The morning call., 1893-05-16
Ii CHUNG'S IDEA.
The Chinese Prime Minister Said
Americans Would Go-Mission-
aries Are Afraid.

Rev. Dr. Condlt, the head Of the Presby-
terian Chinese missions on this coast, has
been engaged in Chinese mission work for
over twenty years and has spent much
OF the time IN South China.
II feel that an attempt to enforce the
provisions of the Geary act so far as to
deport the Chinese now in the United
States would be very dangerous thing"
said be. Il should expect that immedi-
ately upon learning of an attempt to do
this the Chinese Government would order
all Americans to leave China at once.
Every American building in China
would be destroyed-either torn down OF
burned-and the killing of many of the
American residents could hardly be pre-
vented. The first move would, no doubt,
be the recalling of the Chinese Embassa-
dors and Consuls now in the United States
and the seVering OF all diplomatic relations.
or course further traffic between China
and this country would be out OF the ques-
tion. They would certainly not allow
American goods to be shipped to any port
in China and would send nothing here. |
am certain that serious trouble Will follow
the enforcement of the law, because un-
derstand thoroughly the Chinese nature and
Chinese methods of revenge.
Then l have something else to judge by
in regard to this question in the shape OF
letter from DR.. Martin. president of the
Imperial College of Peking.
I'm this letter DR.. Martin says that he
called, not long ago, upon Ii Hung Cl an Z,
the Chinese Prime Minister, and asked
him the very questions you are now ask
ing me. And the only reply that Lii Hung
Chang would make was that the Amer
leans would all be driven out.
Iii Hung Chang acts for the Emperor.
He is virtually the Government You re-
member that General Grant said of him
that he was. next to Bismarck, the greatest
statesman he had met ON his trip around
the world.
Tho Chinese are sometimes slow to
act. but once aroused they are the most
vindictive people on the face Of the earth.
1 think they would be prepared to act
quickly in this matter and VIII ateyer action
they take will be lasting"
When asked whether the action of the
Geary law had already worked any injury
to American interests in China DIR. Condit
stated that ne could only reply to that in
SO far as the question related to missionary
work there.
'It has already affected the work" he
said. 1--WE have been advised to send no
more missionaries there until the
matter is entirely settled, and we are
acting upon the advice. The mis-
sionaries and. In fact, all American
residents outside of the larger seaport
cities would have no protection whatever
from the violence that they would certainly
Iap hi IN . t.
whether or not all the missionaries OF the
interior should be recalled. Some are even
now on their way back and will arrive to-
morrow on the Oceanic. We have also
sent word to stop all operations upon the
chapel which is now being built by the
Presbyterian Mission Society in Canton.
/ should not be surprised 10 see the Con-
suls and ambassadors of the Chinese Gov
ernment to the United States recalled at
any time now. In fact l expect it,"
The reporter also sought an interview
with Rev. Ng Poon Chew, who is the as
sistant head Of the Presbyterian Chinese
missions, and was formerly resident of
Canton, China. Rev. Ng P0on Chew re-
piled at first by stating that the Chinese
people were not unfriendly toward the
people Of the United States.
"Our Prime Minister is also friendly dis
posed. and now that the Geary act has
been declared constitutional think if the
Chinese are given another opportunity to
register they will do so. 1t was a great
disappointment to us to learn that the
Supreme Court has so decided the case.
We had relied great deal upon what our
attorneys. especially Mr.. Choate, had told
US.
II fear that there will be bloodshed
when the news is received in portions of
China. even before the Government has
time to act. | know just about how the
feeling will be there, and / am afraid our
missionaries are to be killed and our build
ings destroyed.
What will the Government do? That
IS harder to say. 1 shall expect the imme
diate recall Of the Consuls and other di
plomatic representatives Of the Chinese
Government and the severing of all rela-
tionS with the United States, diplomatic