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FRICTION BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND JAPANESE COURTS.
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The Peking correspondent of the New York Herald, cabled the following message to his paper on May 22nd :—-
Japanese resentment over the appointment of Prince Tsai Chen as special ambassador to thank Japan for sending a special envoy to the funeral of the late emperor presages possible friction between the two great oriental courts and serves to throw lime-light upon the failure of Japan's most recent effort to secure a pre- dominating position at Peking.
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The selection of Prince Fushimi, Japan's highest ranking imperial prince, was made with a view to insuring to Japan the foremost position in the ceremonies attendant upon the Imperial Government with the idea of making an impression upon the Chinese Government and people also with the
belief that Prince Fushimi, who is looked upon as a diplomatist of the type of King Edward, would succeed in winning the friend ship of the Prince Regent and the Manchu princes.
Acknowledgement that the mission failed at every point is revealed in the Japanese criticism of the selection of Prince Tsai Chen for the return mission. A number of blunders, con- tributing to that failure are freely admitted. While the Japanese here do not hold Prince Fushimi in the least responsible for these blunders, they charge the members of his suite with glaring mismanagement which resulted in giving offence to the Chinese Court, the diplomatic corps, and the whole Japanese colony of Peking.
Before his departure Prince Fushimi realized the mistake of cavalier treatment of the
diplomatic corps, which was especially resented by General Palatzin, the special envoy of Russia, and sought by special attention to make amends. No effort was, however, made to salve the wounds of the unconsidered nationals of Japan.
If the construction now placed by the Japa- nese upon the appointment of Prince Tsai Chen is correct, there seems warrant for the assump- tion of these Japanese that the slights to Chinese princes have been cleverly countered by the Prince Regent, and in a manner the Japanese government cannot afford to notice.
Numerous wounds were, according to these Japanese critics, administered to Chinese im- perial and official amour propre. Among other things it is cited that invitations sent imperial princes to Prince Fushimi's dinner in their honour, which was expected to be an event of great value in cementing the two courts, were couched in the most formal
terms, bearing not the signature of Prince Fushimi but only that of 811 under official. The wording and form of these invita tions aroused considerable resentment among the Chinese princes and court nobles, Prince Kung, one of the foremost, sending his back.
The Japanese construed it as evidence of the Prince Regent's displeasure over these alleged slights that he has selected Tsai Chen, a prince of comparatively low rank, instead of a prince of high rank like Prince Fushimi.
These critics, who have advised Tokyo Elder Statesmen of the situation, not only resent Tsai Chen on account of rank, but charge that he was compelled, two years ago, to resign the Presid- ency of the Board of Commerce and all his other offices on account of charges by the consorate involving his moral character, based on the alleged misuse of his official power in securing an appointment as provincial governor for a relative of one of his concubines.
THE HONGKONG-WEEKLY PRESS AND
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In view of Japan's deep respect for Prince! Fushimi, Japanese here declare that Prince Tsai Chen's appointment will increase the ex- isting friction and may even precipitate a popular anti-Chinese outburst in Japan.
A JAPANESE POLAR EXPEDITION.
According to the Asahi, Mr. Kodama Otomatsu, said to be a well-known explorer in the South Sea Islands, who has been recuperat- ing at his home in Fukuoka, left Moji by the N.Y.K. Sado Maru for further adventures in the Celebes and New Guinea. He will then proceed to Albany, West Australia, whence he will start in search of the South Pole.
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ANOTHER OPIUM EDICT.
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On the 17th inst. an Edict was issued der the official seal of the Prince Regent on behalf of the Emperor" with regard to the Opium Question. It recalls the fact that an Imperial Decree was issued on the 24th day of the 2nd moon this year (15 March, 1902), ordering strict steps to be taken by the authorities con- cerned for the suppression of opium-smoking as well as the cultivation of the poppy. It has now been brought to Our notice," says the Edict," that, of the officials of various yamens in Peking sout to be examined as to whether they are opium-smokers or not, the majority of them are petty officials not occupying per. manent positions, and that, many of those holding important offices have not yet been sent to be examined. Moreover, there are those who have contracted the opium-smoking habit again after once getting rid of it, thus showing there is laxity in euforcing the Edict."
The Ediot insists on the importance of suppressing the opium habit among officials, and notes that the reports with regard to the progress made in the direction of stopping the cultivation of the poppy in the Empire indicate that strict steps have been taken to attain the desired end." Then follows this remarkable sentence, which possibly has suffered somewhat in the translation : --
"If opium smoking should be indulged in as heretofore after the entire suppression of cultivation, it would lead as a matter of course to the exclusive use of the foreign drug, thus deepening the opium-smoking habit, wasting more money, and increasing evil to an infinite extent, whilst it would be detrimental to the rules of sanitation and the means of subsistence of the people."
[July 15, 1909.
HUMAN HAIR TRADE.
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INCREASING EXPORTS FROM CHINA.
The American Vice-Consul-General at Hong- kong (Mr. Stuart Fuller) supplies in a report to Washington the following information con- cerning the exports of human hair from China to the United States:
In the year 1907 56,133 pounds of human hair were invoiced at this consulate-general for ship- meut to the United States, while in 1908 207,414 pounds were declared for shipment. To comply with the quarantine requirements there are two courses open-storage under the supervision of the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service surgeon at this port previous to shipment, or dis- infection under the same supervision. In 1907 all the hair was stored before shipment, but in 198 the demand was so much greater, and im- porters were so anxious to get the hair to the United States, that a heavy proportion of the shipments were fumigated and disinfected instead of being stored. It is also interesting to note that in 1907 over three-fourths of the total quantity moved by way of the Suez Canal, 42,780 pounds going that way, while only 13,344 pounds went via the Pacific lines. In 1908 the situation was somewhat changed, Partly to lessen the time of transit and partly because of efforts made by the Pacific lines to secure a greater share of the traffic, the exporters began to ship via Puget Sound ports and San Francisco, so that while the Suez route secured 112,119 pounds, the Pacific route handled 94,9 9 pounds. This hair is brought to Hongkong from the interior, and here cleaned and sorted according to length and quality. It is then packed and either stored or disinfected, in accordance with quarantine regulations, and shipped to New York. It is York as to alter its colour and texture, and that said here that the hair can be so treated in New
is used in making the switches, ouris, and bands which are so fashionable in the United States at the present time. Last spring, when the demand in the United States for false hair began to assume considerable importance, one concern sent a man out here for the purpose of making direct purchases. Other concerns buy through local export houses.
of Opium is commanded to direct that all the The High Commissioner for the Suppression Yamens outside Peking shall make strict inves-it tigations into the conduct of officials with regard to opium-smoking. At the same time the Provincial Viceroys, Governors. Generals, and Admirals, and all other officials concerned as well as school-masters are required to make investigations and to take steps calculated to wipe out opium-smoking among all officials, civil vinces. The suppression of opium-smoking and DR. MORRISON AND THE JAPANESE and military, and in schools in the various pro-
cultivation of the poppy must go on simultane- ously. The various Yamens outside Peking are commanded to strictly observe the Edicts repeatedly issued; if they fail in this respect they are are to be dealt with by the Government.
PRESS.
Dr. Morrison, the Times correspondent at Peking, writes to the North China Daily News the following letter:
I ask leave to correct some of the misstate- The Governor of Hanan in a report to the ments regarding me which have been published Throne states that he found on investigation by a certain section of the Japanese Press on that civil, military and naval officials had acquired the fin writing is due to my having neglected to read over one thousand persons" among the the occasion of my recent visit to Japan. Delay opium-smoking habit, and a time-limit was set the papers while on my journey. It is only in which they are required to give it up. Anti-since I returned to Peking that I have realized opium bureaux have been opened in forty the extent of the misrepresentation to which I different centres and about 20,000 persons in all have been subjected. have abandoned the habit. Cultivators have
been ordered to grow wheat or rice in place of Poppy, and inspectors have been ordered to see ing the instructions is threatened with sovere that these orders are obeyed. Anyone disregard-
punishment.
A CRY FROM CHINATOWN.
Complaints are rife in Chinatown as to the restricted water supply. At prosout the water is run only for two hours, a period which is quite inadequate to enable the people to get what they need for cooking or for washing purposes. There is a feeling that they ought to be allowed more, as in the tenements it means that the
people occupying the first floors draw all the water and do not allow the others above them to obtain a supply at all. Even the street pipes are not sufficient t meet the demand," and it is generally known that folks have to wait there for hours and perhaps fail to get any even then, while the struggle to get water often leads to fights and disorderly scenes. The Chinese complain of the hardship of paying for a water supply which they do not get. It means in many cases that there is no water with which to wash in the morning and none to make the morning cup of tea. We pass on the complaint to those to whom it is intended it
should reach,
which are fictitious.
Interviews have been published with me Statements have been attributed to me which I never thought of uttering.
I am represented to have assured the Premier, the Marquis Katsura, that I disclaimed res- ponsibility for certain messages sent to The Times from Peking regarding the Fakumen Railway and Japanese policy in Manchuria. The story is an invention. I disclaimed and disclaim no such responsibility.
It is true that on January 26 I left Peking to be present in Shanghai during the sitting of the Opium Commission, and that I was absent antil March 6: it is true that in my absence two messages were sent to The Times from Peking. The messages made no reference to the Fakumen longer and more important of these
Railway; the other which dealt with Russian action in Manchuria contained an allusion to "the steady refusal of Japan to permit China to extend her own railway system for the develop. ment of the rich regions of Mongolia and Manchuria, west of the Liao River." these messages were statements of fact, they were sent by my friend and colleague, and I accept full responsibility for them.
Both
I had the privilege of an interview with Count Okuma, and I found him, as on previous occasions, one of the most courtly and sympathe- tie of men. The story of his lecturing me upon my ignorance is a fabrication.
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