AN INTERESTING VISITOR

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11481, 14 January 1903, Page 7

AN INTERESTING VISITOR

"THE TIMES" PEKIN CORRESPONDENT.

VIEWS ON (CHINESE AFFAIRS

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received January .lMi, 10.54 p.m.) THURSDAY ISLAND, January 13.

Dr. Morrison, the Pekin correspondent of "The Times," has arrived on a holiday visit to Australia. He states that affairs in Northern China are very quiet. Seven out of eleven foreign Ministers at Pekin are at present absent from their legations. The one great question, before which all else pales at present, is the falling of the dollar, which is lower than ever before. Siam, another neighbouring State, having adopted the gold standard, intensifies China's dilemma. China baa to pay the Japanese indemnity in gold. There is a strong Boxer movement in far Western China, and great unrest in three southern provinces, causing considerable anxiety and hampering trade. Russia now practically owns Manchuria, and is making wonderful progress, opening up the country and establishing herself firmly. The British development at Wei-hai-wei progresses satisfactorily, and there is every probability that it will become a great manufacturing centre. The Chinese as a people take no interest in the Australian legislation towards their exclusion. The Japanese feel interested, resenting the restriction as against the spirit of the alliance with Great Britain.