Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-07-10
CHINESE ARE UNEASY.
Over the Enforcement Of
the Geay Law.
UNCLE SAM GETTING READY
Should the Flowery Kingdom Decide
to Enforce Her Threats.


an authentic source that the entente
cordiale between this country and China,
already strained to perilous tension. Is
on the point Of breaking altogether. The
Geary law il the cause.
Whether the situation becomes 80
strained "a to break off all diplomatic re-
lations between the two countries depends
altogether on whether the extreme pro-
visions of the law are carried cut To the
letter. twill be remem bered that shortly
after the passage Of the law report that
China had notified the state department
that should the law go into effect that
country would retaliate was published.
II will also i,e remembered that the re-
port was promptly denied. IL appears
that IT, e deninl was for state reasons. The
report
Was True to the Letter.
The state reasons were that the admins
tration believed that the threat from
China would not be put into execution.
After several months Of negotiation be-
tween Secretary Gresham and the Chinese
minister the department has relinQuished
all hope of the threat coming to naught
unless congress should repeal the bill or
practically repeal IL by refusing or neglect
ing to appropriate sufficient money to
carry out Its provisions
China regards the Geary act as a great
indiguity, aud that she has not resented 1t
ere this by summarily withdrawing her
legation and covering diplomatic and COM
mercial relations, besides expelling Ameri-
cans from her shores, Is due entirely to the
skilful way in which Secretary Gresham
has handled the matter.
IA L. L.. hat t<,l vxln ts<-
tween him and the Chinese minister here,
but 1t is known that the latter, who called
mt the state department In a decidedly
belligerent frame of mind when the Geary
bill became law, departed after an inter
view with u much better opinion Of the
situation.
That interview was In substance cabled
to China. Upon receiving n reply the min
lister made another call upon Secretary
Gresham, and since then has been at the
Department frequently.
1t appears: however, that the temper OF
the Chinaman has
Become Moro and More fresty
with every succeeding visit. His govern
ment appreciates the fact that this ad-
ministration is not In sympathy with the
&c ry law, but it does not appreciate the
additional fact that the administration
can do nothing but see that the law Is exc
cutsd except to give its influence toward
securing its repeal
There are, according to n state depart
meut authority, about ia,GO0 Americans In
China today, and a number Of the largest
commercial houses Ia the biggest Chinese
cities are owned and operated by Ameri-
cans.
The trade between China and this coun-
try is increasing. China would rather see
It increase than the trade between it and
any other nation, for the reason that she
appreciates that the Americans are
Simply After Her Dollars,
while nations like Great Britain, France
and Russia are after her territory rs well.
That the government is I'm doubt is plain
from the precaution IL Is taking by dis
patching the light draft vessels of the
American navy to Chine SO waters. These
vessels are not sent In "A bunch, neither are
they all directed to the same point. But
the records show that they are to be near
enough to one another to rendezvous at n
central point in q very short time
There will be no time for delay when
China DEGREES that the Americans must 90.
Immediately the people VI the country
learn that their government intends to ex-
pei the Americans they are likely to lend
their primitive but effective aid.
That, as past experience shows, means
indiscriminate slaughter. il this govern
ment can help 1t no such slaughter will be
permitted. It is to prevent it that our
naval force in Chinese waters IL being
strengthened.
1t may all come to a peaceful end, this
present trouble. The GeaIy law may be
repealed, and the entente may become
stronger than ever. But then again IL
may not come to a peaceful conclusion.
Should it not. well, the administration
believes that it is best to be prepared.