The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-06
Japan Watching ltaIy's Movements
With a Jealous Eye.
Marquis Ito Communicating Directly With
Ii Hung Chang.
His Government Will Demand
Some Substantial Grant of
Land From China, Should Italy
Succeed in Her Attempt to Get
Possession of San Nun.

VANCOUVER B. CO, April 5.-Ori-
entail advices brought by the steamer
Empress of Japan indicate that Japan
has watched with jealous eye Italy S
recent attempt to get possession of San
Nun. Marquis Ito has been in direct
communication with Ii Hung Chang,
and has advised various reforms He
says the partition of China will be in
evitable, should China persist in her
present course of action.
In view of the Sam Nun affair, the
japanese are saying their Government
must abandon the hold-aloof policy
hitherto adopted, and demand some
substantial grant of land from China,
probably a port in Fokien-
Count Okuma, ex-Premier, advises
the Government to so conduct itself as
to induce China to rely solely upon the
gallant assistance of Japan for the
maintenance of independence. The first
measure to be adopted for that purpose
is to drill several hundred Chinese sol
diers by japanese officers; secondly, to
encourage the dispatch of Chinese stu
dents 90 Japan for study. If the stu
alton should compel Japan to take a
final step it will be absolutely neces-
sary for her to hold Annoy and the
railway between that place and Han
kow. This phase can only enter into
Japan's calculations when the mainte-
nance of China's integrity is entirely
despaired of, and there is no hope of
preventing a partition.
In the meantime, Mr.. Yano, the Japa-
nese Minister at Pekin, has applied to
the Chinese Government for five new
settlements for Japan's exclusive use.
to be opened at Foo Chow, Annoy. In
kaw (New Chwang), Shanghai and
Chungking. in addition to the Tien Tsin
and Hankow settlements, which have
been conceded already. 1t is stated
that the Chinese Government has de-
cided to entertain the demands. with
the exception Of Shanghai and Chung
king.
There appears to have been no truth
IN the report that the Dowager Empress
has recalled Ii Hung Chang to Pexin.
The latter has finished the labor of ex-
aiming the Yellow River. but his riv-
ais in the Tsung Ii Yamen are irvine
to keep him out of the Capital. They
fear his influence.
The japanese Government is dis
patching several Judges and public
procurators abroad to study foreign iu-
dicial systems. They will visit America
and England
Bangkok (Siam) reports say that a
murderous conclave, the Cantonese Sc
cret society, is again at work. and those
who do not obey the laws of its lead
ers are arrested, punished by mutila-
non and loss of members, and even So
sasslnated. The authorities are power-
less in the face of this formidable con-
federation, which pursues the even
tenor of its way as if it were the only
government in SIAM
The agreement by which Japan Joins
the international copyright union will
shortly be promulgated.
During the recent terrific vb;r1vird
on the coast of North Queensland abont
100 Japanese engaged in the pearl Ash
cries were drowned.
About 200 japanese prisoners in Nil
gaia prison have been simultaneously
taken ILL., They are supposed to have
been poisoned.
"A report mas reached the japanese
government that Canada intended TO
impose duty of II cents a pound on
japanese tea Tea dealers take tbe
report very seriously, and they are ask
ing that negotiations be entered unon
with the Canadian Government against
an imposition Of the tax.
Advices from the Far East. brought
by the steamer Empress of Japan state
that a correspondent of the .North
China Daily News" gives some enarlx-
able information regarding the Russdan
progress in Manchuria and the nortbarn
provinces. He points out that vbereas
the only British subjects who ore nar-
mitted by treaty to own land outside
treaty limits are missionaries, Russians
in Manchuria are acquiring land as
they please, and are already working
mines. The railroad, too, is obviouslv
military one, and he asserts that
there are 10000 Russian troops at port
Arthur, 5000 at fallen Wan. 2ol0 at
Kin Chou, POO at LUNCHEON. POO Of Wa
Fang Lien, 200 at New Chwaner o0O
at Haichieng, 200 at Lao Yang 3OO ar
Kirin, 10000 at Haipion, north of Ki,.in
and, In fact, Russian soldiers are ali
over Manchuria. They are to be met
with even where the railway will NOT
touch.
In Hal Chieng the Russians have
taken a shop and fortified it by mount-
ing guns. At Lao Yang they have q.
site 200 yards square, where they are
building barracks, and 300 soldiers.
with ~ officers and mining engineers
are quartered there. Outside the civ
they are purchasing land, and intend
to occupy houses for the summer. The
Chinese officials and people are much
afraid Of the intruders, who do lust as
they like and square any remonstra nee
with a few dollars
Visitors to the locality cannot move
without being Swallowed by Russians.
As there is no railway at Kirin and
the branch line which is protected will
not reach there for two years. the nres-
ence of soldiers appears unnecessary.
The Chinese Bank has opened a
branch in Kirin, worked by Chinese.
with one foreigner, who is British hut
little beyond political work appears to
be done.
At Haipon, where the railway will
branch off from the main line to yladi-
vostock, there are Russian settlements
with 10000 soldiers. 1t is instructive
to compare this military occupation
with the railway in which British capi-