February 15, 1902.]
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acting Imperial Maritime Customs Com missioner, to the effect that the latter in tended to establish Inland Courier Post Offices in Hsiaokanhsien, Hupeh province,
Hsuchou, Honan province; that foreign postal officers and native staffs had already started for these places; and requesting the said Taotai to issue proclamations to the people thereauent. The Viceroys proceed to point out that some years ago, a trial was made by the Chinese Government of estab- lishing post offices at the various treaty ports, and HART (ie. Sir Robert Hart) was temporarily appointed to take chargé of the matter. This," the telegram con- tinues, "was merely for the time being: the intention at that period being that the Tsungli Yamen should eventually memo- rialise and gain consent of the Throne *before extending the Inland Courier Post over the whole Empire. If we therefore do not make haste to get back the power of control over the Inland Courier Post it will become, as the Imperial Maritime Customs is now, encroached upon for ever by outsiders.” The Viceroys censure "the said Commissioner of Customs for taking on himself to appoint foreign officers in the interior without the Grand Council's permission or the consent of the provincial authorities. "Of late HART, making the payment of the War Indemnity his excuse, has brought within bis control the native Customs and also desires to en- "croach upon other Customs departments and bureaus. He now orders his Customs Commissioners to go into the interior to "extend the Inland Courier Post. In a word his intention is to drive into his one net the whole of the revenues of China and acquire the supreme control over them." These ambitious designs are de- clared to be indeed dangerous to the State and to threaten to bring China entirely under the control of foreign-born officials.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. THE FUTURE OF WEIHAIWEI. will not be easy to divert trade from the port. Of course if payable coalfields can (Daily Press, 13th February.) be found and worked in the vicinity, this The statement made by the Earl of would materially improve the prospects of ONSLOW in the House of Lords, of which a the new Colony, but this is very pro-and Hsinyang-chou, Suiyanghsien, and · summary is given us by REUTER, concerning blematical.
sanatorium, however, the future of Weihaiwei is of considerable both for the naval and military forces in interest. There have been so many reports Hongkong and China and for civilians and rumours as to the intentions of His resident in this Colony, and the Chinese Majesty's Government with regard to this treaty ports, Weihaiwe can fill a most the latest Colony and newest. Ullima Thule of useful part, and we hope that efforts, will the British Empire, that it is satisfactory be make to render it attractive as a summer to learn definitely from a Minister of the resort for those in search of a change and Crown that it is not to be given back to rest from official duties (or the worries of China nor yet to be presented to another business. Power. The last rumour was that the
The Imperial Government have evidently Colony was to be handed over to Germany, decided that Weihniwei will neither be use- presumably because she already has one ful for a place of arms nor as a recruiting port in Shantung and claims that province ground for the garrisons of the coaling as her special sphere of influence in China- stations, The Chinese Regiment is to be a claim that at one time Great Britain ap-disbanded, and a' Police Force, to be raised peared only too ready to acknowledge. locally, will be made responsible for the Now, however, that Germany desires to set defence of the port as well as for the pre- up a claim to influence in the Yangtze servation of order. We do not regret to Valley and her Press seems bent on arousing hear of the disbandment of the Chinese a feeling of hostility to the Fatherland Regiment. It is stated that they fought throughout the British Empire, it is quite well for the most part during the hostilities possible that the British Government do in Chibli, but, as we have always maintained, not so clearly see their way to abandon Chinese are not the best material wherefrom Weihaiwei to our good cousins. But there to make soldiers, and least of all for service is no intention, evidently, on the pars of in China. Whilst India offers so fine a re- the War Office to transform Weihaiwei cruiting ground and yields so much good into a great fortress. Lord ONSLow states material, we fail to see any good reason why that as the result of a careful enquiry recourse should be had to a foreign country the idea of fortifying the place had been for troops. At the best they would be mer- abandoned on account of the great cenaries--with all the worst faults of birelings expense which would be entailed thereby, whereas the Indian soldiers fight under and it would therefore be useless to main their own flag and do so as willing volun- tain a large garrison there. It would,
teers. The policy of withdrawing all the however, be an extremely useful port for garrison from Weihaiwei may well be ques- small arm and naval gun practice and as a tioned. The Chinese Regiment should sunatorium. Its fine and bracing climate certainly be disbanded, but a small garrison and pleasant surroundings render it superio of Marine Artillery and Light Infantry in this respect to Chefoo or any port in the should be retained there, or replaced by Gulf of Pechili, and the fact that it is now half a battalion of infantry. Not only a British port, under British rule, is a would they be available for local defence further inducement for persons needing a purposes but in case of need, such as an- change to frequent it.
other outbreak at Tientsin, they would be
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Affairs being urgent, advise Viceroys Lu and CHANG, Sir ROBERT HART should
Lord ONSLOW went on to say that the very handy for quick despatch to the assis-be informed that the Imperial Customs will Colonial Office took over the place on the tance of the residents in that rather only be allowed to control the Post in the 1st January, and it will henceforth, we turbulent port. Moreover, it is politic to treaty ports and that interference with the not feasible; presume, be ruled as a Crown Colony. His maintain a military force in any Eastern de- provincial authorities is Lordship added that it was believed that pendency, however tractable the untives may should it be necessary to extend the Inland under the administration of Mr. STEWART- seem; otherwise there is an ever-present Courier Post, the local officials should be LOCKHART its revenue would largely increase temptation to acts of rebellion or mutinous the ones to start the new branches. Finally and that it would become an important conduct. The policeman, as the representa- the Viceroys state that, in addition to commercial port like Hongkong. It is to be tive of authority, is very generally obeyed instructing the Hankow Customs to argue hoped that this belief will prove weland held in awe-so long as he is not a
with the Commissioner on the subject, founded, but it is hardly to be expected it native-but it is always prudent to let it he they have further sent orders to the various will ever rival this Colony as a commercial apparent that there is another and stronger local officials not to issue the proclamations centre, since it does not lie close to the delta
power behind him. We hope therefore requested. There can be no doubt from of a great river, draining a wealthy province that His Majesty's Government will not the terms of the telegram (which, it may like Kwangtung, and a vast commercial trust entirely to the administrative ability be remarked, appears only in the Supao) emporium like Canton. Nevertheless it is and wisdom of the Civil Commissioner, who that a vigorous attack on Sir ROBERT HART only reasonable to assume that Weihaiwei should be backed up in his government by is intended. Assuming, therefore, that the in time become the seat of an im- at least a sufficient garrison to sustain the genuineness of the document is unques- tioned, the action of the two enlightened portant trade, malgré the jealousy of dignity of the British flag and rule. Foreign Powers and the possible veiled
Yangtsze officials requires explanation. The North-China Daily News suggests that hostility of the Chinese officials. Weihaiwei
granting to Sir ROBERT of the title of Kung-pao, or Junior Guardian of the Heir- apparent, as recorded by us some time ngo. This seems likely, but it is also natural, in a way, that if the Inspector-General has ' actually taken the alleged step without con- sulting the Imperial authorities, patriotic Chinamen, as CHANG CHIH-tung and Liu KUNG-YI undoubtedly are, should resent the step. Nevertheless the ultimate ad- vantage to China is great, and it is to be trusted that the difficulty may be smoothed over. Any falling out between the Yang- tsze Viceroys, whose conduct in the past has been so praiseworthy, and Europeans either in or outside Chi employ is to be deprecated
possesses a good anchorage and sheltered THE YANGTSZE VICEROYS AND it is prompted partly by jealousy at the
water, besides a favourable climate, and the hinterland at the back, included in the Colony, is not by any means destitute of
SIR ROBERT HART.
(Daily Press, 12th February.)
resources. It is quite likely, therefore, that The North-China Daily News translates something may be made of the place, from a native newspaper, the Supao, a especially if tactfully and firmly ad- long and remarkable telegram addressed to ministered; but it would be rank folly to the Grand Council and Foreign Ministry expect it ever to become a great commercial at Peking by the Viceroys Liu KUNG-YI of
and CHANO port like Hongkong. It does not enjoy the Nanking
CHIH-TUNG of; advantage of being the outlet for a great Wuchang. Our Shanghai contemporary producing country. Shantung produces styles the telegram "a most unexpected comparatively few exports, and those of no and unparalleled outbreak on the part of great value--beans and beancake, ground these two enlightened officials." The Yang- nuts, eggs, wild silk and pongees, strawisze Viceroys state in commencement that braid, and vermicelli being the chief articles. they were much surprised to receive a peti The trade in these is at present centred at tion from the Hankow Customs Taotai, Chefoo, and as it has grown up there, it stating that he had been informed by the
vernment
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