188
RUSSIA, JAPAN AND COREA,
(Daily Pre 9th March.)
• The evidence afforded by recent Lews from Corea of the keenness of the struggle between the Japanese and the Russians for ascendency serves to show that the "Land of Morning Calm" must still be regarded as the storm-centre of the Far East. Following closely on the trouble over the circulation of Japanese banknotes, there comes the information that the Russian Representative at Seoul has asked the Throne to grant to Baron GUISBURG a con- cession for building a railway from the capital to Wiju. As we have already
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{March 14, 1963.
thereby be rendered easier. It is further pointed out that the consideration of the sub- ject might have an important, bearing also on the payment of the indemnity, enabling China to put her Lionétary system on a basis which would render it possible for her to meet all the payments in a manner satis- factory to all parties. In furtherance of its efforts to bring about an adjustment of the ratio between gold and silver currency in the Far East and in silver-using countries, the United States Government will submit to Congress a proposal for the appointment of a commission of three financial experts to represent the United States in an international monetary con- ference lines indicated by Mexico and China, or in my direct consultations with other Powers, or, in fact, in any kind international exchange of views which promises to be successful. The commission · will not have power to commit the United States to any change in its currency system.
Its decisions will, in fact, be ouly ad referendum. No doubt the other nations will readily join, in the proposed conference.
RECEIPT STAMPS FOR CHIHLI.
on True it is that in the treaty made in 1876 between Japan and Corea, only three ports were specifically opened to trade, yet, as bearing on the question of the right of the Japanese-expressly or tacitly acquired-to do what they are alleged to have doue, there is a curious want of precisenesss in the wording of the final clause of the Protocol signed in 1898 by Barou ROSEN ou behalf of Russia and Baron Nisar on behalf of Japan. It reads: In view of the wide development taken by the e anmercial and industrial enterprise of Japan in Corea, as well as the large "number of Japanese subjects residing in "that country, the Russian Government will "not binder in any way the development "of commercial and industrial relations "between Japan and Corea, Whether this clause would be held to cover the alleged misdeels of Japanese we do not know, but this much seems obvious that Corea of herself is incapable of imposing her will on either of the two contending parties. Japan appears to be doing in Corea pretty much what Russia is doing on a very much larger scale in Manchuria.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
therein is strictly prohibited. But these | China and other silver-using countries would are not the only places, ho says, where the Japanese bave penetrated "unceremoniously ignoring any lawful demands put forward by the Coreans.". Ouly an energetic protest on the part of the Coreaus, he "retard the unhappy consum- says, cal mation" of the country losing its inde- pendence and being entirely at the mercy of the Japanese. From the Russian point of view, it is held that the immigration of the Japanese into the interior, the establishment of p. st offices at points between Seoul and Chemulpo, the organisation of police forces in those places where the Japanese have no right to settle," and many other actions mentioned in our columns, this concession are quite contrary to the treaty engagements
of Japan. French was gran ed some years ago to syndicate, but as they failed to commence the work within the period fixed, the charter lapsed. Corea decided to grant no more concessions to foreigners, and the Government started to build the line as a Salte enterprise. Want of funds caused a suspension of work, and Japan having obtained a concession for the construction of a railway from Seoul to Fusan, it appears that the Russian Representative claimed equal privileges for Russian subjec's under the most-favoured-uation clause of the treaties, his alternative being that if the concession is not granted, then at any rate Corea should borrow the money from Russia wherewith to complete its construction. Russia,
as is
well known, has not more very
than capital to
she spare
needs within her own dominions. The Siberian line has been laid chiefly with French capital, and it is hardly necessary to say that such an offer to Corea as that mentioned above must neither be regarded as philanth- ropic nor even as a commercial speculation, but must be viewed in a purely political light. According to the Japan Mail, the Seoul Wiju road has no commercial prospects, and its construction as a money- making enterprise would never be con- templated for an instaut. It excites no surprise therefore to learn that the Corean Government has refused to grant the concession, but it is interesting to learn that the Japanese had been hoping to get this concession as compensation for the recent banknote trouble. The Press of Japan credits the Russians simply with a desire to forestall Japan's application. It is at once apparent that with such a coucession as this the struggle in Corea between Russia an Japan would soon reach a climax. Secing that it is declared in Japau that the roadsident might deem expedient, to the pur- must for many years to come be a purely strategical road, information will be awaited with interest as to whether Japan will now make the application which it was Russia's aim to forestall. Evidently as keen interest is taken in St. Petersburg as in Tokyo in the development of events in Corea. The Novoe Vremya, the leading St. Peters burg journal, is constantly furnishing its readers with news from Seoul of Japanes aggression, while correspondents of the Japanese Press chronicle every political and commercial move by the Russians. Only six weeks ago the St. Petersburg journal published a lengthy article on the "dan- gerous influx" of Japanese settlers into Corea. The writer, who resides at Seoul, mentions a report from the Kionsan pro- vinces to the effect that the Japanese are buying-absolutely on their own authority -houses and fields from the Coréaús, and declares that it this is not prohibited all the Corean land will drift into the possession of the former. He points out that these provinces are not open to foreigners, and the acquistion by the latter of landed estate
CHINA AND HER CURRENCY,
(Daily Press, 10th March.) Further particulars are now to hand of the message which President Roosev8ur at the end of January sent to Congress with reference to the currency and coinage of Mexico and China. The message which was accompanied by papers dealing with the subject from the representatives of the countries named recommended that the executive be given sufficient powers to lend the support of the United States, in such a manuer and to such a degree as the Pre-
(Daily Press, 10th March.) We note from a Northern contemporary that YUAN SHI-KAI, the energetic Viceroy of Chibli, has conceived a new plau for raising revenue in his province. Ho has taken a leaf out of the Westeru book and resolved to make the people of Chihli use receipt stamps. This scheme was duly submitted to the Throne, and received the Imperial sanction, the first day of the 4th Moon (27th April) being fixed for the new law to come into force in the Prefecture of Shuntien-fu (Peking). The stamps are to be of different colours and values and will be used on agreements of all kinds, on bills of sale, receipts and orders, &c. It is also provided that after the above date all documents which do not bear the required stamp will be invalid and persons neglecting to comply with the provisions of the new law will be fined. The Viceroy of Chihli is to be congratulated on this new departure, if it is a really honest attempt to collect revenue in a mauner not oppressive to the people. If he will at the same time take steps to put down the blackmailing and corruption that goes on in the judicial courts the people will not grumble at having to pay a stamp duty, provided the poses of the two Governments. The rates are not unduly heavy. The only message was accompanied by a
trouble is, whether he will be able to enforce from Mr. Har, Secretary of State, it. The Cantonese at any rate are adepts which pointed out that the notes do in evading this duty in Hongkong. Among not usk the United States to modify its themselves they rarely, we understand, use monetary system, and the contemplation receipt stamps, and in many other matters of any movement for the restoration of dispense with them, though they are int rational bimetallism is distinctly disa- gradually recognising the importance of vowed. The opinion, however, is expressed doing so, having in many instane s dis- by the representatives of China and Mexico covered the danger of neglecting to stamp that a consultation between the United agreements, &c. There will be a good deal States and the Europeau Powers having of object on raised to the stamp duty in dependencies in the East, und independent Chibli at first, and the Pekingese will no countries in which silver is in general use, doubt be prepared-like the Cantoneso—to may result in the a option of a monetary take the risk of invalidating their acts rather system preventing the great fluctuations in than buy stamps, and there will no doubt the exchange which now occur in the trade be plenty of work for the officials in charge of silver-using countries, If such a result, of the new department, if the law is to be tho communication continues,
be made effective.. We shall watch the experi- achieved and it is pointed out that at leastment with some interest, because it is an a partial solution has izen proposed in the effort to introduce into the metropolitan United States by the Bill which has recently province a new and Western custom quite been passed with regard to the Philippines alien to Chinese practice. If it should great benefits would result to the trade succeed in Chibli, the stamp duty will of the world, as the access of the products of gradually bo adopted throughout the manufacturing nations to the markets of eighteen provinces of the Empire. The
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