9th November.
Ir is generally understood in the North that the re-occupation of Moukden is Russia's answer to the provision in the new treaties between hina and the United States and Japan for the opening of that city to foreign trade, Russia told us not long ago that she was entirely in favour of the open door "as it is understood in Russia;" and we are beginning to understand what that means, and to discover that it is exactly the kind of opening that we expected, Another illustration of Russia's interpretation of the open door will be found in the following extract from the "China Times" of the 30th ultimo An extraordinary circumstance has been brought to our knowledge with reference to the export of cattle from this province to Port Arthur, The latter port is in need of such supplies, but attempts made by foreigners of other than Russian nationality, to supply the demand, are met by the intimation that the trade is prohibited. Tu exceptional cases, as where a man has actually bought cattle for the purpose, a consular permit may perhaps be obtained for that one consignment only, but on the strict understanding that it is not to be repeated; and even then the permit is only granted on a payment of Tls. 5 a head to the Chinese-five fuels per each ox sent out of the province.
At the same time Russian subjects are said to be exporting cattle in droves of 400, 500, and 600 from Shanhaikuan to Port Arthur without restriction or'payment of any duty.
still more crucial instance has just been brought to our notice, We have before us a copy of the "Rules temporarily Approved by His Imperial Majesty's Viceroy in the Far East, appertaining to the Collection of Harbour Dues in Port Arthur." The first three Rules are as' follows; they are issued in Russian and English "1. Commencing with the Ist of' November 1901, there will be inaugurated in Port Arthur a system of Tonnage and Pood Dues.
"2. "Ten Copees for every registered ton will be collected on a ship entering the Port. Shipowners will be allowed to pay the Tonnage Dues once in every four months at the rate of Forty Copecs per registered' ton.
"3. Russian steamers will be required to pay Tonnage Ducs at the rate of Ten Copecs per registered ton, once ayeer."
Pood Dues are a kind of Wharfage Dues, and amount to from 4 Copec to 1 Cope pood (36 English pounds) on nearly all imports and exports, but it is provided that " Goods carried by steamers from one Russian port to another will be compelled to pay pood dues of of the above-named The preference given in the case of tonnage dues to Russian steamers is a serious matter in the case of regular traders, A Russian steamer of sny 1,000 tons register will pay in tonnage dues 100 roubles a year; an English steamer of the same size on the other hand will be made to pay 1,200 roubles a year, or no less than twelve times as much as his Russian competitor. And it is very evident that, as this is approved by Viceroy Alexeieff, similar preferences will be given before long throughout Manchuria, which it is a mistake to think that Russia has been prompted by any philanthropic motive to annex. In these Regulations we have one answer to the question which the "Spectator" and other Russophil newspapers have often asked: "Why - should we object to the annexation of Manchuria by Russia? Shall we not do just as much. trade with the country in Russian as in Chinese hands
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.