AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 83, 16 April 1901, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

CLAIMS BY THE POWERS. RUSSIA’S ENORMOUS DEMAND. PUTTING THE SCREW ON CHINA. graph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 16, 12.5-1 a.m.) London, April 15. It is scmi-ollieially announced in Berlin that, exclusive of private claims for indemnities against China, Great Britain requires live million sterling, Germany twelve million, Franco thirteen million, and Russia seventeen million. Mr. Rockhill mentions France’s shave at eight millions, while Japan, America, ami Great'Britain together have sixteen, tho total being sixty : thvcc million.

A FAIR ALLOTMENT. GREAT BRITAIN ENTITLED TO LARGEST INDEMNIT Y. Received March 10,1.80 a.m. By Telegraph—Tress Association—Copyright London, April 15. Tire instructions sent to Mr llockhili, acting American Minister at Rekin, are to the effect that the number of troops employed by the various Rowers should alono determine the amount and allotment of indemnities. Such a method would place Great Britain first, Japan next, and America third on the list.

That the subject of Eastern trade is largely involved in the struggle for position in China is of course well known ; but-the extent of the commerce is not so well understood. In a paper read by Mr T. if. Whitehead, M.L.C., of Hongkong, at a meeting of the Royal Colonial Society on February 12, it is shown that the foreign trade of China has increased from £41,275,000 in 1870 to .£70,000,000 in 1890, and the share of the British Empire in the latter amounts to about 02 per cent., or £48,000,000 per annum, while the sharo of all the other countries of the world put together is only 88 per cent., of the whole. In about 80 years the foreign trade of Japan has increased more than twelve-fold, while during the same period the expansion in China’s foreign trade is less than four-fold. Japan and India have a foreign trade of £1 0s ‘2d and 8s 5d per head respectively. China has a foreign trade of 8s Gd per head. If increased to the same value per head as in Japan and India. China's foroign trade would have aggregated in 1899 about £-108,000,000 and £IGS,OOO.OOO per annum respectively, instead of £70,000,000. For 1899 the revenue collected by the Maritime Customs store amounted to £4.018,000 on a foreign trade of £70,000,000. Chinas revenue on this increased foreign trade at the present tariff would have been £23,000,000 and £9,G00.000 respectively. Moreover, China has within reach a still larger revenue from foreign trade, because under certain circumstances trado could well afford to pay a substantially larger tariff than the present.