September 14, 1908.]
the anticipation that opium would be prohibited is said to have induced many growers to give up the cultivation of the poppy, and take to growing cotton instead. It may be that in the Iwo Kwang the internal opiam tax is more successfully gathered than in some other parts of China. For instance, foreign opium merchants complain that the greater part of the large production n the Amoy districts evades duty and is carried clandestinely by junk as well as overland to all the neighbouring centres of consumption. This may or may not be the case,
says the Amoy Commissioner, "but considering the well-known lawless character of the Tungan people-the district in which the great bulk is grown- and the fact that an opium tax collector was killed there some two years ago, it would seem that the control of the growers in that region is at any rate not conducted without difficulty."
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On the whole then it cannot be said, so far as the year 1907 is concerned, that there is any very substantial evidence of honest compliance with the Anti-Opium Edict. So far as the foreign drug is concerned, the import in 1907 was slightly larger than in 1906, and the only evidence of diminished cultivation of native opium the Customs reports afford, is that we have quoted from the report on the trade of Nanning. The year 1907 has done little more for the cause of the reformers than reveal the difficulties of the task to which they have set their hauds.
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AMERICA AND HAWAII.
(Daily Press, September 8th.) It is just ten years ago that Hawaii was annexed to the United States. For some years previously the American residents there had been industriously advocating this in the United States, but the proposal was viewed with distinct disfavour by Democrats and Republicans alike and, bad it not been for the Spanish-American war, the Sandwich Islands would either have remained independent territory, or else have become a Dependency of Japan. Just before the annexation by America, the constant stream of immigrants into the islands from Japan was creating some alarm among the Americans who were administering the islands under the native Queen, but when war was declared with Spain, the United States Government fearing that Spain might convert the islands into a base of operations, dispatched a aquadron to Hawaii to annex them. In the States politicians regarded the step merely as an act of temporary military expediency, but the end of the war was followed by the definite incorporation of the islands with the United States as a Territory, much to the disgust of a large section of the Ameri- can public who prophesied that annexation would prove to be a Pandora box of ills. We have the authority of a Honolulu contemporary for the assertion that annexa- tion has instead proved to be "a chest of treasure," a boon and a blessing to the islands. Annexation not only settled the Japanese political problem of the islands, but it has led to such agricultural and industrial developments and consequent expansion of commerce as to enable the local press to speak of "the vastness of Hawaiian prosperity.'
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. (Sandwich Islands) the Gibraltar of the be inaugurated on simple lines and yet Pacific, and that including extensive forti grow to a successful institution whose fications at Honolulu, twelve 14-inch guns influence would be felt all over the East. will be mounted there, and at Pearl Harbour His idea, we understand, was to establish accommodation will be provided for a garria University proper with a small number son of fifteen thousand men, and a dock for of students, say from 40 to 60, but attached the largest battleships. Some of the to this, either temporarily or permanently, a details may be new,
but the main Training College was suggested where in- features of the scheme were settled long struction could be imparted through the me- ago. Congress, in fact, has already | dium of the vernacular and written Chinese. voted a million dollars for the fortification As the professors would not be occupied more of Pearl Harbour. There are expectations than a few hours each day in lecturing to that on the completion of the world tour of the few undergraduates in the University America's Atlantic fleet, at least six of the they would have ample time to lecture as battleships will be permanently stationed well to the students in the Training College, at Hawaii. Apropos of this, we note in for which, of course, they would receive one of the Manila papers which arrived additional remuneration. Interpreters, who by yesterday's mail that great prominence were past students in the subjects dealt is given to a telegram reporting the with, would translate the discourses of Japanese Ambassador, the United States the lecturers, and Secretary for War and the President to have large numbers of Chinese, not having
by this been in "vital conference concerning lingual difficulties to hamper them, would matters which were not disclosed to the readily acquire Western technical and newspaper men; but the New York Journal scientific knowledge and prepare the way for states that among other matters of world- the men with better qualifications who wide importance discussed was a protest followed from the University. The fees presented by Mr. TAKIHIRA on behalf of derived from the training college would his Government against the maintenance of help to maintain the University until it two fleets in the Pacific by the United became self-supporting. Then the Training States. This presumbly means one fleet College could either be transferred or at Hawaii and one at the Philip. abolished. pines. That the Japanese Govern The other scheme which has been ment has made any formal protest before the Committee is one outlined by is incredible. Japan has no more title to His EXCELLENCY himself, and to some make such a protest than America has extent it is opposed to the suggestion of to formally protest against Japan's naval Dr. Ho KAI. HIS EXCELLENOY's propo- shipbuilding programme. The fortificationsition is to house the College of Medecine of Pearl Harbour and the construction and the Technical Institute in the University of a big dockyard there certainly point Buildings, each to pursue ita separate course conclusively to an intention to maintain a until absorbed by the higher. The fleet at Hawaii, and if the United States | GOVERNOR anticipates that the structure Government deems the maintenance of two would be completed in two years and during fleets in the Pacific desirable no other that time an adequate endowment might be Power can object. America is not likely accumulated. At any rate he does not coun- to use her fleet for any aggressive purpose, sel waiting until the endowment has been and perhaps it was as much for the purpose secured. No, despite depression in the Colony of reassuring Japan in this regard as in any he has confidence in the generosity of our other connexion that President ROOSEVELT citizens to attain that end without much wrote to his Secretary of War last week the difficulty, and with a Chinese promise of letter in which he took paibs to declare support-though it has not yet, we under- that the United States holds Japan in stand, been formally made the optimism peculiar regard and friendship.
Beems justified. From $750,000 $1,100,000 would be required for the endowment and in so far as the sum fall. short of the higher amount by that extens will the scope of the institution be curtailedt When the buildings are completed the loca{ teaching staff recommended by the sub- committee and as many professors as funds will permit will be engaged. Probably one, two or three chairs will be established at the outset the number depends on the money available for the purpose. Then, if there be a sufficient nucleus of pupils who can pass an entrance examination a beginning will be made with the University under local ordinance. The University course would take four or five years and during that period the promoters may hope to see the endowment increased. Then with the University as a going concern, and if there are students able to graduate, application could be made for a charter. As opposed to the idea of the Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, HIS EXCELLENCY indicates that instruction should be in English with a few English. speaking and qualified Chinese instructors to assist by explaining difficult points. The proposal makes it a condition that the University should grant no degrees that were not up to an English standard. Buch in short represents the two schemes, which have been under consideration. Of course we do not vouch for the accuracy of the details as we are not yet in possession- of the printed statement which will shortly, be published.
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In the future more is likely to be heard of Hawaii from the fact that America is about to convert it into a great fortress and naval depôt. It is no newly disclosed secret which REUTEE announces to us that the United States War Department have prépared plans to make the island of Oahu'
THE HONGKONG UNİVERSITY PROJECT.
(Daily Press, 10th September.) Almost six months have elapsed since the Colony experienced a thrill of pleasurable excitement by the announcement of Mr. MODY's generous gift in the interests of a University for Hongkong. That announce- ment was followed by His Excellency the GOVERNOR convening a meeting to consider the project and a sub-committee was appointed to go into details. Though nothing has been published up till now of the progress of the deliberations, we believe that the community will soon be in posses- sion of information regarding the various propos ils which have been under discussion. What will be still more satisfactory is the knowledge that the erection of the Univer- sity is well within the region of practical politics. Broadly speaking only two schemes have, we believe, been considered. Each has its interest and each its value, and though the details are not available for publication we may briefly state the nature of the two proposals.
At first the committee felt somewhat | pessimistic as to the success of the under- taking entrusted to them, but with the exchange of ideas hope revived. The Hon. Dr. Ho Kar submitted a scheme with the object of showing how the University might
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