Dedember 16, 1890
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ance.
|
with other high Chinese officials looked on at the utter décny and decline of the Chinese fortunately noticed by the officer in charge personally a favourite with the French au- After the capture the launch was success of the negotiations. Marthal Su is * trade. It should have been apparent to of the mandarin's bout off Chau Tau Shan, thorities, with whom he has worked amicably him that "the export of this great staple and suspecting that something was wrong on the Tonkin frontier, and his appointment muit fall to nothing if the chuses which he resolved on a closer inspection. handicapped it in competition with the pirates growing uneasy under this observa- | chauwan might have been taken as indica- The as the delimitation commissioner for Kwang- Indian leaf were allowed to continue. Had tion jumped overboard and swam ashore, tive of a desire on the part of the Chinese the naowware improvements in the culture It was believed they had seized the Lee Loi to settle the matter in a friendly spirit, of the plant and the process of firing teen with the intention of operating against some had it not been for the report above Introduced and the burden of taxation been launches laden with arms which were ex- alluded to, which went the round of the removed, China tea would still have held a pected up the river. A notorious robber Native papers and remained uncontradict- place in the British markets. But no effort chief named SAN PIU is stated to have sent ed. But even assuming that Marshal Bu was mnde to arrest the destruction of this n letter to the manager at Canton of the individually represented peaceful inten- Important trade. Nor has LI HUNG-CHANG China Merchants' . N. Company de- tions, he was not allowed a free hand, but ever shown any intelligent interest in the manding the sum of ten thousand dollars had to consult the views of the Viceroy opium trade. He has looked on calmly na the price of freedom from molestation of Canton, whose duplicity in connection while the production of the drug has been of their steamers. He threatens, in case increased a hundredfold in the Chinese pro- of refusal to comply with this demand, tory will not readily be forgotten, and who with the transfer of Hongkong's Now Terri- Vifices and in Manchuria vast tracts of that he will plunder the steamers belong- appears to have pursued the same dishonest land, which had formerly been employed in ing to the Company. The manager very and sucidal policy in the case of Kwang- grain cultivation, being given up to the sensibly disdained to reply to this attempt chanwan. Armed attacks have been unde on production of the poppy-and the habit of it extortion, and sent the letter to the Nam- the French forces, French officers have been opium smoking increased enormously by its hoi Magistrate. Whether that official will brutally murdered and mutilated, and the ready socessibility and relative cheapness. trouble to take any steps to apprehend the French Government have thus been supplied The import of the Indian drug has meantime blackmailer is doubtful; it is still more declined, and with it the revenue from the doubtful whether such efforts, if put claim for satisfaction. Possibly that claim with good ground for preferring a heavy vice, for the home grown opium is much forth, will prove effectual for the purpose. may take the form of a demand for the more lightly taxed. Had there been op The pirates in Kwangtung and Kwangai cession of Hainau. The expediency of annex- position to the import of opium ou the display a boldness which nothing but a ing that island has often been discussed by ground that upium smoking was a wasteful knowledge of their practical immunity French publicists, and no doubt the Colonial and pernicious habit, there would have from serious consequences could well con- Expansionists will do their best to take bean -some
tense in such an attitude fer. They really seem to have little to fear advantage of the present occasion. But the being taken up; but that has not been from the Government, and seem the policy of the Chinese Government or of snap their fingers at the officials. The to say to such annexation? The colonial to | question arises, what will other Powern bavs La HuNG-CHANG. They simply desired the truth is, probably, that they have friends policy of France has hitherto been entirely sight to increase the duty on the import and confederates in the yamens, who selfish, its main characteristic being a desire When that was conceded and the drug keep them well posted concerning any to exclude all other nationalities from 'the became more expensive they did not, as a movements likely to be made in the way of enjoyment of any commercial opportunities really paternal Government would have punitive expeditions. Of the wrath of the iu French territory. Many Frenchmen die- done if honestly desirous to minimise the villagers and others who have suffered at approve of that policy and advocate the evils of the habit, seek to lessen the con- their hands they have more reason to be principle of equal commercial privileges for wumption by making it a luxury attainable afraid. The villagers of Pakling, on the all which has been consistently followed, and only by the moneyed classes, but promptly island of Chu Tau Shan, inflicted a sanguinary with conspicuous success, by Great Britain allowed the law against its production in lesson on some pirates on the 7th instant and which is being imitated by the Ger China to become a dead letter, until now, which may, perhaps, prove a caution to these maps at Kinochau and by the Russians at at the present moment, the quantity raised robbers that they are going too far and that Talienwan. M. DELCASSE, the French For- in the Empire is so great that if the import the peaceable inhabitants of the country eign Minister, the other day proclaimed the from India, Persin, and Turkey ceased to- are not going to wait for the tardy justice adhesion of France herself to the principle morrow it would scarcely be missed except of officialdon when they get a chance to at the Treaty ports. In the matter of cheat capture any marauder. The xecution of in the report that France has designs upon of the open door, and if there be any truth ing and adulteration, too, which have had the four pirates caught by the Pakling peo- Hainan she will have an opportunity of such injurious effects on China's exports-ple was carried out with a barbarity that sick- putting her new found faith into practice. notably on the straw braid trade the Gov- ens Europeans, but the provocation received Indeed, she will find it necessary to do so, ernment have always maintained a stolid had been considerable, and they were deter for other Powers, while they might not apathy and want of interest quite in- mined to make an example. It is to be oppose the annexation itself, will ask for conceivable in any officials animated by hoped that when the new Viceroy arrives guarantees that there shall be no restriction patriotic inotives. The aged but unrespected at Canton he may prove to have some fibre of existing trading rights and opportunities, Viceroy, who has had so large a share about him, and make himself a terror to If France eally believes in the open door in moulding China's policy in the past, and evil-doers along these waterways. Unless
on its own merits she might at once put contributed so considerably by his corrupt some sternly repressive measures be taken her faith into practice by abolishing the administration to bring her to the abyss of ere long, te navigation of the West River differential tariff now in force in Tonkin humiliation which followed on the war with and its affluents will become unsafe for any and Cochin-China. Japan, is not likely, therefore, in our opinion, but large and strongly armed foreign to inaugurate any surprising or beneficial steamers, and even on board these the most development in Chinese commerce.
rigid precautions will need to be taken,
"LAWLESSNESS IN KWANGTUNG.
(Daily Press, 13th December.) The condition of lawlessness which has for so many months afflicted the delta of the West River still exists and shows little sign of improvement. Not only are the native traf pirated continually and whole villages and towns terrorised -and blackmailed, but overraten-launches flying the British flag are boldly attacked and seized. Several of such seizures kave been recorded during the past few months, and in some instances the temporary possession of the launches "besu atitised by the pirates to pursue nd capture trading junks. On the last occasion chronicled a gang of these daring miscreants seized the steam-launch Lee Loi, when near Kumchuk, and threw overboard two.fi klavewatekimen who attempted resist
FRENCH DESIGNS ON HAINAN,
IMPROVED SANITATION AND. DI- MINUTION OF THE DEATH`RATE,
(Daily Press, 12th December.) (Daily Press 14th December.)
The average death rate of the colony of forces in Tonkin with the object of making a
The report of a mobilisation of the French Hongkong during the ten years 1879-88 descent upon the island of Hainan possesses Tytam water supply became available, and was 29.34 per thousand. In 1889 the at least an air of probability. The conduct for the ten years 1889-98 the average death of the Chinese in connection with the Kwang rate has been 28.23 per thousand. This chauwan affair has been infamous, and it is shows a saving of six per thousand, which, on certain that the French will make heavy a population of 250,000, represents fifteen demands for satisfaction. Before Marshal hundred lives saved annually. In this Su arrived from the north commissioned to great saving of life the first place must be arrange the delimitation of Kwangchauwan given to the improved water supply, but with the French it was trumpeted abroad improved methods of drainage and the that he had been instructed to resist, by stricter enforcement of cleanliness in dwel- force if necessary, any claims of the French lings have also no doubt materially con- that exceeded what the Chinese were distributed to the fortunate result. The posed to concede. Whether this report was plague, which made its first recognised ap- technically correct may be doubtful, but the pearance in the colony in 1894, may almost currency "it obtained indicated at least, albe counted a blessing in disguise, since it feeling of hostility that boded ill for the has led to an energetic campaign against
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.