326
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND.
[Məy 12, _$(0,
HONGKONG AND THE PHILIPPINE | self:-"It simply comes to this, that we must | can smoothe the ruffled plumes. It is not a
TRADE.
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procure tonnage for our wants. We are "bound to look ahead and be prepared to "meet an increased demand for steamers."
We hope that the predictions of the Chairman of this company may be verifien, and that in the near future by increased trade and profits the company may be con- gratulated upon the venture which it has now taken in band.
¡
RUSSIAN ANXIETY, ABOUT JAPAN.
"keep up with the expansion of trade with the fair comparison to judge of what Manila was
· Philippines or fall behind in the struggle, three or four years ago and what it is now. : (Daily Press, 5th May.)
"We cannot keep still, for that means being Time and good civil administration alone That the Hongkong merchants are fully "passed by every one of our competitors, can bring prosperity. We expect no exces- alive to the changing conditions in the❝nor can we wait till the last moment to sive tariffs. The conditions of the Philip- Philippines and that they are watching the
pines are not those of the United States of developments there under American rule
America, with a large industrial and intelli- with the keen eye of business men there can
gent artizan class in many centres to support be no doubt. Under the Spanish régime
and in the supply of her food stuffs, ber trade in these fertile inlande received no
machinery and steel ware, the United States impetus or encouragement. Spanish energy
is well able to hold her own in open markets. was not of itself of that sufficient high qua-
We look rather to the development of the. lity to lift the natives up to the arts of
staple products of the Philippines and to industry and the acquisition of wealth.
the unfolding of their mineral wealth. In Vexatious Customs regulations and spe- But of all that has recently been said their new experience of Colonial Empire cial dues on imports and exports with regard to the trade in the Philippines the Americans carry with them t the best tended to stifle the Foreign Trade at Mani- nothing to us seems more terse and appro- wishes of Great Britain, and in particular la, yet Manila prospered; her unique posi-priate than the remarks of Mr. R. M. GRAY, of this islnud so near to their doors, and we tion, both with relation to the islands them the chairman of the Hongkong Cham-trust that under a wiser régime than that selves and to the neighbouring Empire of ber of Commerce, and a gentleman who of Spain our merchants will participate in China, assuring her a prosperity that no in this community has earned a reputation a fair share of the trade that the Philippines amount of unwise legislation could possibly for his sound sene and moderation. In his seem destined to develop.. gainsay. The unrest, rebellion, and war, remarks to the Chamber, Mr. GRAY which have characterised the Philippine thus approached the question of tariffs, Islands for the past five years must have on which the Hongkong trade with the had a very material affect in retarding the Philippines so largely depends:
-" All- culture and export of sugar, tobacco, coffee, "other question not dealt with in the Re- and hemp-the principal products of these port, but of no small interest to this port, islands, and further restrained the branch- is the Customs Tariff and Regulations in ing out into new industries and enterprise "the Philippine Islands. A copy of the for which times of peace are alone applicable. !" new Provisional Tariff and Regulations The differential duties in favour of goods" has reached this Chamber from the Acting imported in Spanish bottoms, while they by no means shut out English manufactures or the products from English possessions, en- hanged the cost of manufactured goods and sent ships back to Spain with half cargoes, for Spain could neither supply the demands nor absorb the products of her Philippine posses- sions. Spain by her trade policy secured the import trade and Hongkong from its close proximity to Manila became a transfer port for British and other foreign goods to be transhipped to steamers flying the Spanish flag. The exclusive policy of Spain, however, did not secure to her any great consumption of her own manufactured pro- ducts, and in the exports from the islands she was far excelled by the purchases of Britain, almost equalled by those of the United States of America. Foreign Trade was confined to the ports of Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Zamboanga, and these numerous and fertile islands, which from their forma- tion and the great amount of mineral wealth they are known to contain, under Spanish administration in its pristine days only succeeded in raising the value of ex-is ports to about ten shillings per head of the total population-an amount utterly dis- proportionate to the capacities of the soil and the many opportunities of long Spanish dominion.
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Ka
CC
(Daily Press, May 7th.) The Standard Odessa correspondent's com munication on the attitude of the Russian Government toward the present Japanese activity in military and naval matters calls attention once more to the dangeroussituation which has developed in that part of the Far "British Consul at Manila through the East of which Corea is the centre. That the "Colonial Government, and this was circu- authorities at St. Petersburg should feel "lated among the members most interested anxious is only natural.; but when we consider "in the trade with the Philippines, but so
the way in which Russia has been pouring "far we have only received one or two re- troops into her outposts in the far-east, any com- plies. There can be no doubt that the plaint she may make about Japan is rather "duties levied by the American authorities of a like nature to the Boer Republics" protest "
are practically the same as those imposed against the presence of British troops on by the Spaniards, and the general opinion, their frontiers, when they had for years been "I believe, on the part of shipowners and gathering stores of ammunition and war masters is, that the Customs Regulations material within the borders of their own are even more stringent and obstructive. territory. A short time ago we quoted I understand, however, that there is a prob- some remarks of an Odessa correspondent liabity of an early departure from the to the effect that officers of the Russian Vo- United States of a Civil Commission to lunteer Fleet who had recently returned to enquire into and institute a permanent Ode-sa were strongly of the opinion that the system of administration for the Philip enormous garrisons being formed at Port pines in place of the military rule hitherto Arthur, Dalni, and Vladivostok would "necessitated by circumstances, and it is to shortly be employed as a lever for compel- "be hoped that their recommendations willling the Japanese to abandon their preten-
move towards less onerous taxations and regulations, which will assist instead of interfering with the natural expansion of "the trade of these fertile islands.”
We cannot disguise the fact that there Я marked note of anxiety in Mr. GRAY's speech, an uncertainty as regards to the future. But as yet we are scarcely prepared to accept a pessimistic view of the situation or to harbour too roy a view of the possibilities. In the subjugation of the Philippine Islands the United States has had to undertake a difficult and arduous task. and with the followers of AGUINALDO still in the field, or not brought into obedience, General Oris and his staff have been fully occupied in subduing a v sible and tangible foe; and however great the abilities of the
Russia's present anxiety is ascribed to the | Governor-General may be he has had little
time to attend to the affairs of Civil Govern- naval manoeuvres which have been proceed- ment. Military Government is only an ex- ing off the Japanese coast. They were pelient. It cannot pretend to administer a viewed "with suspicious interest, country with the skill of trained legislators, The Standard's correspondent, "as a covertly particularly with the enemy still in arms. intended demonstration.". All that can be The Chinn and Manila Steamboat Com-Abuses and excess of zeal there may have said of this is that, if it is a demonstration, it pany, Limited, by increasing its capital from been at Marila, but we are confident that is by no means a bad stroke of policy. $300,000 to $1,000,000 takes a very hope- with more peaceful times the votaries of Britain has often felt the advantage of ful view of the future and augurs well commerce will receive their due attention. mobilising a portion of her fleet, for no de-
when
talk runs high of American administration in the Philip From the reputation of the United Statesclared object; in times pines and the increase of Hongkong trade. we were led to expect too great an im- such a demonstration often had a quieting
War effect. However, the Jaj auese The Chairman at the meeting of the Com-provement in too little a time. pany held on the 14th April Inst, when this will have its attendant evils, from which manoeuvres have been preparing for so resolution was passed, thus expressed him- even Manila is not exempt, and Peace alone long a time that it is not necessary, to attri-
Hongkong merchants and Hongkong ship- ping are to intimately associated with the Philippines for the upheaval character on old traditions, the convulsive nature of a new form of Government, the restive spirit of reform as exhibited in the United States, and the political significance of an energetic race now established, with its many attendant possibilities, at our very borders, to escape comment from our leading exponents of commerce, accompanied by a desire to adapt ourselves to the varying conditions of the
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sions in Coren; and, moreover, that one naval officer gave Japan only to the end of the cur- rent year to relinquish the struggle. We do not attach too much weight to the sayings of irresponsible persons; but cannot deny all significance to a widely-held belief, the other hand we have had ample oppor- tunities of knowing what semi-official and non-official Japan thinks about the situa- tion; namely, that the loss of that influence in Coven which has been part of the heredi- tary policy of J pan for so long would m an the extinction of the island as a first-class power. All talk about an understanding between Russia and Japan up to the present in the matter of Corea seems absolutely dis credited by the masses of both nations, and apparently with reason.
says
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