The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-07

under the administration of President
Harrison. My Information comes not only
from the papers which [ have read but
from many business men whom l have
met and with whom l have been in CONVEX
SatiOn."
One of the subjects which naturally at
tracted the atIen ton of Mr.. Foster during
his journey was the financial status of
India and the part that silver plays in pre-
valent conditions there.
India. as you know" said he, sis pass
ing through a very severe financial and
commercial depression. caused by the de-
cline in silver, which is attributed 10 the
closing of the minis and the repeal of the
Sherman act.
The action of the United States in the
latter matter is construed in India as a
disposition upon our part to establish a
single or gold standard, and l found great
difficulty in convincing them to the con-
trary, and that all political parties here
have at one time or another declared in
favor of bimetallism. The United States
has for fifteen years labOTed To establish a
bimetailic currency by international agree
ment, and for this purpose three confer
ences have been held, which are now mat
ters of history. All of these confer
ences have resulted in nothing, be-
cause of the attitude assumed by
the capitalists of Great Britain, who
are opposed to the plan, and in talking to
Hong Kong told them that Great Britain
was 10 blame for the predicament in which
they had been placed and not the United
s ates. | explained that this country was
not willing that Great Britain should be
permitted to force her upon a silver basis
alone, as w0uld have been the case had the
Sherman act continued IN operation, as all
the gold would have left the country.
China is making decided but slow
progress toward an acceptance of Western
methods of internal Improvements, the re-
organization of its army and the better
equipment of its navy. There has been
for years great opposition to railroad build
ing In that country. and there is yet, for
that matter, but this Drejndice is gradually
wearing away"
Mr.. Foster spoke of his observations
made while riding over the newly con-
structed road which has been built as far
"a the great wall. He mentioned the su-
perior work done by the native mechanics
and complmented in high terms the evil
dences of this noticeable in a parlOr-car
which had been built by these people in
the shops Of one of their cities. In fact
all the material for this railroad, except
the engines, was of native construction
and Mr.. Foster was Informed that il was
equal to that done in England or the
United States in point OF workmanship,
and much cheaper. when China gets
her army ana navy on a good footing"
completed she will easily take rank
as one of the great powers, and will
be in a position to resist the entertainments
which England and France are making
upon her territory.
Japan l find to De in state of consid-
cradle unrest. Since leaving there l learn
that Parliament has been dissolved for the
second time by the Mikado. This differ
epce between the Cabinet and Parliament
is due to demand for a revision of the
treaties with foreign powers. Under the
present treaties all foreigners VINO violate
the laws of Japan are tried by the consUls
from their own countries, and are not
amenable to the laws of the country. An
other provision of these treaties does not
permit Japan TO levy her own tariff or
customs duties, because this provision
limits the amount of duties thus raised to
5 per cent on all imported goods. This
treaty was the work of thirty or forty
years ago, and the Cabinet Is strongly in
favor Of a revisiOn-in fact, that is the pre-
valling sentiment of the country. But The
Cabinet. having the responsibility of the
Government upon its shoulder has no de-
sire 10 break off its present amcable rela-
tons with other count tries, as 1t would be
sure to do If IL followed the line of con-
duct demanded by the extremists. Some
of the natives are not IN favor of a reyis-
ion, and the Cabinet is not willing to 90 TO
extremes in the matter. The United
States was always friendly to Japan on
this question. but England has shown a
strong indisposition 10 accede to the latter
country's requests"
Regarding the Boring Sea matter Mr..
Foster said that he was satisfied that the
negotiations adopted by the arbitration
tribunal at Paris will prove sufficient for
the protection and promotion of the seals
if strictly enforced in good faith by both
Governments.
He mentioned the lack of facilities for
receiving the news from home while In the
East, a Reuter- telegram of six TO eight
lines a day being the extent of the Oppor-
tunities he had fer keeping in touch with
affairs here.
Mr.. Foster will remain about two weeks
in the State, and will visit various points
of interest during his stay. From here he
goes direct to Washington.
The Firebugs.