknown, except that the
the appointment of an Advisory Board, consist. Chinese are allowed by agreement to directing of practical, experienced, commonsense men, from Hongkong the prevention of opium-
to assist the comparatively inexperienced Go- smuggling-that appealed to the intelligence vernment officials in matters relating to trade bf
and industry. This might perhaps take the the Em jeror; and that he
form of a general German Chamber of Com- that to make his new colony at Tsingtao a similar success, there should be no Customs
merce for the Far East, with branches at there. When Mr. Ohlmer went up to Tsingtao Hongkong, Shanghai, Tsingtan, etc. By this to establish a branch of the Imperial Martime
means mistakes might be sometimes avoided Customs, the idea of most of us was that it
which may seriously compromise the welfare would be situated on the frontier between
of foreign commerce generally in China, while those who make the mistakes, from the territory leased to Germany and the Chinese remainder of Shantung, and it was with no little
insufficient knowledge, are really honestly anxi- surprise that the account which appeared in our
ous to do everything in their power to further issue of the 5th instant, of the opening of the
the commerce and industries of their nationals. Custom-house at Tsingtao, was read.
We cannot but think that the establishment of Our
a Custom-house at Tsingtao is one of those corresponent reported how Mr. Ohlmer, the Commissioner, form-lly opened the Custom-mistakes; its moral effect on the Chinese is bad, honse at Tsingtao on the 1st of July in the
and it is a disappointment to foreigners as im- sence of the Governor and his staff the cere pairing the absolute freedom of trade which mony of unfurling the Chinese flag being grace-
they expected when the port was opened. fully performed by the Baroness von Li iencron.
N. C. Daily News. It is, indeed, a little startling to hear of the Chinese Dragon flag floating once more over Tsingtao after the occurrences of the past year. We were told that :-
pre-
In thanking the Governor for his attendance, Mr. Ohlmer pointed out that the day marked the commencement of a new era in the history of the_young Colony-the conditions under which the Customs would function were unique in Customs history, but being on a liberal and rational basis he was convinced that they would,
On the 9th June the American refrigerator ship Glacier, 5,300 tons, Captain Arnold, U.S. Navy, arrived at Singapore from the Brooklyn Navy Yard en route for Manila with 1,500,000 pounds of beef and 50,000 pounds of mutton for the soldiers in the Philippines. It has been decided to erect a huge refrigerating plant in the Philippines; but, until it is completed, the Glacier will act as a meat spply boat for the Army. She will receive meat from smaller boats which will run to and from Australia.
THE DANISH REPRESENTATIVE AT BANGKOK.
APPOINTMENT OE m. OLAROYSKT. Since Mr. Finch's departure was first annour ced, the appointment of Danish Representati bere has been a question of no small interest to the whole Danish community. We now that the rank of the representative has boẹn raised from Consul General to Minister-Resid
A. E. Olarovský,
ent, and that the acting appointment has bee conferred upon Monsieur, the Russian Minister. This announcement will give the greatest satisfaction to all the Danes here, and will indeed he generally accepted as in accordance with the fitness of things. Quite apart from other ties between the two countries, the closer commercial relations that are being formed between Russia and Denmark are open secret Yo the Dane out here the most important consider. ation, however, is that in M. Olaroysky ha will have a very able and energetic represente tive. at need. From the long time that an Leckie held the appointment and the valuabl services that he rendered to Denmark as Actin Consul-General, the position had almost.com to be associated with the head of the Borneo Company, as of right, but with inevitable Bangkok it was natural that a change, shon changes in the personnel of the Company be effected in the Danish “ Consulate and the Danes have every right to be the improved rank of their Represents of the selection that has been made.——Bungk Times.
THE PLAGUE.
The figures for the last five weeks are as lows:-
CABER LA DEATHS, F
WEEK ENDED.
June 174
109
24 July 1
15
$142
100
64
The daily returns for the
in a large measure, contribute to the prosperity Part of the cargo of the Glacier is for the as follows:—Sunday,
of the new trade centre.
"The Governor, in responding, referred to the amiable relations existing between the
Navy. She carries rifles and ammunition for boats.-Straits Timės. the equipment of the captured Spanish gun.
138, ba
cases, deaths day, 8 cases. 8 deaths, Tuesday, 0.ca Wednesday, 5 cases, 6 deaths; cases, 6 deaths; Friday, 3 cases,
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