INTERIOR, The DiMicn ties of Pionceri The case of Mr. H. Bennertz, who is in Shanghai fora few days, affords i structive examples of nf the liftieulties which have to be eneosntered by thos who would carry on trading enterprise in the interior, availing themselves of th de betwee China and the Powers. Mr. Rennerts is 8 British-born subject, who has bee fifteen years in China, and who is well-acquainted therefore' with tie methods under which trading has to be carried on here. It is in connection with the recent opening of Changsha that he has what appears to be a substantial grievance.
Changs will he romembore:) opened asa Treaty Port—the first Hunan—on the Ist of July last. At Yochon and one or two other places foreigners had previously boon allosrod to call for business, but not to establish themselves li Tu March of devi i the provin by itis wife, went on ah through a considerable p spending some weeks on the expedite He had been previously connected dustry, were opportuni am the hemp which grows wild in these districts; he applied accordingly to the Governor for a concession to deal with this hitherto wasted material on term:
interpreter. Mr. Wu. an excellent scholar, had introduced him before this to one of the richest men in the province, who was willing to back the enterprise with capital. the Governor was the point of coming to reasonable terms, when it came to his ears thst there was Chinese wealth which might possibly be tapped, and Mr. Bennertz was informed that a payment of Tis 200,000 would be required before the concession could be granted. This preposterous demand was at once refused and the manner in which the refusal was interpreted by Mr. Wu to the Governor xppears to have brought down on him the animosity of that official. A letter was now sent to Mr. Bennertz from the Secretsry of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs calling on him to dismiss Mr. Wa from his employment, a requirement, has not seen fit to carry out. Mr. Wu is still with him and proving " useful ally. The concession fell through.
On the 18th of July Mr. Bennertz noti-the Comm ioner of Customs at Ghavgsha that tended to estublis! himself in the city-port and would open on the 20th. A reply came back the same night to the effect that foreigners ould not occupy premises in the city self, but Mr. Bennertz might establish himself in the area set apart for the new out. The land so set apart mote from all centres of te ned, unhealthy, and unocenpiod. When other cities been opened merchants have invariably settled inside the city walls 0 til the Settlement outside has been made ron: ly for their residence. Mr. Bennertz had alroaiy taken premises in the city and had issued 400 invitations to the opening on the 20th, Ho tried to telegraph to the British Consul at Han-Kow, but the wires had, very conveniently for the officials at Changsha, broken down for three days. At length! a message was got through and the Consul (Mr. Playfair) sent dispatch to the Changsha Taotai, who retorted by Mr. Ronnertz to remove his hong jgnboard from the city within eight days.
On rotorring this demand te the Consul, Mr. Bennertz was advised to comply under protest, which he did by leaving it to the Chinese officials to come themselves and take the signboard down. Instead of doing that, the Taotai issued a further order extend-the time in which Mr. Bennertz, w self to take down his sign by five days.
On the 29th of August Mr. Playfair had communicated with the British Commercial Attache at Shanghai Mr. J. W. Jamieson. who in turn referred the matter to the Minister at Peking. The reply received was that the British Minister had warned the Bureau of Foreign Affairs at Poking that these regulations and re. strictions on trade at Changsha were, in the absence of the assent of the Powers, not binding on British merchants. The lotter farther assured Mr. Bennertz that he was fully at liberty to open business premises and display his hong-board in the city of Changsha. Mr. Jamieson said he was writing to the Taotai to this effect. and if he, or the Commissioner of Customs, or the police made any attempt to remove the signboard or to seal up the premises, Mr. Bennertz was request-1 to let him know.
In spite of this strongly-worded letter proclamations were subsequently issued by the five Taotais of Changsha, and sealed with three official seals, to the effect that foreign merchants were not to be allowed to live within or do b ness in the native city, and calling on the off eigners they found so trading to the anthorities. Handbills were also distribut-to the same effect. Mr. Bennertz ro-ported to Mr. Everard Fraser, who has now returned to his consulate at Hankow and representations are being made on the subject to the Chinese, The matter is one that affects all foreigners in China, but it is perhaps worth noting that two Germans are residing and trading in Changsha city and there seems therefore to be some discrimination exercised by the local magnates.
In connection with this question Mr. Bennertz is also testing another point of importance to foreigners. This is the right of foreign employees of Chinese firms to reside in non-treaty ports, or of foreigners to visit their Chinese agents at non-treaty ports. In August he visited the non-treaty port of Changteh there to establish a foreign agency for a Chinese firm. At first he was given an escort of four soldiers and well treated by the authorities, but in a little time the soldiers were withdrawn and ho himself was called upon to leave, This matter is also the subject of correspondance and inquiry and it is one the outcome of which will have far-reaching effects on foreign trade in China,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.