November 14, 1904.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. of government. He is officially on a foot- | Chinese influence at Lhasa, where every ing of perfect equality with the chief Tibetan care was taken by Colonel YOUNGHUSBAND officials, even the Dalai Lama himself; all to make the Amban thoroughly compre- questions of importance of whatever naturehend the true position of affairs. That the are supposed to be submitted to him for final position was understood there is no reason approval. He has control over the finances to doubt on the part of not only the Amban and superintends the payment of tbe but the higher Tibetan officials, and a ative troops: the frontier defences are in curious testimony of this is afforded by the his hands, as well as all the relations of the action of the Amban in immediately on the government with peoples outside the borders. flight of the Dalai Lama appointing the He has actually to inspect annually the Tesbi Lampo to take the head of the execu- different garrisons, and none of the higher tive. The Regent Galon Sri Rampoche as officials, from the Dalai Lama downwards, quickly appreciated the position, and when can succeed to office without his formal he discovered that the British had no desire approval., More especially is he charged to injure the capital, and bad given strict with the control of Foreign Affairs as they orders against plunder, his influence seems to exist in Tiber. The highest ministers of have been exercised in the same direction. As state may not communicate directly with any a matter of fact the British Government, so tribe or nation beyond the frontier. Should far from desiring to lessen Chinese influence, any foreign chief or Government address was all the better pleased to be free of the letters to the Dalai's ministers the latter are responsibility of re-establishing order, and not authorised to reply, but must send the gladly concurred in the action of the correspondence to the Amban, whose duty Amban; and this in turn rendered it is in concert with the Dalai to draw up conclusion of the treaty all the more easy. the the reply. It is evid nt that had these The fact that in the absence of definite in. regulations been in full working order war structions from his Government the Amban between England and Tibet would have refused to sign the treaty entered into by been impossible. In the first place the Regent does not militate against this there would have been no possibility view of the case, but rather seems to indi- for Russian intriguants to gain entrance to cate that everything was entered into after Luassa without the direct permission of due deliberation, and that each one engaged the Amban, aud in the next place the thoroughly understood the position. That difficulty would have centred at Peking the Chinese Government itself refused, iustead of Lhassa. This decadence of even after considerable pressure, to make power in the Amban is, however, not of any protest is also a sign that Peking has recent growth; it had certainly proceeded also seen the advantage to China of the far when
KWANG
WRS on the situation. That she should demand that throne; it had become almost a thing the affair should be thoroughly explained, of naught during the reign of the feeble and debauched HIEN FUNG.
and appoint a special representative to go, The ex- tiuction of the last remains
to Lhassa, is quite in accordance with the of feudal wishes of the British Government itself.
TAO
dependence in Formosa and Corea has afforded au object lesson to Tibet, so that it is little to be wondered at that it should seek to sever the last traces of dependance. It was under such circumstances that the Government of Tibet were ready to listen to the first overtures from outside which afforded any hope of relief. It was under
There has on the part of that Government, from first to last, been no attempt at con- cealment, but at the same time it is satis- factory to learn that as far as the stipula- tions of the treaty with the Tibetan authori- tes are concerned the British Government insists on their standing. They contain no stipulations antagonistic to Chinese inte- such conditions that the British Govern-rests, and from the fact that the suzerainty ment first sought to open up intercourse with Tibet. Not being anxious to interfere with Chinese suzerainty, it commenced nego- tiations at Peking, and the Chinese, not wishing to nip in the bud so promising au opportunity of recovering lost prestige, turew few or no obstacles in the way. When, however, the British attempted to put in practice the stipulations of the treaty another face of things was seen, and the Tibetans resolutely refused to permit com- munications to be opened. As the British Government showed no sign of compelling the opening, China, always ready to side with the momentarily more energetic party, openly supported Tibet. Finally a com promise was effected and a Chinese custom house was opened. on the frontier; but Tibet was even more loth to submit to this action on the part of China than she would have been to deal with England direct. It was under these circumstances that the Tibetans put themselves in the hands of Russia, who to get a footing in Lhaasa were willing to make all manner of promises of assistance in case of need. The Tibetans had yet to learn how little the promises were to be depended on, and there is no doubt that it was through depending on these promises that they declined on one pretext or another to meet the British envoy sent in accordance with their own promises. But although Great Britain could not afford to pass over the implied insult, the Power really most interested in the opening of Tibet was not England, but China, and the first effect of the war has been the re-establishment of
347
of pure gold had been amassed a start with the new coinage should be made, the gold to be used for the purpose of minting gold coins, while silver tael pieces of standard value should also be struck. that the subject recently came up before the It is reported
and Her Majesty commanded two of the EMPRESS DOWAGEE in the Grand Council,
Councillors to proceed to the treasure cham- bers of the Board of Revenue and ascertain been collected, whereupon a careful investi- what amount of gold bullion had so far gation revealed the fact that only 13,680 taels weight of gold had been received in the treasury. At this rate, it is needlese before the Imperial Government will be in to say, a good many years must elapss
a position to proceed with the new coinage. We can only hope that the collection of the precious metal may in future proceed at a greatly, increased rate.
•
Meantime the veteran Viceroy CHANG. Sir ROBERT HART's now well-known recom- CHIR-TUNG has followed up his criticisms of mendations on the subject of the reform of the currency by sending in a strongly word- ed memorial to the Throne against Pro. fessor JENKS' financial proposals for a gold standard for China, in which he declares that such a step would, instead of promoting commercial prosperity, cause financial disas ter to the country. for these statements we are not told, but What grounds he gives probably the chief among them is the novelty of the project, and possibly the fear that the gold would be quickly drawn out of the Empire. It is to be hoped, however, that the Imperial Government will not listen to CHANG CHIH-TUNG. He is evidently both timid and prejudiced. Why should her gold because she chooses to place her Chins any more than Japau be depleted of
currency on a gold basis? So far from the land of the Rising Sun, the reverse has disaster following the financial change iu
been the case. of evil so freely indulged in when Japan The pessimistic prophecies
took her courage in both hands and freed herself from the constricting bonds of the silver metal have been entirely falsified, and claimed by China is not expressly mentioned Japanese trade, prosperous before, has in- it is clear that as China had no representa- tive with sufficient power to bind his the same result would follow on the adoption creased largely since. We cannot doubt Government, there was treating with China, direct.
no possibility of of a gold standard by China. Even if some It is then small loss did at first attend the change doubly satisfactory to all concerned that from a silver to a gold standar.l trade would the Chinese Goverument recognises the speedily adjust itself to the altered circum- position that no interference is sought with stances, and in a short time, owing to the its relations with Tibet, and that it is quite confidence that a fixed standard would soon prepared to put those relations on a more beget in those engaged in trade, there would regular footing than they have occupied for be a steady and continuous increase in both some time. Not less important for our imports and exports to foreign countries. future relations with China is the fact that its Fortunately CHANG CHIH-TUNG seems to be Government is able to take a clear purview playing a practically lone hand on this of the position, and grasp the facts that our question, and it is to be hoped that no interests and theirs in many things, whereof mandarins of any influence will join in this Tibetan difficulty is only one, are practically identical.
the outcry against gold, for the Chinese Government never boasts a strong back, and is readily induced, if not to abandou, then to defer introducing a measure of reform if confronted with any difficulties. Having regard to the heavy loss China is sustaining in the payment of indemnities and interest on loans through her depreciated silver, it is simply wonderful that the Government has not rushed this important disappointing to find CHANG CHIH-TUNG, reform during the current year, It is rather who has in his time tried many innovations, going back on the reform party in this matter. Possibly the limited success which has attended several of his schemes in the Lu-han provinces has poverially influenced hiur in favour of a let-alone policy in rela- tion to the currency. However that may be, we trust that his counsels will not pre- vail with the EMPRESS DOWAGEE, but that
CHANG CHIH-TUNG AS BACKSLIDER.
(Daily Press, 11th November.) Concerning the important question of currency reform in China, it is, and must continue for some time to be, doubtful whether the scheme for the establishment of a national coinage on a gold basis will be adopted by the Imperial Government at Peking. The EMPRESS DOWAGER is evi- dently in favour of the project, if report may be trusted. According to recent Peking advices, the Board of Revenue, in obedience to instructions from the Throne, began last year to collect and store up gold bars, &c., the intention being that, when a stock of at least one hundred thousand taels weight
!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.