St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-09
HER INFLUENCE DORMANT IN
THE DIRECTION OF CHINESE
AFFAIRS.
FOSTER ON THE SITUATION.
SURPRISE IN THE EAST OVER
EERMANY,S UNEXPECTED
ATTITUDE.
EIGH OPINION OF AMERICA.
European Powers Have Lost Pres
bt"e but Uncle Sam Is Held
in Great Esteem.

WASHINGTON, July S.-EX-Secre-
tary of State John w. Foster arrived
in Washington this morning from
China, where he has taken conspicu-
Gus part in the diplomatic branch
OF the China-Japan conflict He is in
vigorous health.
He brings fund of information
on the status of the Japanese-Chi-
nese struggle, and the interesting de-
tails of the peace negotiations. in
which he took personal part.
In answer to inquiries, Mr.. Foster
made a statement in which he said
there was good reason to expect per-
manent peace between China and
Japan as the result of the treaty of
Shimoneseki. The terms demanded
by Japan may, he said, under the
circumstances, be regarded as rea-
sonable, especially in view of the
retrocession of Lao Tung peninsu-
Ia The treaty has been observed
and carried out by China with scru-
pulouS good faith. Her conduct in
this respect has created a very ia
Vorable impression in Japan. The
loan just concluded through Rus
sian influence will enable China to
pay the first two installments of the
indemnity. These two installments
cover half of the indemnity. and the
balance, extending over six years,
will be comparatively easy burden
for the Chinese government, if any
skill is shown in the management of
the imperial revenues. The country
has great resources and has never
yet failed in its financial engage
ments. Hence the peace concluded
at Shimonesel1i is not likely to be
broken on account of the shortcom-
1ngs of China If a rupture occurs
II is more likely to be brought about
by the intermeddling of the Euro
pean powers. The Intervention of
Russia on account Of the terms of
peace was not unexpected, and is
not unnatural in view of her predon-
mating interest in the Orient, espe-
cially on the North Pacific coast of
Asia
WHAT DOES GERMANY MEAN?
Il i
Russia created no surprise in the
East, but that Germany should unite
with them in q display of force
against Japan was entirely unex-
pected, and it is not yet under
stood British residents in China and
Japan are very bitter in criticising
their government for it's abstention
n l1n t1nr oil
failure to join with the other powers
In rearranging the terms has lost
prestige for their country, and has
left Russia a free hand in its infiu-
ence and control at Pekin. Of ali
the countries automatically con-
cerned in the contest, the United
States has come out of it with better
grace than any other. From the
first her interest has been recog-
nized by both belligerents as purely
disinterested, her only desire being
to render such service as would
bring about an honorable and last
ing peace. The conduct of the state
department in its very delicate re-
lationS with both combatants has
been marked by good judgment and
by few mistakes, and the good Of
fees of our ministers and consuls
in China and Japan, where they
represented the interests of both gov
ernments, have been very useful and
are highly appreciated by both
Being asked why he declined the
invitation to remain in China as the
adviser of the government, Mr.. Fos-
ter said he had spent the greater
portion of the past twenty-five years
in foreign lands, and while his res
idence abroad had been generally
pleasant one, he had found no
country equal to this, and he de-
sired to spend the remainder of his
life in his native country. He con-
fessed that if the invitation had
come five or ten years earlier he
would probably not have declined it.