One could not call the inhabitants of this city pro-foreign, in any sense of the term, but even here there is something to be said for their point of view.
When referring to the treatment meted out to foreign merchants in this city, your correspondent should call to mind the fact that Wanhsien is not an open port. There has been considerable misunderstanding on this point in the past, owing to the establishment of a branch of the Customs here; which of course was simply in the interests of shipping firms and merchants, facilitating their handling of cargo at this place.
The Chinese have fought persistently against the idea of Wanhsien.being an open port, and some years ago they were worsted in the controversy, but. have never forgotten the matter, and it is not surprising if we who live on here have to share in the aftermath.
Foreigners are not officially allowed to establish any branch of business in Wanhsien, and the fact. that foreigners are so established affords the Chinese a further opportunity to vent their -anti-_ foreign feeling.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.