The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-31
EVENTS In THE FAR EAST
AN Absorbing TOPIC AMONG
DIPLOMATS IN WASHINGTON

| No Further Talk Of the United States as q
Possible Factor in the Contest-A Japa'
| nese Diplomat Does Not Think the Dis.
| membermento Of China naInvolved-Japan's In s
| Attttudo-What Member Of the Chinese
| Legation Says-Views of German Officials
! Washington, December 29.-The rapid
| movement of events in the far east
| continues to be an absorbing topic in
| diplomatic circles here, particularly at
| the embassies and legations of the
| powers which are aligning for an ap-
| parent struggle for Chinese territory
There is no further talk of the United
| States as a possible factor in the con-
| test, as the recent understan at
a cabinet meeting is accepted as re-
moving this government from the field
| of controversy. lat the same time an
eminent authority on international af-
| fairs said today that a situation might
develop when the United States would
| be called upon to go much further
than protect American interests at the
treaty ports OF China. This situation
would come, he said, if the scramble
for Chinese territory went to the ex-
tent of extinction of China and the
complete absorption of the old empire
by foreign nations. Such was the APP
parent drift Cf the present movement
he said, and if it became a reality, then
a condition would arise similar to the
determination of Poland. Poland had
established precedent in international
affairs, he said, and following that
precedent, if China was to be adsoIihed
then it was a question of which ghe
United States in common with all the
nations of the world, must take cog
nizance. Until this final movement
occurred, however, it was plain that
the United States had no further in
terests in the fencing of European ma
tons 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: Il 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
among the powers. The only tangible
fact is that Germany has occupied
Kiao-Chou bay and Russia has fleet
| at Port Arthur. But Germanys ac-
| ton was taken to collect an indemn-
| ity for an indignity to German mis-
siOnaries just a5 she enforced in
denlnity from Hayti. Beyond this
Germany may seek to establish a
| naval station at Kaio-Chou and thus
| have a naval base Of operations ON
| the Pacific; but that does not involve
| the taking of any considerable portion
| of Chinese territory and it is yet to be
| shown that Germany will take more
| than "a coast port and such land i'm
mediately adjacent aus to give the port
proper facilities. If it comes to taking
| territory the cause of China must not
| be overlooked. There are reports that
! the Japanese would aid China in an
| extremity, but there is nothing in that.
Japan doubtless will act alone if there
is any reason for acting at all. Thus
| far, however, I know of no steps that
| Japan has taken, or cOntempfateS, to-
/ ward taking part in the controversy.
| My impression is that she will remain
| independent and neutral observer. Her
! position will be much stronger by such
| policy than it would be by an alliance
| at the outset. las am observer if she
| sees that the partition of China is at
| hand, doubtless she will have some
| part to take, but for the present there
| is no evidence that such an enlerg gency
| is near
"A Chinese diplomat said: '"The al
| legged official statements coming from
| the chinese legation have been unwar-
| ranted, as the legation has not received
| a word from Peking since the first no.
| tice was sent that German force had
| landed ait Kaio-ChOu without previous
notice to the Chinese government. II
is felt, however, that many of the re-
ports as to the seriousness of the stu
alton, particularly those from Shang-
hal are ovarJ1rawn Judging from fhf
press dispatches there appears to be
little doubt that the original purpose o1
| Germany to enforce an indemnity has
now developed into securing nava
| station at Kaio-Chou and possibly
more territory, on the ground that Ger
many is entitled to a return for he
| services during the ChiE1a-Japan war
But it appears to be overlooked tina
| Germany has received distinct return,
for those services, in the granting o
large concessions which, at the time O
the grant, were considered as mos
valuable to Germany
The German officials here take tn
view that there are but two actua
steps on the part of Germany, namely
The occupation of KaioIChou bay am
the dispatch Of Prince Henry's fleet t
Chinese waters. Beyond this, the
say, all is conjecture as to what Ger
many will do and they convey the ide
that these conjectures as to the alb
sorption of territory are unwarrante,
| by any of the actual circumstance
which have thus far developed. Tha
Prince Henry will extend his field Q
| operations beyond Chinese waters an
viii embrace Samoa and Hawaii is dis
missed as absurd, although reports O
such a movement have been current
The Strike Declared on
Chattanooga, December 9Th