The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-21
BRITAIN FAV0RS CHINA.
PROPOSAL TO UNITED STATES TO
CLOSE TREATY PORTS.
Secret History-America Refuses to be-
come England's Ally-The Latter
Power win Act Alone.

Power win Act Alone.
! WASHINGTON, September 2.-An in
teresting chapter of secret diplomatic
history has just come to light in con-
nection with the triangular war between
China, Japan and Corea, the United
States having narrowly escaped being
drawn into an entangling alliance of a
most dangerous character; an alliance
which was sought by Great Britain and
which was prevented by the firm stand
taken by the President and Secretary
Gresham, at a time when the remainder
of the Cabinet was in doubt as to the
best course to pursue.
Official and private advices received
here indicate plainly that Great Britain
has already formed an alliance with
China in the war which has now begun
between the Flowery Kingdom and
japan. As yet this alliance has not
taken the form of treaty or even of
diplomatic protocols, but is none the
less thorough understanding between
the two countries, which has been made
the basis of diplomatic representations
on the part of Great Britain to the
United States and several European
powers.
That thorough understanding was
had between China and Great Britain
before the former country took adj
vantage of the Korean rebellion to
station its troops at Seoul, has been
demonstrated by the action which is
now known, that British diplomatic
agents in several countries took as soon
as the first hostilities were reported.
PAUNcEFoTE's PLAN.
Among the first of Great Britains
foreign ministers to take active meas
ures to carry out the plans previously
formulated was Sir Julian Pauncefote,
who Immediately began overtures to
Secretary Gresham looking not only to
the protection of British commerce in
| the Orient, but to an active naval dem
the seizure of treaty ports. Sir Julian
represented that to take these ports
would simply be to guarantee the COM
merce of the world against disturbance,
take. He made reference to the fact
that the seizure of these ports by the
Powers would effectually prevent their
being blockaded by Japan, and would
thereby preserve the commercial outlets
of China and prevent her antagonist
from gripping her on seaboard.
Secretary Greshama.was not greatly
impressed with the representations
made by Sir Julian Pauncefote, but
laid it before the President and the
Cabinet. A strong sentiment in favor
of the united action of the powers to
keep treaty ports open soon manifested
itself. More than one of the members
of the Cabinet argued that it was the
duty of civilized nations in such an
emergency as was then present to take
whatever steps might be necessary to
reduce to minimum the result of
hostilities between nations not regarded
as belonging to the highest grade of
civilization.
| SECRETARY GRESHAM OPPOSES.
In opposition to these views Secretary
Gresham contended strongly that the
United States had no interests whatever
at stake, and should, therefore, not
NEEDLE in the affair. He pointed out
that in the entire kingdom of China
there are but 100 Americans, nearly all
I, t whom, aside from missionaries, were
The trade of the United States with the
Orient was SO uncomfortable as to form
no incentive whatever to make any
demonstration intended for the benefit
of the commerce of the world.
The Secretary's arrangements were so
convincing that the Cabinet decided to
leave the matter to the President and
Secretary of State, and Secretary
Gresham lost no time in advising Sir
Julian that further efforts to draw the
United States into such an alliance as
had been proposed would be useless.
The setback to Great Britain has been
conclusive 50 far as the United States is
concerned, but from advices recently
received here it is evident that Great
Britain is leaving no stone unturned to
assist China without making an oper
alliance. Agents are actively at work
in Lombard street to aid in floating tn,
loan which China is now striving t.
| make, and unofficial reports hav'
: reached the Department that China il
negotiating with Great Britain for tn,
> purchase of several cruisers. 1t woult
8 be violation of the laws of neutralit,
to deliver men-of-war openly, bu
means might be devised for making
the transfer without infringing tn,
letter of international law.