The New York herald., 1870-05-07
WESTERN CHINA.
Foreign Commercial Intercourse with That Part
Of the Empire-British Explorations
and the Day Of Change.

From the Rangoon undia) Gazette, March lo.1
Mr.. Grant Dun IN the course OF q late speech m
the House OF ConVOns, expressed his surprise that
british merchants and manufacturers with ali the
world before them, should have little to do as to
be able to find time for 80 dull an amusement. so
VAIN q labor" as seeking 10 open out new trade
routes for commerce In the far East. The speech.
was worthy OF representative Of the present Gov
ernment which systematically contemns the repre-
sentations OF those who are pushing Ensand's COM
merce abroad, and was severely handled in various
home papers at the time Several truths, too, were
uttered IN the OF the discussion, which have
FAR wider bearing than they were given
One able commentator remarked lnat our
present mode OF access China was reproaCh 10,
our intelligence and enterprise. OF all nations on
the face OF the earth China possesses the largest
Ii keenly alive to the advantages OF commercial IN
tercourse. Yet with this immense empire England
Possesses singulary limited intercourse. Her ap-
prOach 10 Dy sea Is crculfOns, the open ports are
few In number, and with the bulk OF the pOpu-
lation England possesses really no acquaintance
every attempt 20 extend that intercourse IL
mes by neglect or refusal fr6m our gov
the opening up of communication with South
western China; but rs we said before the remarks
apply with equal, not greater, force to the projects
urged by merchants dwelling at the Eastern pors:
Tor, while the former scheme was purely pentative
the opening IN the latter Case Is certain There may
or may not exist practicable trade across the
territory Of the Burmese the Shans but there ls no
doubt as TO the results which would follow the OPEN
ing OF the Upper Yangtze and its aHiuents to foreign
enterprise. The present governments, however,
repels the advocates OF either scheme alike.
one and polltlcai obstacles to the other.
Doth OF which must melt away OF their own accord
before me ne desired inlet can can be 5e gained Some con;
Burmah and some CONFUSION Of intellect must up
SET mandarin prejudlces. The present Ministry will
not interfere with the things tnat are 1t was
marked OF Dean ewrt's Tale OF Tubn that great.
tntellects appeared TO IND occasional relaxation
So We presume Mr.. Gladstone's Cabinet finds re-
Taxation from the strain Of Intense liberalism at
nome IN the profound respect they pay to conserva-
tlsm In China.
For many years, now, the project OF opening up
communication with Western China has been favor
lte one with Indian explorers and Indian officials
and mas attracted, at intervals, the attention or
English chambers OF commerce. The latter have
perhaps no very definite noton how Yunnan and
Szechuen can be reached; but the idea OF these
vast and fertile provinces, separated from
territory by tract of land scarcely broader than
England, yet unapDrOachable, revots against com
mon sense; aud the opinions OF men who have
explored and travelled in the closed regions
OF Salisbury slgnazed his tenure OF the In-
dia ONCE by ordering survey OF one pro-
missing route, from Prome on the lrrawaddy, to the
Chinese City OF Kiang- hung, 10 the extreme south
west OF yuDnan; Dut Just We refrain from moving
IN CHINA, out OF regard FOR the suscepnDiies OF the
posed survey across Burnah In Difference to Inc
manifest uneasiness OF the King. The same mind
Jealousy Of foreigners which inspires the ruling
classes Of China prevails at the Court or Mandalay
and for similar reasons. Both King and mandariEs
dread changes which, however beneficial tp their
subjects, are pregnant with danger TO their own
corrupt rule The scheme, however, OF establishing
communication with Western China across Burmall
promises so well, and the distance to be traversed
Is Short that such ippant excuses for neglect
tnat offered by Mr. Grant Dun cannot long prevail.
Already. alter Infinite pressure and agitation, the
merchants Of Calcutta and KangoOn have persuaded
the government 10 send @ mission into Yunnan,
where 1t met excellent ecepu0n from the Moham-
medan governments and an agent has since been ap-
pointed to Bhamo to watch over the trade which IL
Is hoped to foster across the Burmese frontier Agl
tatiOn for survey Of the kanghun route Is being
renewed aud MIR. Cooper's project Of opening up
route by which Assam teas may find their way Into
Thi6et Is warmly supported by the Calcutta Chamber
OF Commerce. Backed up by English chambers OF
commerce, these schemes must eventually command
the attention Of the home government. May we
venture TO hope that sl..-ilar persistence Dy mer-
chants on the east OF China may also meet with en-
cOuraRement and also prove eventually successful