The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-02
Missionaries Remain in Need
of Protection in the
Orient.
ADDITIONAL RIOTS REPORTED
Ii Hung Chang Given a Position
That Sends Him Into
ObsCurity.

nave Deen DuSlly circulated In the East to
the effect that China has refused to enter
tain, in connection with the restoration of
the Liaotung Peninsula. any proposal in
volVing the payment OF a further indem-
nifty, and that as the three powers, Ger
many, Russia and France, are pressing
Japan to evacuate the peninsula, in COM
pliance with her promise given last May,
the Cabinet in Toxic finds the position
very perplexing. This version of the case
commands credence on account OF its prob
ability.
1t was from the first foreseen that the
statesmen in Peking might reasonably de-
cline to assume any fresh pecuniary obi
cation for the sake of recovering territory
which they had coded expressly to obtain
a reduction of Japan's monetary demand,
and which they would have willingly left
in Japan's possession had not Russia, Ger
many and France considered the arrange
ment unsatisfactory from their own point
Of view. China might very well say. that
the question has no special concern for
her, and that if the interests of three great
European powers indicated her ownership
of the peninsula as most. suita BILE and safe
the duty of placing her in possession rested
with them alone. -. - -
People have, therefore, been. very ready
to believe that China had adopted that
crafty course, and that Japan would be I'LL
timately obliged to surrender the PENN
sula without receiving any compensation
whatever. But the belief; is erroneous.
China has not taken any such line. She
did, indeed, ask that the three European
powers should be altogether excluded from
tSl, IL. *
peninsula, and that the matter be settled
entirely by plenipotentiaries representing
the two empires directly concerned. :: But
Japan declined the programme. She has
learned the advisability of working in con-
cert with the European powers and hay
ing already submitted her proposal for
their consideration she could not have sud
denly segregated herself from them, even
if she had desired to do so. In point of
fact, she is carrying the three European
allies with her. They have frankly
Endorsed her right to look for reasonable
pecuniary compensation in lieu of the
| rendited territory as well as the justice
of making her evacuation synchronise
with the payment of such compensation.
On that understanding the negotiations
will soon be opened, and there is at pres
ent no reason to anticipate any serious
complication.
Efforts to have some of Japan's new
| men-of-war built in United States dock
yards are being strenuously made. The
| chief mover is General Williams, who,
| many years ago, held the post of financial
adviser to the Japanese Finance Depart
ment. But despite the support of a lead
ing Japanese journal, it is not expected
| that the endeavor will have any marked
success.
American locomotives are beginning to
find favor in Japan. The results of their
working in the East show that they cost
10 per cent more and burn 80 per cent
more fuel than English engines, but Japan
csc drivers find them easier to handle.
Should this preference grow, it may prove
important, in view of the large impending
development of the japanese railway sys-
tenn.
Another instance has occurred of the
perennial attempts made by Russian con-
victs to escape from Saghalien by crossing
over to Japan in open boats. Eighteen of
| them were recently arrested by the Japan
csc police at Mombetsu on the island of
Yezo. Five managed to elude their cap
| tors by breaking through the window of
| the police station, but the remaining thir-
| teen were handed over to the Russian
| Consul.
| An imperial decreesissued in Peking con-
| firms previously received reports as to the
gravity of the Mohammedan rebellion in
| the northwest of China. The Emperor.
as usual. severely reprimands the officials
| that should have preserved order, cashier
| ing some and handing over others to the
| board of punishments. That, however, is
the stereotyped Chinese course in all such
emergencies. The point of interest is q
| frank admission that ''the procedures and
| sub-prefectures of Haichou, Tiaochou,
Hochou and Tihchou are now onesgrand
encampment of the rebel armies" Mean
| while General Tung Fuhsiang and others
are moving from Kashgar, at the head of
large forces, to attack the insurgents.
Some disturbances are reported from
provincial districts in Korea. The ring
| leaders pretended that they were in COM
| mu nication with Influential politicians in
| Seoul, but their statement is not credited.
| They and their followers appear to be
| simply gangs of good-for-nothing fellows,
bent upon piliage. Wherever japanese
GrUOpS dIe 6bdblON6C III tQG p6nl0SuldT
| kingdom no such breaches of good order
| occur.
| The Chinese in Shanghai have been en-
tirely treasured as to the cessation of the
| cholera. Two well-dressed men recently
employed a wheelbarrow to take them
| away from the city, and the driver, listen
| ing to their conversation, learned that
they were the gods of the plague, making
| their exit from the place.
LII Hung Chang has been appointed
manager of the Imperial Chancellery, or
| Prime Minister of China. He will hence
! forth reside in Picking.
Opinions differ as to the significance of
this step, but there seems to be little doubt
that it means the great Viceroy's political
extinction. He will disappear from public
sight amid the crowd of unnoted officials
| in the capital. Liu Kun-yi, commander
| in-chief of the Manohurian armies, Is also
likely to be allowed to retire into private
| life, at his own request. LII is the chief
of the Anhui party and Liu of the Human
party. With the disappearance of these
| two magnates from the stage the literary