The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-30
Hal NAN
ISLAND.
| No Resistance to the OCcu-
patton From the DaZed
Celestials.
POPULATION OF A MILLION OR MORE.
Foreign Diplomats at Washington
Discuss the Situation and the
Outcome to Be Expected.
A cTUAL
q EASTERN
IA STATUS.

SHANGHAI, Dec. 29-It is reported
here that the admiral of the French
fleet has hoisted the French flag on Hal
Nan island The Chinese offered nc
opposition.
London, Dec. 30-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Singapore confirms
the report of the seizure Of Hal Nan
island by the French. Hal Nan island
is off the south coast Of China and sep
arates the gulf of Tonquin from the
China sea. 1t has an estimated area OF
$4,000 square miles and population OF
a million Chinese, exclusive Of wild
tribes in the Interior
According to special dispatch from
Shanghai, the British admiralty has
requisitioned three Of the Empress
steamships belonging to the Canadian
Pacific railway company.
PARIS, Dec 29.-The French press is
beginning to protest loudly against
French inaction in the far East and the
alleged subserviency of the government
to Russia.
| LONDON, Dec. 3U-The Tagliche
| Rundschau, on what it alleges to be
the best authority in London" de-
clares that Russia and China have
been negotiating for many months
that China consented last October to
a temporary Russian occupation OF
Port Arthur; and that England, hearing
Of this, demanded a cession of the
islands at Hong Kong, strip of coast
opposite Kow-Loon and the mouth OF
the river Canton but, knowing that
France also wanted compensation
England suggested that she should
take Hai-Nan island.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The rapid
movements of events in the far East
continues to be an absorbing topic in
diplomatic circles here, particularly at
embassies and legations of the powers
which are aligning for an apparent
struggle for Chinese territory. There
is no further talk Of the United States
as a possible factor in the contest, as
the recent understanding at a cabinet
meeting is accepted as removing this
government from the field of controver-
sy. At the same time, an eminent au-
thority on international affairs, said to-
day that a situation might de-
velop when the United States would be
called upon to go much further than
protect American interests at the treaty
| ports in China. This situation would
come, he said, If the scramble for Chi
nese territory went to the extent of
the extinction of China and the COM
| plete absorption Of the old empire by
foreign nations. Such was the appar-
| ent drift Of the present movement, he
said, and If it became a reality, then a
condition would arise similar to the ex-
termination Of Poland. Poland had es-
tablished the precedent in international
affairs, he said, and following that prec-
edent If China was to be absorbed
then would arise a question which the
United States, in common with all the
nations of the world must take cogni-
zance of. Until this final movement oc-
Cured however, it was plain that the
United States had no interest in the
fencing among European nations and
Japan for coaling stations and ports
on the Asiatic coast.
In the meantime, however, the diplo-
mats are much concerned in the move
ments of their respective governments
A leading japanese diplomat said to-
day. II do not look at the question
as involving the partition of China and
no event has occurred thus far to indi-
cate that China is about to be divided
amo the powers. The only tangible
fact is that Germany has occupied
Kiao-Chou bay, and Russia has a fleet
at Port Arthur But Germany's action
was taken to collect an indemnity for
an indignity to German missionaries
lust as she enforced indemnity from
Hayti. Beyond this Germany may
seek to establish naval station at
Kiao-Chou bay, and Russia has fleet
of operations on the Pacific. But that
does not involve the taking Of any con-
siderable portion Of Chinese territory
and it is yet to be shown that Germany
will take more than a coast port and
such land Immediately adjacent as to
give the port proper facilities. If 1t
comes to taking territory, the course
of China must not be overlooked While
China is weak from a military and ma
val standpoint, yet she has an enor-
nous number of men ready to take the
field. while the entire force of Germans
at Kiao-Chou cannot exceed few,thou-
sand men. Even a weak nation Is
strong in defending it's own territory
There are reports that Japan would aid
China in an extremity, but there is
nothing in that. Japan doubtless will
act alone If there is any reason for act
ing at all. Thus far, however, know
of no steps that Japan has taken, or
contemplates, toward taking part in the
controversy My impression Is that
she will remain an Independent and
neutral observer. Her position will be
much stronger by sucn a policy than
it would be by an alliance at the out
set. AS an observer, if she sees that the
partition of China is at hand, doubt
less she would have some part to take
but for the present there is no evidence
that such an emergency is near"
Another Japanese diplomat said: "All
the powers have known for the last
year that a secret treaty was made last
year between Russia and China by
which Russia was to have the right
to winter her fleet at Port Arthur. For
that reason the presence of the Russian
fleet at Port Arthur does not lead other
: nations to fear that Russia has begun
a movement Of territorial aggression
on China On the contrary Russia and
China are nearer together than any
other two nations in the present con-
test, and if China is to get any out
side relief it will come from Russia
1t is quite plain from recent events
that Russia is not ready yet to have
China partitioned and until Russia is
ready for that step it will not occur.
Moreover, there Is a misapprehension