New-York tribune., 1896-07-28
RUSSIA'S POWER IN CHINA.
THE BEARS NATURAL HOSTILITY TO
FOREIGN ENTERPRISES.
AMERICAN sYNDIcATEs. If BACKED BY GOVERN
MENT INFLUENCE. MIGHT WIN IMPORTANT
CONCESSIONS FOR THE DEVELOP
MENT OF TIE COUNTRY.

Pekng. June II.
The Chinese are beginning to observe little
prudence and in the government Of state
| secrets such has never been known before
| Heretofore all yamens during business hours
have been full Of gaping servants. who stood
around to hand their masters the ever needed
waterpipe and absorb the items OF business. to
be retaied for a consideration TO some other
official not member Of the yamen In question.
The most private matters have heretofore been
known to these treacherous underlngs. and
secrecy in the Western diplomats know
II has been an impossibility. The last week has
witnessed a change, which has aroused the
anger and curiosity Of these worthy folk almost
to the striking point Ii Hung Chang's dis
patches from Moscow have been taken to the
residence Of Weng Tung Ho direct and that Of
fcIal with Chang Yin Huan. has deciphered the
dispatches according to the Chinese code which
Is entirely in numbers and Is very bulky and
difficult of manipulation. yamen secretary
Yesterday told me with great glee that these
two old ministers had done the hardest days
work of their lives In translating what he could
have done for them In fifteen minutes. That the
matter Of their dispatches Is OF more than ordi-
nary importance will be seen at once from their
reversal Of all the time -honored methods In re-
ceiving them. and the extraordinary precautions
observed t. prevent publicity.
Sir Robert Hat. the Inspector General of Gus
toms alarmed for British interests that
he Immediately concluded that the Russian de-
| mand for railroad concessions had been granted.
and that Great Britain to receive a slap IN
the face. He at once sought Chang Yin Huan
and demanded point blank to know whether
such concessions had or had not been granted.
fiai.
but could not assure the Inspector General that
they would not be later on. After warning Mr..
Chang that it would be dangerous proceeding
for China Sir Robert departed In speaking Of
the subject afterward, he remarked that he
and would not be surprised II the entire customs
service was soon In the hands of the Russians
and French Certain 1t Is that Sir Robert has
lately been obliged to promote and add to his
staff Frenchmen. and he would do this only
under pressure from the Tsung II yamen. The
recent Russian loan is good pretext for the
Russian demand for more Russians and French
In the customs service, the customs revenue
Is pledged to pay the interest of the loan
The recent Anglo German loan having netted
about three millions more than the Chinese had
expected from premium addition, the Germans
demanded and obtained the contract to build
three men-of-war for China. The German resi-
dents are in good spirits over this, and think Il
speaks well for the future short time ago
an English officer requested me to write a letter
for him To an influential man In Tien-Tsn that
he might obtain place with Wang Wen Shao
Viccroy of Pechi military instructor at
that point My friend in replying, offered to
obtain an interview for him. but assured me it
would be absolutely useless. as the Viceroy
was decidedly opposed to using any but German
officers as instructors. drillmasters. etc. The
Chinese believe that it was solely on account OF
the German drill which they had mastered
that the japanese were enabled to conquer their
armies so easily; so they determined to
adopt the same sort Of tactics themselves.
They say, did not the Germans whip the
French. and does not the German Emperor in
suit the English at pleasure? Consequently
German drill Is the means Of success. and Ger
man drill we must have"
Last evening was assured by Weng Tung
Hos most intimate friend that the Russian con-
cessions in Manchura had not as yet been
granted, but If the Chinese could not themselves
build the proposed line from Tstskar TO Port
Arthur they would undoubtedly have to allow
Russia TO do II, their powerful Northern
neghbor had decided that he would walt no
longer for outlet on the Pacific. The chi
nese, by avalling themselves OF the oner or
either the American or English syndicates rep
resented here. could build the road but 1t Is GER
tain that Russia Will never consent to England
gaining a foothod in Manchuria, and It is
doubtful II Americans. either, will be allowed
to take the contract. II Is possible that Russia
having received the concession. may intrust the
work to American engineers In part, but IL IS
more than likely that the French Will demand
as their part of the spoils that the building or
the line shall fall TO them. number or the
Chine are more inclined to employ American
engineers and American capital than any other
from outside, but they are really under Russian
dictaticn. and dare not do anything to dlsp!ease
the mighty Car. II was bad day for emma
when she accepted the intervention Of Russia on
her behalf with Japan She would have peen
better off If she had come to terms with her
doughty little conQueror alone The Chinese
themselves are beginning to realize this now.
The English syndicate represented by wilson
has failed In It's negotiations for the Hankow-
Picking line, and the Hsu Cantonese syndicate
has shared the same fate. Lack OF the neces.
sary capital was the cause. The Chinese want
to see the necessary cash not only subscribed
but actually deposited before they VIII give
contract II at this juncture the American Gov
ernment would back an American syndicate or
sufficient power to contract for the Hankow-Pe-
king line II would surely be given to Americans.
The policy Of the United States In foreign auairS
has often lost the country millions OF dollars,
and will probably do so in the present instance
There are several American syndtcates repre-
SCnted mere, Dut none OF tHef. nave 'Hc HcNSS-
sary Government backing to make the Chinese
Government feel secure IN treating with them
Yesterday acted as interpreter In an impor-
tant Interview between the representative or one
OF these syndicates and representative OF
Weng Tung Ho. He asked me II the United
States Government would indorse this company
What could answer? replied that he could
obtain from the State Department the capitai
and standing OF the company and the names
of its officers He replied that that Information
could be obtained from Dun or Bradstreet, bit
would tie American Government assure ms
Government that this company could and would
build for them without default? told him the
Government was not backing any business CON
Germs Just at present. but that Minister Denny
had introduced to the Tsung II yamen yias a.. AZ
tentIon the concern represented, which ne
Nould not have done II the company was unable