The Saint Paul globe., 1903-07-26
FRANCE WILL GAIN
LARGE LAND GRANTS
IN PARKWAY CHINA
Rebels in Yun-nan Destroy
French Property and Kill Sew
eraI Priests-Territory to Be
Demanded in Payment.
Special to The Globe.

SpeclaI TO Inc GlODe.
HONGKONG, July 25.-France will
soon have an opportunity in China sim
liar to the one which has developed in
Morocco, for territorial aggrandize-
ment At the last reports the rebels in
Yun-nan amounted to not less than
10000 trained and well-armed troops.
In their march along towards Tong
king they have already destroyed
French mission church and murdered
the priests. Consistently with her for
eign policy and that of her ally in the
extreme north of China, France may
now wage war on Yun-nan, and under
pretext of having to maintain order
annex it, as Russia has taken Man
churia.
Yun-nan, as a matter of fact, already
within the French sphere of influence,
according to a recent report OF the rail-
way construction which is going on un-
der the control of the French govern
ment into South China. Railways un-
der construction comprise one south
wards from Hanoi towards the frontier
of AMMAN, and another, a continuation
of the Haifong- Hanoi line, northwest
along the valley of the Red river to
Laokai, the limit of navigation on the
river, from which point it will ulti-
mately be carried via Mongtze, the
treaty port of Southern Yun-nan, to
Yun-nan city, the capital of the prov
ince. This is the most important line
of ALL reaching, as it may eventually
do, the exceedingly rich plateau of
Central Yun-nan It's estimated length
from Hanoi to Laokai is 231 miles, and
from Laokai to Yun-nan city 281 miles
"a total of 512 miles, Formidable diff
ficulties will have to be confronted in
its construction. The valley of the Red
river is desperately insalubrious and
unpromising. All praise is due to the
French colonial government for so
courageously undertaking such for
midable enterprise. There is great diff
ficulty in getting labor, the Chinese
fleeing from the valley as from pesti-
lence. The estimated cost of the line
is $60,500aper mile, and the period al
lowed for its complete construction and
equipment is five years from the pres
ent date All material used for the
railway must be purchased in France,
from French firms only, and transport
ed to Tongking exclusively in French
bottoms-a procedure which does not
make for economy. The syndicate who
will construct the line are guaranteed,
both by the home government and by
the colonial government, a subsidy not
exceeding 100000 francs per annum
for seventy-fi five years. While in the
Red river valley the railway cannot
conceivably pay; but the plateau of
Yun-nan is land of promise, a land
thickly peopled, very fertile and rich in
minerals, for the exploitation of con-
siderable proportion of which an An
glo-French syndicate recently obtained
valuable concessions. More than one
French writer protests against the con-
struction of this railway on the ground
that its upkeep will involve a very Sc
rious addition to the financial burdens
of the colony. Yet this is the most
easy and the natural route into Yum
nan province and it is the opening
wedge which will one day be sorely
needed when the partition of China has
formally began.
Will Extend Railway.
In regard to Kwang-Ci the French
colony is in a similar position of adj
vantage. At present. there is a daily
train from Hanoi through Langson to
the Kwang-Ci frontier. In the railway
scheme it is proposed to continue this
line to Lung chau, the inland treaty
port of Kwang-si, and thence to Nan
ming on the West river This line would
have strategical value, but no commerz
cial value, for the natural trade route
for Manning is by Wu-chau and the
West river to Canton. Lung chau itself
at present enjoys the distinction Of be-,
ing that treaty port of China which
records the smallest foreign trade and
earns the smallest customs revenue.
To realize his dream of empire the
Frenchman, like the German, is willing
enough to pay dearly. The price in
longing seems to be an uncommonly
high one as the luxuriance of the eli.
mate permits of it. Hanoi, the capital
is beautiful city, laid out like min
iature European metropolis, with bo-
tanical gardens, handsome public build
1ngs and private residences, with wide
avenues and boulevardS, with pictur-
esque lakelets, drives that are equal to
anything in the world, and such other
conVeniences as the electric light and a
modern water system. 1t is a portion
of Paris modified by experience of
tropical heat, transplanted bodily into
the tropics. Nowhere in Asia are Off
Gals so luxuriously housed, nowhere
are there finer hotels or more cheerful
cafes. Everything is done for the Off
cial. Everything is subsidized for his
benenfit. Steamers on the coast,
launches on the river are subsidized
for him. A theater is subsidized to give
him amusement, and the actors are
carried from France at the cost of the
French taxpayer simply to cheer him in
his exile. This exile is made as cheer
full as possible. 1t is difficult to know
what more could be done for him.
1t is difficult to see for what pur-
pose France is pushing her railways
into China unless it be for purposes of
aggrandizement.
Fares Are Cheap.
Those railways which are to be con-
tinued into China carry hardly any
freight and but few passengers In
but the fares they are called upon to
pay are almost ridiculously cheap.
Trains already running are those
thrice daily between Haifong, the port
In the river river delta, and Hanoi, the
capital, a distance of sixty miles, and
between Hanoi and the Chinese FROM
tier, one train a day. a distance of 101
miles, Unless some ulterior purpose
be in view there is a most lavish eX-
penditure in Tonquin to create ficti-
tious interests. While it is alleged that
other countries sell the protection of
their flag, France deliberately subsi-
dies vessels to fly. the French flag.
What can her purpose be in doing this
but the spreading OF. French influence
on account of prospective plans, to be
developed later. What advantage can
it be to see Chinese junk, Chinese
Dwned and carving purely Chinese
targo, flying the tllcolor?
The new French postoffices are hand
Bome structures, putting the British
postoffice in Hongkong to shame, but it
3 doubtful if the postal business done