Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28
GERMANY,s GRAB IN CHINA.

The proposition OF Russian newspapers
that Russia, France, and Great Britain
occupy points in China in order to coun-
torbalance the German occupation Of
Kiao-Cho1 Bay. Ia cool. TO say the least,
seeing that II Germany holds on to her
| grab she will be only doing a little coun-
terbalancing as against the three Powers
| first named. Until Germany swooped
down on the shan-Tung peninsula she
| had no territorial foothold or naval sta
| ton in the far East, whereas Great Bril-
| tain, France, and Russia were all es-
| tablshed there. Great Britain has long
owned Hongkong and dominated other
points in China, an advantage that for
years has enabled her practically to die
| tate to the other great Powers In the
| matter OF trade relations with China.
France has large possessions In Tonquin
and SIAM and Russia, in addition to her
famous por. OF Vladvostock, has ac-
quired, by treaties, control of the fine
harbo- Of Port Arthur. Moreover, 1t is
said that by sharp practices in connec-
ton with the treaty of peace between |
China and Japan, she secured from China |
valuable concessions in the matter Of rail-
road extensions through Chinese terri
tory.
Permanent occupation by Germany OF
Kiao-Chou Bay, which is one OF
the first harbors in China, and
of adjacent territory would there
fore be only putting Germany on
somewhat Of an equality in that quar-
ter OF the globe with Russia, Great Bril-
tain, and France. 1t would be only
giving her a naval base in the far East,
with a rich back country to draw supplies
from [; and to this she has as much right
as any other European Power
AS to whether Germany intends to hold
on to her grab opinions differ. Osten-
sibly, her action was merely for the pur-
pose of putting herself in position to en- {
force demands for reparation for the
murder of certain missionaries and the
destruction of mission property. There s
IL. however, among some a very strong
belief that the real object of the move
ment is to gain support for the Emperor
in his scheme of getting the Reichstag
TO vote him the money to build big
navy. The influence Of Bismarck against
an aggressive naval policy is still very
in Germany, and Emperor Will :
lam has been made to feel 1t on several |
occasions. Another theory is that the 7
seizure is simply in line with fixed [
policy on the part of Germany for the 7
continued extension of her trade If this
heory is correct, and it seems the most q
reasonable one yet advanced, then it may Y
,e considered as settled that the occupa- r
ion is intended to be permanent. More b
,ver. It may also be considered as settled 4
hat IL it shall develop that Germany h
means business, great opposition will be n
reused in Great Britain. Although, as a
We have said, Germany has heretofore nj
n the far East, her trade with China has
or some time past been steadily In e.
reasing, and that, too. for the most n
art, at the expense of the merchants and d
of the flight Little Isle" D
I must be clear to every one who has Il
watched the development of German D,
rade that a permanent German hold al
pom the Shan Tung peninsula would en- 81
BILE that Power to make still greater
lroads into the British trade in the
lr East, and would be serious matter So
18th Great Britain. At the same time, fr
e do not see what Great Britain can do ar
bout It, unless she falls back on Rus of
an advice, which course, as 1t has been ar
ell said, would probably result in treat ma
g China like an African Hinterland. DIT