The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-25
FOREIGN NEWS.
A NEW VERSION.
German Occupation of Kiao Chau
Said to BE without Pretext.

German Occupation of Kiao Chau
Said to Be without Pretext.
Washington, Nov. 19.-Wu Ting Fang,
the Chinese minister. mas received the
following official statement from Pekin
relative to the seizure of Kiao Chau by
Germany:
upon the killing of two German mis-
sinaries by bandits in the district of
Ku Yen, in Shan Tun, a decree was is
| sued peremptorily commanding the gov
ernor of Shan Tun to order the high Of
ficials of the province to take immediate
measures for the arrest and punish
ment of the offenders. On the 10Th
inst. the governor reported by telegraph
the arrest of four culprits, and this was
communicated to the German minister
But the German warship had on the
18th advanced to Kiao Chau island, land
ed troops, and after occupying all the
eight hours to retire. The German
minister did not give the tsung Ii yamen
any notice. On the evening of the 10th
a telegram from the minister to superin-
tendent of the northern ports giving a
report of this occurrence occasioned
the greatest surprise. China, in view of
the friendly relations between the two
countries. thereupon ordered the COVER
nor of Shan Tun to keep the garrison
troops to positions outside the limits
of the island, and to enjoin them not to
make any move without express instruc-
TONS"
This official statement places a new
complexion on the press cables, in that
it indicates that the Chinese govern
ment had already taken active steps
for the punishment of the murderers of
the two German missionaries before the
landing of the German troops at Kiao
Chau and the occupying of the fort
there. The remarkable thing in con-
nectiOn with Germany's summary action
is the fact set forth in the foregoing
cable statement that the tsung ii yamen
Chinese foreign office was given no
notification that the seizure of Kiao
Chau was contemplated. Such a pro-
cedure is expected to be fragrant breach
of international comfy, and is interpret
ed in some quarters as evidence that
Germany used her grievances as a pre-
text for the occupation of the island. 1t
is believed that possibly Germany's OBJ
ject is to use the occupation of the
island as a lever for compelling trade
concessions from China. In the general
scramble for commercial advantage in
the east Germany thus far has signally
failed She has absolutely no foothold
on the Chinese coast, whereas England
has concessions at the treaty ports and
trade arrangement which gives her ad-
vantages in Burmah and Thibet France
has Tonquin, and Russia has advantages
in the north of China. In the event
Germany should decline to relinquish
Kiao Chau, which commands one of the
best natural harbors and ports on the
Chinese coast, she may have not only
China but Russia to reckon with.
BY recent treaty between the gov
ernments of China and Russia, the lat
ter country, in return for pledged sup
port in case of certain contingencies, is
to have the use of Port Arthur and Kiao
Chau harbor should the car become in
volved in war. Thus to certain extent
Russia has an interest in Kiao Chau.
This interest, it is believed, she would
not be slow to protect if Germany
should manifest any Interior designs.