Apart from robber bands roaming about the province and interfering considerably with commerce, Yunnan is quite safe and quiet. Missionaries are still living in beice in their various stations, and it is not thought necessary to recall any. Even single ladies are holding solitary forts alone. Should, however, things go against Yunnan, which seems unlikely, then the worst may be expected. Just now trade is fairly brisk, the crops have been excellent throughout the year, and food is plentiful. Wages are increasing rapidly, horses and coolies are almost impossible to get.
There is little or no anti-foreign feeling in Yunnan, though I am told that the Government has bitterly resented oft-repeated consular "advice" or representations in regard to this new move on the part of Yunnan. They want no such advice just now, and least of all from quarters not (and obviously so)
sympathy with the movement.
Yunnan has declared strongly against the much talked of "joining the entente." They consider. and rightly so, thab this could not possibly benefit China while it might land her in serious complications.
The local news sare adopting a strong anti-Yuan spirit, and the cartoons posted up throughout the city are often of a striking nature.
Soon after declaring independence they posted up on the street corners what led the government to oppose the monarchical movement!n China, One of these was the strong "advice" offered by five Powers not to change the form of government at this time, and then to find that when Yunnan accepted this "advice" and decided to fight even singlehanded for the status quo, these very Powers or at least some of them, according to reports, sent it. These things some cannot understand.
It is regrettable, however, that China should have this constitutional struggle just now, and one can but hope that their common sense will lead them speedily to harmony and unity before it is too late.
The Yunnanese say that the "dao-on their side, but the por on the other.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.