The sun., 1898-02-24
Tho Latest News from China.

According to concurrent reports from Ber-
lin and London, arrangements have been
made by the Pekin Government to pay to
Japan the whole of the outstanding part of
the war indemnity on May 8, the day fixed
by the Shimonoseki treaty for the payment
thereof to begin. 1t appears that British
bank and q German bank have Jointly
undertaken to lend China $50, 600, 900, q
sum which will suffice to free her entirely
from her Indebtedness to the Mikado. Not
withstanding previous rumors to the con-
trary, it is said that the loan will not be
guaranteed by any foreign power. but will
be secured by "fiscal reforms" which will
provide for interest and Il sinking fund. BY
the vague term fiscal reforms we should
probably understand that the Pekin Govern
ment has consented that the land tax and
inland barrier tax, or octroi levied on goods
passing from one interior point to another
shall be for accrtain period controlled by
agents ofthe institutions lending the money
The consideration offered for the loan is
not confined to the reasonably high rate
of interest, 4la per cent, and to provisions
for security, but includes, we are told, new
concessions regarding foreign trade What
by the British Foreign Office. The most
important Of them is the agreement that,
within two years, a treaty port shall be
opened in the province of Human, and that,
in and after next June, all the inland
waters of China may be navigated bv
steamers, whether owned by natives or
foreigners. 1t is further stipulated that
the valley of the Yapg-tse. Kiang shall
neither be mortgaged leased nor ceded,
and that the Inspector. General of the Chi
nesc customs shall be native of Great
Britain SO long as British trade at Chinese
ports continues to exceed that of any other
foreign power.
The province of Human, "South of the
Lakes" which is at last to be rendered ac-
cessible to Europeans, lies in the heart of
the Middle Kingdom. and Is described by
RIcHToFEN as a rich and populous prov
incc. 1t is said to contain some nineteen
million inhabitants, of which one million
are congregated in the single city of Seang-
Tang. The best quality of tea is grown in
Human, and the southeastern section of the
province is one vast coal field. Tho Yang, tsc-
kiang touches its northeastern corner and
here lies the city of Yohchow, which,
doubtless, Is the port that is soon to be
thrown OPEN The Yang g-tse- lang is navi-
gable for steamers not only as far as Yoh.
chow, but for IA considerable distance fur.
ther. namely, TO I-Chang, in the province of
Hu-Pih. Beyond the last named city the
navigation of the river is impracticable for
steamers by reason of the frequent rapids.
I-Chang, We should bear in mind, however,
is twelve hundred miles from the rivers
mouth. On the whole, it may be said that,
for commercial purposes, the valley of the
Yang tsc- kiang is worth all the rest of
China put together
This will be evident when we recapitulate
the provinces to which it will give access.
These are kiang-Su, containing nearly
4o,OOO,OOo inhabitants; Gan.Hwuy, with
35,O0O,o00; Keang-se, with 10000, 900;
Hu-Pih, with about 3O,OOO,OOO and Hu-
nan, which, as we have said, has some
100000 Inhabitants. We should add
the great and populous province of See
Chpen, believed 70 contain from 40, ,OOO, 900