Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-19
SMOULDERING FIRES.
CHINA ON THE VERGE OF A oIsAs-
1RoUs OUTBREAK.
Causes Of the Serious State OF Inins
UItimatum from the Foreign Mio-
isters Great Excitement.

SHANGHAI. CHINA. August 17.-There Is no
Disgusting the fact that 9 most serious
state of affairs political exists In TINS
country at the present moment, anu 'no
combined fleets of the Powers may pe
called upon at any moment to take eheo-
tive action. The dAnger-clouds have oeen
seen on the horizon for month past.'ine
smouldering fires caused by the agitation
existing against foreigners and others
among the populace have repeatedly
broken out into fame, but. apparently,
without, until quite recently. reyeenne
the strength Of the volcsno.w threat
enng a most disastrous outbreak. inteii
nal affairs undoubtedly are the lnWaru anu
actual cause Of the displays OF lll-teehus
against foreigners which are only the OUT
ward signs Of the movement IN progress
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
In this city at present state OF srea,
excitement prevails az the increased shu
still increasing tension between the Chl-
pese Government and the Ministers OF TOT
eign powers. From all appearances tue
former are obstinate in their retusai 10 re-
dress the injury done TO foreigners during
the recent riots. Some people say that tho
Government dares not take this step. ue-
manded in common justice TO the Powers,
for fear OF incurring storm OF popuiaI
disapproval. In any case there is no uo sibt
a. 10 the obstinacy Of the refusal 10 rlen'
the wrongs inflicted upon the foreign resi-
dents of China.
HOSTILE ACTION IMMINENT.
On the other hand. there IL also no rea-
son 10 doubt that if the Chinese authori-
ties do not weld 10 the firm demands OF
the Ministers of the Powers, concerted
hostile action upon the part OF the war,
vessels of the various nations represented
III these waters Is imminent. 100 much
damage has been done and too many out
RACES have been perpetrated upon the
foreign residents of this country to permit
Of the representatives OF the Powers SUP
hitting any longer to be put on WIN
vague statements, which IN the main
actually mean that China cannot or VIII
not redress the wrongs done to peecetui
residents of foreign nationallties. and that
China does not admit that the latter have
been outrigeously treated in their persons
or IN their possessions 10y Chinese MODS
over which the authorities seem to nave
no control.
AN ULTIMATUM.
Such is the state of affairs. It is now
known that the foreign Ministers have
been compelled to inform the Chinese
Government that a Joint naval demonstIa-
ton of an effective nature, III whlcn the
French. American, British. and German
sGuadrons will take part, will be ordered
in the near future unless speedy repara,
ton is made for the injuries, outrages, anu
abuses complained of by the Ministers OF
the Powers. Naturally, the foreign popu-
lation of this country. being aware OF the
firm stand taken by their Ministers and
having knowledge of the ultimatum sent
TO the Chinese Government, is In state OF
anxious expectation and will so remain
until the reply of the Chinese Govern
ment Is made known.
THE REPORT or An ULTIMATUM DOUBTED.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-THE dispatch
from Shanghai in which the statement Is
made that the Ministers of foreign
governments III China have been CON-
pelled TO inform the Chinese Government
that Joint naval demonstration will be
ordered IN the near futuIe unless speedy
reparation is made for the injuries, out
RACES, and abuses suffered by foreigners,
was shown to officers OF the state and
Navy Departments this afternoon. The
officers of the State Department said they
had no information ON the subject to inl-
part other than that an assurance had to-
day been received by the department
from high authority to the elect that
there had been
A sUBsIDENCR OF THE RIOTS
against foreigners by Chinese mObs and
that the prospects were that there would
be no recurrence of them. At the Navy
Department Acting Secretary Solely SAID
when shown the dispatch: mo orders
for Joint naval demonstration such as Is
described in the telegram nave been issued
by the Navy Department, nor have heard
that any such demonstration is proposed.
SO far as know there is no foundation for
the report"
AN ENGLISH VIEW.
LONDON. August 1.-THE Standard, CON-
menting upon the Chinese situation, saws
Should China persist III her present atti,,
tude grave consequences are threatened
and no one can foresee the issue. This IS
what the shrewder spirits of the Kolao
and other secret societies desire. Ihey
hope to embroil the Government with the
foregn powers and thus distract it, while
they follow their own schemes. knowing
that If the foreign powers attack China
doubtless the empire would collapse and
the whole land would fall into state of
anarchy which would not be suppressed
in our time. Happily some old diplomats
understand the condition of affairs. and
knowing how desperately fragile Is the
imperial authority III China, will persuade
others to deal with 1t IN the most gingerly
manner.
THE PRESSURE ON CHINA INCREASED.
TIHN-TsIS, August 1.-THE Ministers OF
foreign powers have increased the pres
sure which has been placed on the Chinese
Government, insisting upon the punish
ment OF the rioters and Of the officials who
neglected 10 afford protection to foreign
ers and to the latter's property. The
foreign Ministers do not demand q pc
cuniary indemnity, having already settled
that point and the amount with the ioca
authorities.
THE FRANCO-RUSSlAN UNDERSTAND