August 4, 1900.]
of China are being developed in spite of the ex- tent of these resources and the vastness of the like the lekin are a great hindrance to the commercial development of the country and should be taken off at all costs;
and I think that we should also allow China to raise a little the tariff on imports, say to 10 per cent. If the lekin is abolished, business will revive in a surprising manner; and the Chinese Government will not only be able to pay the indemnity but have enough left over to organize new army, and a new police force, and to sarry out all the other necessary improvements Of course this raising of the tariff seems at first sights very unprofitable measure for the Powers to take; but we remember that as soon as the bad taxes are abolished commerce will double and treble, and the final result will be to the benefit of the foreign Powers as well as of the Chinese Government. These measures taken, it is possible that the Chinese by utilizing their vast resources, may be able to pay the indemnity and in a comparatively short space of time accom- plish many great improvements and reforms.
This is my idea of what will happen when these disturbances are settled, but there will be some difficulty in executing this plan.
"There is now a united force marching on Peking, a force consisting of units that never met before since the world began. When that force enters Peking and plans of reform are to be put into execution, the Chinese will need a great many foreigners, and in hiring them from the different Powers they may causé much jealousy and ill-will, for from some Powers they must not borrow more employees that from others."
I pointed out that the same difficulty had arisen in Siam, which had finally to repair for many of its employees to small countries like Belgium and Denmark.
"Another difficulty," continued the Count is that, while the plan I have just outlined or something similar may be welcome to Powers which have only their commercial interests in view, it may not receive the sanction of ambi- tions Powers which are only lent on territorial aggrandisement. If there be such an ambitions Power and if it objects to this plan which is noth ing but a scheme for the development of the com- mercial interests and the national resources of China, its failure to agree with the other nations would probably involve the world in endless wars. But allowing that this difficulty, which would mean of course the division of China's territories among the Powers, were finally over- come, there would remain a greater difficulty: How are the European Powers to keep their newly acquired territory under their rule and how are they to establish order and peace within their respective spheres? You must remember that the Chinese people have a history stretch ing back for 4,000 years, that they are some 400 million in number, that they are a great force in the world, and that the foreign Powers can- not subjugate them and hold them in subjection as easily as they think. There will be continual uprisings of the people against their foreign masters; and in order to repress these up- risings armies must be kept on the spot all the time and fresh armies sent constantly. All this well involve the Powers of course in enormous expense and their gains will, I fear, be small, for the disturbed state of the country will affect commerce and disturb the market.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
in order that this great trouble may be made to pass away and that this unique opportunity for conferring a great benefit on humanity at large may not be lost.”
To my question whether the foreign admirals had not acted somewhat too precipitately at Taku, the Count answered:
He hop
SHANGHAI, B1st July, 9.86 p.m. The Japanese Minister at Pekin on the 19th July that he expects the Fifth Division of the Japanese Army to-day (Tuesday) at Peking. that the Legations can hold out.
The Echo de Chine for to-day (Tuesday) says that the Peking Paotingfu Railway sufficiently repaired to allow the from the Imperial Palace westward waggons pushed by hand to convey tree
"Perhaps the Admirals were compelled to open fire on the fortifications at Taku; but judging from the newspapers, I should be inclined to conclude that they acted in a some- what hasty and indiscreet manner and that more reliance ought to have been placed in diplomacy than in force. I certainly think that, if the present report of the massacre of the foreign Ministers and other at Peking betians and by burnt missions: true, the attack on Taku excited the populace to fury and led them to take that terrible step. I have no special news on this matter, however, and only rely on what I have seen in the news papers.
The course of Li Ping-heng to the north is marked by the bodies of murdered Chris-
On my finally asking the Count if, at the International Conference which would meet together after the cessation of the present troubles, the question of Cores would be re- opened, he answered that the question of Corea had nothing whatever to do with the question of China. This concluded the interview.
FRANCIS MCCULLAGH.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 26th July, 6.40 p.m. Admiral Seymour, with H.M.SS. Centur- ion and Alacrity, has arrived at Woosung to-day.
SHANGHAI, 27th July, 8.44 p.m.
All foreigners were murdered and their premises burnt at Paotingfu, on the 7th instant.
H.E. Yuan Shikai telegraphs Consul- General Warren that the Ministers were safe in Peking on the 24th instant. The Chinese Government were supplying the Ministers with fresh meat and vegetables.
A telegram from Hsianfu states that on Monday last the Shansi native Christians were massacred, and five foreigners.
A prominent native banker, who escaped all the Legations were then destroyed, and from Peking on the 7th instant, states that
He the foreigners had all disappeared. himself was too scared to enquire as to their fate. General Tung's troops left Peking on the 7th instant. The city was then quiet.
SHANGHAI, 29th July, 3.52 p.m. Nine China Inland missionaries, also the prefect and six yamen-runners, are reported to have been murdered at Chuchowfu in Chekiang.
The Belgian missionaries at Jehol in Mon- golia report that with the help of the native Christians they can defy the Boxers' attacks for an indefinite time.
Admiral Seymour remains here with a large fleet. The Yangtze Viceroys are ra-
*
Li Hung-chang has reported to the Throne that he can do nothing unless, the Boxers are checked, the Ministers released, the Christians protected, and Li Ping-heng crushed.
SHANGHAI, 31st July, 9.55 p.m.
A message from Sir Robert Hart and Mr. R. E. Bredon, dated Peking, 21st July, states that the I.M.C. staff and their fami lies are still safe. A similar confirming message has been received.
Shanghai, 1st August, 7.81 p.m. Fifty missionaries have been killed in Shansi. A terrible slaughter has been made of native Christians. Eleven mission- aries left Hsianfu on Sunday for Hankow
Admiral Seymour, with the Alacrity, has gone to Nanking to-day on a visit to the Viceroy.
Documents found at Tientsin prove that the Viceroy's yamen there was the head quarters of the Boxer movement.
Most reassuring news has come from Peking, where the foreigners are cheerfully awaiting relief. The wounded are doing
well.
SUPREME COURT.
July 30th.
IN APPELLATE JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR SIR JOHN CABRING- TON, C.M.G. (CHIEF JUSTICE) AND His HONOUR SERCOMBE T. SMITH (ACTING PUISNE JUDGE).
YU HING LUNG (APPELLANT) V. CARMICHAEL AND BARLOW (RESPONDENTS.)
Mr. Sharp (instructed by Messrs Monnsey and Brutton) appeared for the appellant and Mr. Slade (instructed by Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) for the respondents.
This was a motion for leave to appeal against the decision of the Acting Puisne Judge deli- vered in favour of the defendants, who were sued for work done. Mr. Sharp said the appeal was practically on a question of fact, it being contended that the judgment was against the weight of evidence. The plaintiff's story that on the 10th October last year a con Was entered into by the plaintiff and s Kwong Hing Cheung Firm with regard to the building of some
Launch
If, then, the Powers be led by ambition to cut up China they will find that they have killed pidly arming and strengthening the forts, engines. In January of this year the defen- the goose with the golden eggs, and lost all the ostensibly against the rebel Emperor and done in time by the Kwong Hing Cheung
in that country, and the cutting-tained Boxers.
advantages they would otherwise have
is
therefore by no means advisable. One of the most necessary conditions to our deriving great benefit from China is the maintenance of the
Chinese Empire, much as it is at present. After
we had secured the common interests of the
SHANGHAI, 30th July, 5.80 p.m. A Chefoo telegram yesterday brought news from Peking on the 22nd inst. that the Germans had ten dead and twelve wounded. All the Legations were damaged and five had been destroyed, including the French, the ruins of which were still de fended by guards.
The Chinese attack on the Legations ceased on the 16th inst., but is renewable at Relief, continues the message,
country by the adoption of the plan I have just ontlined, the trade of the country would be gra dually increased to an
to an enormous extent, and the Powers would derive the greatest benefit from it. In order to enjoy that benefit it will be ne- cessary, however, for the Powers first to adjust satisfactorily any petty differences that may any moment arise among them; and, if any ambitions Power stands in the way of such adjustment, the rest of the Powers should unite together to put that Power down and to prevent its ambition from injuring all of them. I hope that the Powers will work together in a spirt of confidence
is very urgently needed.
The Emperor and Empress (Dowager) are in Peking.
It is reported than ten thousand Chinese attacked Newchwang yesterday.
dants discovered that the work would
intiff
consequently on the 8th February an ment of some kind was made between plaintif and the defendant Barlow, whereby the agreed to do the work which the Kwong Hing Cheung could not finish, refusing, however, do it for the Kwong Hing Cheung firm, though that firm were to approve of it, inasmuch they had done the bulk of it. The bills made out in the name of the Kwong Cheong at the defendant's request, so able them to recover if necessary May the work was finished and the demurred as to payment. The explanati this was given by the defendant Barlow himself, Barlow stating that they lost $1,600 or $1,700 on the contract.
Mr. Sharp was continuing with h any further, as the Court gave him leave to ap- the Chief Justice said he had no nee
peal on a question of fact.
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