AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1903, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

IR. MORRISON'S VIEWS. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received 13, 10.34 p.m Thursday Island, January 13. Dr. Morrison, the Times' correspondent at Ptkin, now on a holiday visit, states that affairs in northern China are very quiet, seven out of eleven foreign Ministers at Pekin being at present absent from their Legations. One | great question, before which all else pa'es at present, is the falling value ff tin dollar, which is lower than ever it was before and Siam, another neighbouring S'.ate, havirg adopted a gold standard, intet,si6cs China's dilemma if she has to pay the Japanese indemnity io gold. There is a strong Boxer movement in the far western part of China, and great unrest in the three routhern pro vinefs, causing considerable anxiety and hfmpering trade. Russia now practically owns Maochum, aud is making wonderful pro grefs in opsning up tho country, and is establishing hrself firmly. British development in Weihaiwfi progresses satisfactorily, there being every probability of it becoming a great manufacturing district. The Chinese, as a people, take no interest in Australian legislotion towards their exclusion, but the Japanese ft el in'teres'ed, rosenting the restriction as against the spirit of their alliance with Britain.