Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-05-16

NEXT and the final !m2ortans engage
Japan has made q hostile demon
strration about Formosa, but proba-
bly, In order to lay foundation for
claim to It In the peace nego citations
rather than to seize the island.
About the middle OF March the talk
OF peace negotiations. which had
been heard for some weeks, crystal
lized in the definite agreement of
China to accept the conditions which
Japan proposed.
The correspondence was carried on
through the United States ministers
In order to avoid q repetition of the
incident OF February, when Japan
kicked out two emissaries masquer-
aiding as peace ambassadors. but
without credentials.
After some further delay ii. Hung
Chang was duly commissioned to rep
sent the Emperor of China and sailed
for Shimonoseki. japan, whore he
was received by Japan's peace COM
missioners, Count Otto and Viscount
Mutsu.
The peace conference was only
fairly under way when fanatic. shot
LII Hung Chang, infiicting eight
wound in the face. The Mikado
promptly proclaimed an armistice,
intended to last until the Chinese
Envoy should recover.
Before the armistice expired the
peace conference had agreed upon q
treaty.
The provisions of the treaty of
most consequence to outside coun-
tries are these:
China agrees to no longer impose
upon foreigners the odious tax known
as liken, levied upon goods and
sales.
A uniform standard tael is to be
adopted by China for her currency.
Much confusion Is caused in money
calculations, because there are the
Aaikwan or custom tael Casually
meant when government computa-
tions are made), worth about ~
cents, and the Shanghai tael, worth
about go cents.
All foreigners are to be permitted
to introduce into China factories and
and to lease warehouses
in the interior.
Japan takes Formosa, the Pesca-
dorea Islands and Manchuria from
Yingkow, on the Leao river to
Anping, on the Y.alu including the
Leatong peninsula.
No other part of China is to be oc
cupied by Japan even as temporary
that China shall abide by
the provisions of the peace treaty,
except possibly Weihaiwei.
The important commercial conces-
sions made by China are to be shared
by oil nations.
Other countries have striven for
many years to induce China to abol-
ish the likin impost, but in vain.
The term is composed Of the
Chinese word "li," the thousandth
part of tael, and "kin," meaning
money. The tax is imposed in addi-
tion to customs duties upon goods
transported from one point in China
to another, and the rates varies at
the different barriers or boundaries
Throughout the country.
Foreign owned goods might be ex-
empted from this and other local ex-
actions by means OF transit passes
issued by the customs authorities on
payment Of two and one-ha]f par
cent. of the value Of the goods.
Originally the liken was tax Of
one cash Ga copper coin varying in
value from one-tenth to one
of an American cent. per
tael on the value Of all sales, and
was imposed by the people OF China
upon themselves to make up the de-
ficiency in the land tax during the
rebellion.
The money thus raised was to be
set apart for military measures only
and intended to be merely temper
airy measure. But it is still levied
and has been recognized in treaties
by foreign nations trading with
China.
nOrTNRlNG MlI n REASTC