THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1907. CHINA'S AWAKENING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8503, 5 August 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1907. CHINA'S AWAKENING.

The appointment of Sir Chentung • Liang Cheng, Chinese Minister at . Washington, as vice-president of the ! Chinese Board of Foreign Affairs, at Pekin, is regarded in diplomatic i circles as indicating that China is in earnest in her determination to assert her vast latent strength in the Far East, for Sir Chentung is one of the most progressive officials in the Chinese service. Information is not lacking to show that the situation in Manchuria promises trouble. China finds many things not to its liking. While advices are lacking as to details of the agreement as to the tariff to be levied on merchandise for Manchuria entering at the Japanese port of Dalny, it can be said that all the other treaty ports in Manchuria are now administered by the Chinese themselves. For months following the war the Customs-houses were in the hands. of the Japanese. Their control was complete, but the proceeds of the collections were turned over to the Chinese Government. Such~control as the\Japanese then exercised was rendered necessary by the war. During the time of this control the Japanese naturally gained preference in shipping goods into Manchuria. In Chinese quarters the belief is general that it was a regular Japanese policy to admit Japanese products free, or at a nominal charge, while the merchandise of other nations was assessed at the scheduled duties. This naturally gave Japan an immense trade advantage. Even though under Chinese administration Japan now is treated the same as other countries, the initial advantage still counts for n.uch in competition. Manchuria heretofor haa bean governed as a terrritory. Henceforward it will be governed as a province, and for this purpose it has been divided into three parts. The present Viceroy is Chao Erhsun, but there has been talk of his recall to Yuan Shai Kai, Viceroy of Chi-lr, commander of China's modern army, and one of the greatest men of the Empire, was proffered the control of

Manchuria in addition to his own province, but declined on the ground | that his present duties were heavy | enough. Tong Chou Yee, whom Sir j Chentung Liang Cheng will replace j as a vice-president of the Board of I Foreign Affairs, is to go to Mukden ' a3 Governor of the province of which j that is the capital. All Manchuria I will be brought closely under Chinese control; hitherto it has struggled along first under Russian military I occupation, then under the rules of j war, and lastly under Japanese influence. The establishment ol' this governmental authority within, the next year will bring to a crisis the questions affecting the Japanese population objectionable to China. The change in Chinese policy springs | from the growth of public opinion, J which fifteen years ago was an un known quantity in China. The antiAmerican boycott was the product of that public opinion. Its existence caused the Chinese Government to refuse to ratify a new exclusion treaty to take the place of the one which Li Hung Chang entered into with utter disregard to the Chinese it affected. One year ago the Chinese Government sent abroad several delegations of officials to study foreign governmental methods. Following their return came the recall of Sir Chentung.