The record-union., 1897-12-16

VANCOUVER (B. c., Dec. 15.-The
steamer Empress of India, which ar
rived here to-day from the Orient
Dtlngs the following advices:
1t IS rumored from Seoul that NJ
AIleXieff, the new financial adviser 70
Corea, proposes TO borrow a loan OF
o,OOOoOo yen from Russia. The in
creased expenditure from the royal
household and partial redemption OF
japanese loans have caused the funds
IN the treasury to become very low
Nj. Aliexiefr's salary has been fixed at
5000 yen per year.
AT the semi-annual meeting of the
Nippon Yusen Kaisha Uapan Steam
snip Company profit of $500. 900 yen
was shown, but loss of over 100000
yen has been sustained by the foreign
service. Three new steamers of $500
tons gross and 1900 horse power are
( now being built in England for the
Australian service.
The kiaochau affair has caused great
interest in Japan, but the opinion of
most OF the Japanese papers is that it
does not portend partition of China.
Chinese papers brought by the EN-
press Of India thus describe the taking
of hiaochau by the Germans:
On Sunday morning, November Nth,
three German warships, the Kaiser,
the flagship, with the Admiral on board.
the Princess Wilhelm and the Arizona
entered the bay, and the Admiral sent
word to the General commanding the
garrison that he had come to obtain
satisfaction for the murder of the two
German missionaries of Bishop Ansers.
a Roman Catholic missionary. which
took place on the 1st instant at Yeng
Tu, in the southeast of the province.
and that he Intended landing a strong
party of men and occupying the forts
The Chinese General in command
sent back an evasive answer and tried
TO refer the matter to Peking, saying
he had nothing to do with it,
The Admiral sent a reply, saying he
would land his men in three hours, and
would use force to carry out his orders,
giving the Chinese garrison that much
time to evacuate the forts.
The Chimes, soldiery, composed of
the usual coolie warriors, We're scared
out of their wits when they saw the
foreign devil" ships make ominous
preparation for business by running out
their guns and lowering the yards.
while the boats We're swung out in
readiness Tor landing men.
The Chinese General sent word to
the flagship that he yielded to supe-
rior force" and meekly bowed his head
to the inevitable. He begged to place
his life and those of his wives and
numerous family under German protec-
ton, and was ready to obey the hon.
ored commands of the German Admi-
raj.
Then several hundred men with six
guns were landed without the slightest
opposition, and in admirable order at
three points, each division marching
straight to the nearest fort, which they
found tenantless. The Chinese flags
were promptly hauled down and the
German ensign run up. whereupon the
three warships fired a salute.
There was no confusion whatever,
and the few country people in the
neighborhood quickly recognizing what
had happened, accepted the situation.
The political crisis in Japan continues,
both the Government and Liberal party
being condemned. 1t is stated that the
Government will be unable to pass new
codes through the Diet, and thus the
revised treaties cannot come into force.
The Japanese Government has as
sented to the demands of Austro- Hun
gary that that nations imports be ad-
mitted under the conventional tariff.
The Corean Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs proposes TO prohibit the export of
rice. This was the cause of the trouble
between Corea and Japan in 1898. and
one Of the causes of the China-Japan
war. Tt is feared it may again lead to
trOuhla