ALLEGED WARLIKE PREPARATIONS IN CHINA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1912, 13 July 1888, Page 21

ALLEGED WARLIKE PREPARATIONS IN CHINA.

The Evening Post lately published an article in which it states that a Chinese Imperial proclamation and edict have been received by pome leading Chinese merchants in Dunedin from a high official at Pekin. After stating that copies of the edition will be circulated to the principal Chinese in the colony, the Post goes on to say :— " The preamble of the proclamation is somewhat lengthy, but to put it as tersely as possible, it sets forth that whereas Great Britain entered into treaties with China from time to time, which conferred especial privileges on Englishmen, merchants, traders, and others, who were thereby permitted to carry on business throughout a great portion of the Chinese Empire, _ and whereas these treaties were entered into, so far as China was concerned, very reluctantly, and only through the superiority of the British army, the Imperial Government of China regard the recent treatment of its subjects throughout the Australian colonies as illegal and as a breach of the treaty. Then follows what may be regarded as a threat hurled against the British nation. The proclamation goes on to say that the Chinese Imperial ai my numbers 13,000,000 soldiers, who, however, at present are not armed with such efficient or modern weapons, nor are they so well drilled as are the armies of the western nations. The Chinese navy (the despatch goes on to say), although much larger than it was some few years ago, is not sufficiently large as to warrant the empire in talcing the aggressive at present. The Government, however, intends immediately to build arsenals and erect large ordnance and small arms factories, and at four of the most suitable seaports war steamers of the most modern and efficient type are to be constructed as rapidly as possible. This work of re-arming and thoroughly drilling the army and building warships sufficiently powerful to enable the Chinese Empire to cope with the sobers and navy of Great Britain will, the despatch Mates, take three years, and those addressed are to return to China by the expiration of that period."

We (Otago Daily Times) have made in qnirfes regarding the circular which it is alleged the Chinese have received from Pekin, and learn that there is some truth in the statement. The manager of the firm of Kwong Sing Wing, Stafford street, assured.our representative that news had been received to the effect that China was going to make preparation for fighting by manufacturing small arms and other implements of warfare; but he thought there Was no immediate, prospect of war. He said there was no truth in, tta

statement that all Chinese had to return to their native country before the end of three years.