The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-08
OUR RELATIONS WITH
TURKEY AND CHINA.

Early in July, having received intelligence.
which happily turned out to be erroneous,
Of the assassination of our vice consul at
Beirut, / dispatched a small squadron TO
that port for such service as might be found
necessary on arrival. Although the attempt
on the life of our vice consul had not been
successful, yet the outrage was symp-
tomato of a state of excitement and dis
order which demanded immediate attention.
The arrival Of the vessels had the happiest
result. A feeling of security at once took
the place of the former alarm and disquiet;
our officers were cordially welcomed by the
consular body and the leading merchants
and ordinary business resumed its activity.
The government of the Sultan gave a con-
siderate hearing to the representations of
our minister; the official who was regarded
as responsible for the disturbed condition or
affairs was removed. Our relations with the
Turkish government remain friendly; our
claims founded on inequtable treatment OF
some of our schools and missions appear
to be in process Of amicable adjustment.
Treaty with China.
. The signing of new commercial treaty
with China, which took place at Shanghai
on the Sth of October. is a cause for salts
faction. This act, the result of long dis
cussion and negotiation, places our COM
empire on a more satisfactory footing than
they have ever heretofore enjoyed. 1t pro-
vides not only for the ordinary rights and
privileges of diplomatic and consular Of
ficers, but also for an important extension
of our commerce by increased facility Of
access to Chinese ports. and for the relief
of trade by the removal of some of the OBJ
stacleS which have embarrassed IL in the
Chinese governments
fair and equitable conditions, which
will probably be accepted by the principal
and asen r to @ the isyy
the empire, and to introduce other desir-
able administrative reforms. Larger facil-
tiles TO be given to our citizens who
desire to carry on mining enterprises in
China. We have secured for our mission
aries valuable privilege. the recognition
of their right to rent and lease in perpet-
uity such property as their religious So
cieties may need in all parts Of the empire.
And, what was an Indispensable condition
for the advance and development OF our
commerce in Manchuria, China, by treaty
with US, has opened TO foreign commerce
the cities of Mukden, the capital of the
province of Manchuria, and Antung an i'm
portant port on the Yalu river. on the road
to Korea. The full measure of develop
ment which our commerce may rightfully
expect can hardly be looked for until the
settlement of the present abnormal state
of things in the empire; but the foundation
for such development has at last been laid.
Cost of Consular Service.
L call your attention to the reduced cost
in maintaining the consular service for the
fiscal year ending June so. 1903. as shown
in the annual report of the auditor for the
state and other departments. as compared
with the year previous. For the year I'M
der consideration the excess of expendi-
lures over receipts on account of the con-
sular service amounted to s26 1872, as
against 500, 972. 80 for the year ending June
80, 1902. and S147,04016 for the year ending
June So 1901 This is the best showing in
this respect for the consular service for the
past fourteen years and the reduction in
the cost of the service to the government
has been made in spite of the fact that the
more than $4,000 greater than for the pre-
viouS year.