The herald., 1897-12-23
AMERICAS
ATTITUDE
Toward Complications in
the Orient
ENGLAND WOULD BE PLEASED
TO SEE THE GERMAN ADVANCE
STOPPED
These United States Want no Chinese
Territory and Will Avoid En-
tangling Alliances
TO SEE THE GERMAN ADVANCE
STOPPED
Assnc,ated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.--It is under
stood that the authorities here have
been unofficially sounded as to the at
titude of the United States toward the
complications in the far east, with
view to learning whether American in
terests in China were regarded as suf-
ficient to warrant any active step by
this government. From what source the
inquiry has come is not disclosed. If
from Great Britain, it must have come
through Col. Hay, the American ambas-
sador, as the British officials here have
received no instructions as to the Chi
nese situation. It is we'll understood,
however, that Great Britain would look
with favor on any active steps by the
United States which would serve as
check for the advances of Germany and
Russia. The British interests in China
are ten times greater than those OF
Germany, Russia and the United States,
and yet, with Germany and Russia
firmly located on Chinese soil Great
Britain Is left in sort of cul de sac.
1t is known also that the Chinese au-
thorities would welcome movement
by the United States. and that this has
been communicated to officials here. AL
though these soundings, for they
amount to nothing more as yet, have
not taken official form, they have been
sufficient to gain pretty general under
standing as to the attitude of this gov
ernment. This Is, in brief, that the
United States has no interest in the ter
ritorial extensions now going on in
China, and that she will not land at any
of the coast ports of China, as Germany
and Russia have done, and that her only
consideration is to guard established
American interests in China. There are
/ the following American treaty ports in
| China: Canton, Chez Foo, Ching King,
Foo Chow Plong, Nankow. Hoi How
Ichang, Kew Kiang Lung Chow,
Mengstu, New Chang, Ningpo PAX Hoi,
Shanghai, Ash-She, So Chow, Swatow,
Tien Tsin, Wen Chow, Wu-Hu and three
other ports on the West river, Canton,
recently added.
At each of these places there are
American settlements and an American
reservation, within which Americans
may own property and try their civil and
criminal cases before their own courts,
conducted by American consuls.
Some of these American settlements
are quite extensive. At Shanghai, Just
outside the walls of the city,the loca-
tion occupies a wide sweep of land. At
these points also the commercial inter-
ests of the United States are large and
constantly growing. They are the GEN.
ters, too, for the American missionary
communities. For instance, at Canton
there is the American Presbyterian
board, with twenty-five members; the
American Baptist mission, with fif-
teen representatives; the American
board of commissioners for foreign mis-
sions, with a large staff, and the Amer
lean Bible society. There are similar
communities scattered all through the
empire. They have considerable vested
property in these districts, and the pro-
lection of their property and persons
has always been closely looked after by
the United States.
M'NAIR'S REPORT
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Germany's
occupation of the Chinese territory has
been officially reported upon by Rear
Admiral McNair, Commander-in-C Chief
of the naval station. His first official
report by mail concerning the landing of
marines by Germany at Kiao-Chau Bay
has just been received at the Navy De-
partment. 1t is dated November 29th
and of course makes no mention of the
reported occupation by Russia of Port
Arthur Under date of November 10
Rear-Admiral McNair states that the
following official information has been
received concerning the occupation by
the German forces of Kiao-Chau Bay:
"A German squadron, consisting OF
three men.of-war, arrived at Kiao-Chau
Bay on the 18th inst. The commander of
the squadron landed ON the following
day with 600 blue Jackets and ordered
Gen. Chang, the commander of the Chi
nese garrison to retire beyond the hills
within twenty-four hours, commencing
from o'clock on that day Q4th), fur
ther informing Gen. Chang that the Chi
nese soldiers would not be permitted to
take away anything save their rifles and
personal effects. The German comman-
der Furthermore ordered that in the
event of the Chinese garrison ignoring
this order it would be regarded as hos
tile and the garrison Immediately fired
upon. Thereupon Gen. Chang, with his
forces evacuated the forts and retired to
the lower part of Seito."
It is generally conceded now that be-
fore occupying Chinese territory, the
German Admiral informed all the COM
manders of sQuadrons in Asiatic waters
Of his proposed action, and he stated in
the dispatch concerning the submission
of information by the German Admiral
to the French Admiral, the former gave
"the reason for the action taken"
Rear Admiral McNair will be succeed
ed as Commander-in-Chief of the Aslat-
ic squadron in a few days by Commo-
dore George Dewey. who left San Fran
cisco on December 5th for Yokohama,
where he will hoist his flag.
The United States has no other policy