Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-24
KNOWS NOT WHAT TO DO IN THE
CHINESE AFFAIR.
ADOPTS A WATCHING POLICY.
WILL GIVE JAPAN MORAL SUPPORT
AND WARN CHINA.
Gcrmnny Wondering What Attitude
England and America will Adopt
-BcrIin Papers Profess to
believe japan Will Not
lntericrc.

London Dec. IA dispatch to the Daily
Chronicle from Rome says it Is rum"red
there that. owing 10 her obligations To Ger
many. Italy has declined English proposal
for common action i'll the far East, inciud-
ing joint occupation of chus;,n.
According to the same dispatch. II is
asserted that England has proposed 10 Rus
sia a conference on the Chinese question.
with Il view to avoiding dangerous rival
reS.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail says:
The Chinese government is helpless il
is modifying its few troops under the least
incapable generals who conducted the cam
paiSn against Japan. The British fleet is
at present at sea.
The Daily Chronicle this morning says it
has good reason TO believe that the 5ov-
ernmcnt has decided upon watching pol
icy, and will refrain from occupying any
Chinese territory for the present, but II
will give its moral support to Japan and
distinct warnings to China concerning En-
glands action i'll certain contingencies.
1t is understood, says the Daily Chronicle.
that Japan will protest in the strongest
manner against Germany's action. and dip
lomatic circles ridicule the idea OF Il Russo
German entente concerning China.
The Berlin press is evidently deeply in
terested to the attitude Great Britain
and the United States likely TO adopt
in the Chinese affair. Every attempt is be-
ing made to create ill-feeling against En-
gland. and to represent her as isolated.
The official newspapers pretend that ia
pan has acQuieSced in the German and
| Russian moves. and will take no asGres-
| sive action. Everything indicates the anN-
| iety that hinges upon The ultimate group
| ing OF the powers. Japan'S action in witn-
drawing her protest with reference to the
| course OF the United States at Hawaii Is
interpreted as showing desire TO be un-
incumbered abroad. and to have her hands
| free TO deal with the Chinese question.
The Berliner TaSeblatt ridicules the idea
OF an glO-Japunese-Amerlcan alliance,
yet seems TO fear II! The Kolnische Zei-
tung thinks America will side with Rus
Sa.
San Francisco, Dec. 23-The following
Oriental advices have just been received
per steamer Aztec from Yokohama VIA
honolulu:
| AT an extraordinary meeting of the Jap
| anese cabinet, Baron N!shi, toreign minis
| ter. laid before the ministers ala the re-
ports he had received from the Japanese
| ministers In foreign countries relative TO
the seizure of kiao Chau by Germany.
| 1t was decided, after u prolonged discus
| sion, not to NEEDLE with the affair at the
present time. but to await further develop
| mentS. since nothing had SO far tranSpired
IN Germany's action calculated to disturb
| the peace of the far East and justify the
| interference OF Il third power.
According to the Chinese papers. Niceroy
! Chang ChiIkung has issued proclamation
eXhortins his people to be more friend
| ly to foreigners ana warning them that any
| hostility manifested would be severely pun
| ished.
| Commenting on the strained relations be-
| tween Japan and Russia over Korea, the
| Chinese papers report that the Japan army
is full of Russian spies. disguised as Japan
| ese. and that the Russian army is being
| tampered with by Japan emissaries, who
are doing all they can 10 stir up disarection
| among them.
! (ommentinr- ,,rop JSiao-C,har1 affairs the
| Asahi says that the action OF the Germans
| i'll having suddenly seized kiao-Chau on the
outrageous. and that it disturbs the peace
| of the far East and admits of no discussion.
| Japan. being near 10 the scene OF the trou-
| ble, cannot regard the matter lightly.
| Sooner or later. a line of policy to be
| pursued towards the affair must be decid-
| ed. The foreign office has therefore given
| Instructions to the Japanese ministers in
various foreign countries to make reports
| concerning the matter.
Japan is indebted to Germany, in many
| itary organization has been copied after
Germany's. and her constitution and local
legislation are founded on the German sys-
| TEN. Besides. in framing the laws and
| adopting medical science. etc, Japan owes
a o debt of @ gratitude to Germany. Lastly.
instance Of her kindness.
| That Is the seizure of the Kiao-Chau
bay: we en- need s not dwell upon the partic-
of Kiao-Chau may give Japan the right of
| u permanent possession of Wei-Hai-Wei''
| According to the official census. just COM
| pleted the population of Japan Tor the year
1886 was A. i6l OPS. an increase of 49, GA over
| that of the preceding year.
Berlin, Dec. 23.-Tne National Zeitung
| says:
1T is easy to believe that England would
| welcome active steps the part of the
| United States but hard to believe that the
| United States would adopt such "A policy
| of friendship toward England and OF hos
| tility toward Russia, contrary to all its
traditions. for the sake of either England
| or China"