Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/370

 362] FOEEIGN HISTOEY. [1899.

ings and property, but a mob assaulted the British officials and the Chinese soldiers acting as guard and compelled them to retire. British troops were then landed at Mirs Bay from a torpedo-boat destroyer, and for a few days some fighting was kept up by a horde of Chinese rebels. On May 17 a British force took possession of Kau-lung city, the town of Sam-chun in the extension territory was occupied without resistance, and in all the towns the rebels were subdued. The British Govern- ment granted the request of the Chinese for six months' extension of time to make needful arrangements for the removal of the Maritime Customs stations.

The commercial condition of the colony was highly satis- factory. British trade met with serious hindrance, however, through the increase of piracy on the West Biver. The revenue of Hong-Kong in 1898 was $2,918,159, with an expenditure of $2,841,805, and the population at the end of 1898 was estimated at 254,400.

IV. KOREA.

The entire Korean Cabinet was dismissed on March 22, and two of the members were banished because of changes made by the Cabinet in provincial offices.

The Japanese were gaining in influence by encouraging attempts at reform, while Eussian policy was to check reform.

Concessions of three whaling stations, each fifteen miles long, were applied for by the Eussian Count Kaiserlingk on behalf of the East Eussian Fishery Company. The Government agreed to allow the company three sites of 700 feet by 350 feet for whaling purposes only, on a lease of twelve years, under the supervision of the Korean Maritime Customs, and the Japanese were promised similar concessions. Eussian attempts to gain political advantages under any guise were being checked by Japanese vigilance. Yet Eussia denied that she was desirous of establishing a Eussian Protectorate over the country, and asserted that Japan had nothing to fear from Eussia.

Japan took over the Seoul and Chemulpho Eailway in January with the consent of Korea. The total foreign trade last year of Korea amounted to 2,495,955/. Export of gold dust amounted to 240,047/., the other exports 906,737/., and the imports 1,194,843/. Half the value of the import trade was represented by cotton goods.

v. JAPAN

Negotiations for a treaty of alliance with China were attempted by Prince Cheng, and Chinese envoys arrived in Japan in July, it was said with that object in view. The Eussian Minister in Pekin addressed a note to the Tsung-li- Yamen, warning them that the conclusion of such an alliance

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