The Chinese Indemnity.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 113, 10 October 1901, Page 4

The Chinese Indemnity.

A Reuter’s representative had afr interview with Mr Byron Brenae, C.M.G., British Consul General at Shanghai, who reached England in August, on the conclusion of over thirty years’ consular work in China, In reply to questions, Mr Brennan said From the standpoint of foreign interest* tba position in China is to day far won* than it was before the international occupation. To begin with, as a result of the presence of foreign troops, the Chinese are now better able than ever td play off one Power against another. Formerly there was an impression that/ foreign interests were, at any rate to ft certain identical, but reeent events have shown more dearly to the Chinese how divergent those interest* really are, and have revealed the many jealousies existing between the foreign Powers, consequent upon the Various lines of policy followed;

On* of the chief re suits of the recent troubles will be tba extent to which all those Powers who value trade relation* with China must necessarily suffer by the imposition of higher tariffs in order to pay the indemnity. It would have been in every way better if the Power* had foregone all claims for a pecuniary indemnity. For who will provide this 2 Not the Chinese. It would appear on the surface as if China had to pay something like £60,000,000, but as a matter of fact the greater portion of this will be derived from foreign trade, in which Great Britain has by far the largest interest, so that to a large extent we are practically paying the indemnity out of our own pockets.

But as a set off against this, ohr cCni* mercial position will undoubtedly be improved after the revision of existing treaties by the removal of all ambiguou* clauses.

The claiise prohibiting ttie inTportatiod of arms and ammunition cannot bavt been seriously meant, because, as every* one conversant with the number and extent of Chinese ports knows, this ia * physical impossibility, it is out of the question that foreign Powers should supervise the work of the custom houses, and although the customs service is made up of Europeans under a British inspector-general, the members of lb* service are Chinese employees, who modi be loyal to their paymasters/ They Cannot presume to act as detectives over the Government that employe them; It could never have been intended to enforce the clause, because it can be so easily evaded. Meanwhile the varion# arsenala in China, so far front closing, are working hard, and when I left the 'Shanghai arsenal was working double time, I should say that China has notthe least intention of makingan organised' attempt to oust the {'.feigners foraloog time to come, but while this may apply tothe Government, theteisa.very hcstils Reeling among the people in roaoy parts of North Chins* and » good deki of local' disturbance may be expebtod as a result of the legacy of hate which hat been left oy the foreiga ezpecUtioda in the country istrict*. „ .