The Political Situation Reviewed—The Silk Trade's Demand for Aid—Hunger the Order of the Day—Land the Interior quite bright nor quite dark; we should say it is a situation fraught with all sorts of possibilities, re-; marks the "Shunpao." As most People are ignorant of the inner aspect of political developments, they usually arrive at a wrong conclusion in their view of the situation. However, we doubt if even the powers that be could say: what their ultimate goal may be. There have been sudden outbreaks of stormy weather, but there have followed as suddenly spells of the "utmost calm. We have been as-
; sured that the Cabinet would fall, and that the Fengtien and Chihli parties would come into conflict, very soon. On the other hand, we are told that these reports are utterly unfounded and they have been maliciously spread by the "enemies of the Government with ithe object of causing dissension. The truth of these reports, although challenged, can nevertheless be established by tracing the trend of affairs. But it cannot be vouch for, because matters may be smoothed over and open conflicts averted by mediation and explanation. Thus, whether the reports are true or untrue, even the Government itself is unable to say until the questions involved are disposed of one way or the other. It is for this reason that we say the present situation is fraught will all manner of possibilities.
Stk anp Cocoon Trape.
The appeal to the Government for financial assistance was made by the silk and cocoon merchants of this port as a last resort and in pursuance of a well-established precedent, comments the Sinwanpao." Yet, the delegates sent by the Amalgamated Silk and Cocoon Association of Kiangsu, Chekiang and Anhui to Peking last month have only succeeded in eliciting from the Ministry of Finance a reluctant promise to consult the Shuiwuchu (Bureau of Taxes), financial help in the shape of Treasury Bills being withheld. That it is necessary to consult the Diplomatic Corps in order to obtain its consent to the exemption of the trade from the payment of the export duty, since it is a matter concerning the Customs revenue, is admitted. But inasmuch as the merchants are in such dire need of relief, why has the Ministry of Finance been acting in such a casual manner just as if the matter were of no importance at all?
Our silk and cocoon trade has lately experienced the keenest competition from Japan. Even if it be given every encouragement and help, it may still languish. The Japanese Government is said to have subsidized the silk and cocoon trade to the extent of Y¥.85,000,000 last year, because of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.