Chengtu Conference to Settle Provincial Peace: a Sudden Spurt in Trade From Qur Own Correspondent, Chungking, Nov. 14.
For several months past a military conference has been sitting in Chengtu to settle the affairs of tha province, which have been badly disorganized by the recent civil war. It was referred to in the Chinese newspapers as the "happy ending'' conference. It has been attended by all the leading Generals except Gen. Hsiung, who has been suffering from a bad leg. The proceedings were all secret, but occasional rumours were circulated, shortly to be contradicted by other rumours; neither probably reliable. For instance, we heard that the office of Military Governor was to be aboli ished: entire control was to vest in the Civil Governor: a certain General was to retire into private life: and the army was to ba considerably reduced in numbers. Later, we heard that this same General was. to undertake the combined duties of Military and Civil Governor, both offices being carried on as_ before, while alterations-in the organization of the army were to come into force which would eventually result in increasing the total number of men. The Conference has now finished its sittings. Gen. Liu Yuchin is to be Governor, both Military and Civil, and other Generals will have each his own appointed domain. Gen. Hsiung's oat better and he has gone to éngtu. Gen. Ten Hsi-heo is appointed to Chungking.
While this sort of thing is going on in Chéngtv, Chungking waits anxiously to know whether it is to be peace or another spell of war. A sudden spurt of trade has sent the steamer rates soaring wp, in some casey 800 or 900 per cent. above the lowest and there is plenty of cargo until the end of the season, which is coming neat now. The larger steamers will not be able to make many more trips, and all are doing their utmost to convert their previous big losses into a profit. It cannot be said, however, that there is yet any sign of permanent improvement in trade, but, with peace and any kind of settled government, it is certain that things will change very muck for the better.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.