THE CHINESE QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11059, 10 May 1899, Page 5

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

FRENCH DEMANDS. By Telegraph.— Association.— London, May 8, A Recteb telegram states that France has demanded from China 1,200,000 taels and certain mining rights in the province of Szuohuaa as compensation for the imprisonment of Father Eleury, a French missionary. | Hongkong, May S. The Russians at Hankow decline to acknowledge the long-standing title of Messrs. Jardine and Matheson, merchants, of Hongkong, to ccrtain lands included in the Russian concessions. It appears that the Chinese Government, in defining the limits of tlio Russian concession at Hankow, included in the area, without consulting the British representative, property owned by British subjects, who refuse to surrender their land. The affair arises out of a long-standing dispute with the owners of property which used to bo the hide-curing centro of the Russian concession, and which, the Russians claim, is a serious nuisance. The owners of the property havo several limes been given notice to quit, which, however, they have disregarded. It is only fair to stato that they havo been offered compensation, and have refused it. The matter recently reached an acute stage, owing to a fresh and peremptory notice to quit, and which was followed by an absolute refusal on the part of the owners to comply. They maintain that thoy havo right on their sido, as they were in possession many years before tlio Russian concession was granted.