New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-26
AFFAIRS IN THE FAX EASI
REMARKABLE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
MANIFESTED IN JAPAN.

-, .,r,c.r. REFORMS IN THE CHINESE GOVERN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WORRIED BY RUS
SIAN MANIFESTATIONS.
Con Francisco. Dec 25-The following Orientai
oa,,oos have been received from the United
Press correspondent at Toxic per steamship
China: ,
Toxic. Dec Peace is not yet fully res'orea
in Formosa although the Governor "e"e' o.
has issued a proclamation announcing the
tablishment of good order. A desultory res'''
ance is still kept up by scattered Dands Oh III
surgents. who probably prefer the chances Oh
plumber to the risk of surrender
The latest Corean emeute-that OF November
% may no briefly described as an attempt pri-
marily on the part Of the Bin faction-the lac-
ton of the late Queen-and secondarlly Oh tnal
of other politicians who found themselves ue
prived Of influence and position by the gu
nremacy Of the Tai Won-Kun to avehge the
murder Of the royal consort on Octooer o. anu
to drive the Tai Won-Kun out OF power me
consprators marched against the palace III tne
dead of night, expecting TO ma sympatH%eis
among the naIace guards But being received
by the latter with hail or bullets they neu
ircontinentIy. leaving four of their ringleaders
in the hanl5 or the SidluS' b''iN 49,
one feature that imparts special interest to this
affair: namely, the reported participation VI
foreigners, chiefly citizens Of the United states
The Corean Government, at the instance oi
the foreign representatives. has restored the
late Oueen's rank. and given her a state funeral
japanese commercial enterprises continue 10
sbow remarkable activity and something ike
mania prevails in the stock market Manufac-
turing schemes of various kinds are projected
The establishment Of a cotton-spinning mill in
shanghai has almost becorle an accomplished
fact a site being purchased and the necessary
capital subscribed. A muslin factory with
capital Of 900 900 yen has also received chartef
from the Government. and will soon be started
in Osak II this factory successfully undertakes
the production OF mousseline delaine, SERIOUS
blow will be given to the import trade OF Japan
for at present 3250,000 yen are spent annuaily
for staple in Europe mostly in France ana Ter
many As for the share market general rise
Of nearly all kinds of securities averaging about
% Der cent took place during the month OF No.
vember
The Japanese Government do not seem dis
posed at present to bring from London the large
sum Of money lying to their credit in the BANK
of England, and representing part of the Chinese
indemnity. Some Impotence Is beginning TO De
shown by the people. who think that these
millions might be employed probably in Japan,
and who no object in keeping them IN
London
There is a rumor that the japanese Govern
ment has entered into Professionally arrange
ments with Lord Armstrong Co, the great
English firm Of shipbuilders and gunmakers,
for the establishment Of dockyard and gun
factory in Japan. The japanese already pos
sess dockyards where they can build men-of-
war, importing the armor plates, etc, ana
ole
weapons and ammunition are manufactured.
But they are obliged to depend on foreign coun-
tries for their steel, and there has long been
a strong agitation in favor of starting steel
foundry in the country. Iron is forthcoming
in sufficient quantities. but the deposits have
scarcely begun to be exploited, and japanese
experts shrink from an undertaking OF such
magnitude and cOstlineSS as the establishment
Of steel factory. their experience not being
yet sufficient to warrant the effort. Hence the
idea of utilizing the aid of Great Britain firm
to organize and carry on the enterprise ~ Japan
for fixed term of years. The proposed terms are
that 20 per cent OF the labor should come from
England so per cent be furnished by Japan,
the japanese Government contributing an an
nual subsidy, and reserving the right to pur-
chase the works at the end Of certain number
of years. by which time the necessary skill will
have been acquired. If this scheme be consum-
mated, Japan will soon be building all her own
ships of war and manufacturing her own arma-
ment.
The Tsung-Li Yamen, that wonderful body of
Chinese statesmen who from time immemorial
furnished to the world magnificent object les
son in the art of how not to do it, are beginning
to find themselves left by the times. Their
chief function, the management of foreign af-
fairs. has been virtually transferred to the new
Ministry of War, Board of six, namely, Prince
Kung, the Tu Pam or President, the sixth and
only surviving son of the Emperor. Tao Kwang
Prince Ii, Hsang-Pan, or co-Pres!dent chief OF
one OF the eight ''irOn-capped" families which
helped to conquer China in the middle Of the
seventeenth century; Weng Tung-Ho (Chinese)
president Of the Board of Revenue; Ii Hung
Tsao (Chinese) president OF the Board of Rites
Hsu Flu Chinese) president of the Board OF
War, and Jung Lu (Manchu), commander of the
Picking gendarmerie, and now said to be the
favorite of the Emperor. This new Ministry
has further been instructed to assume charge OF
all the provincial arsenals, hitherto controlled
by the local vicerOys. that in the matter of
armament at any rate, marked step has been
taken in the direction of Capitalization. No les
son was taught more forcibly by the recent war
than the fact that China owed much Of her
weakness TO the dissipation of her fighting en-
ergy. caused by each province regarding itself as
a district apart, and not a unit OF the En-
pire.
The Board of Six, though inrusted with the
conduct OF the country's important foreign rela-
tons. has no member at all versed in foreign
affairs, except Prince Kung. who is now very
inrm. 1t might have been expected that the
eX-Viceroy, Ii Hung Chang. would have an
peared on the Board. but though japanese OBJ
servers persist in saying that Lii is gradually re-
covering political influence, no practical evil
dences of the fact are yet visible.
strong movement Is stirring among the
British communities in the East for the estab-
ishment of branch of the British Naval
~k AAAA q