The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-29

EASTERN War CLOUDS
Contingencies Under Which
Uncle Sam May Have
to Intervene in China.
PRESENT, STATUS OF THE QUARREL
The Flowery Kingdom Formidable
II Any Attempt Is Made
al Partition.
PRESENT, STATUS OF THE QUARREL

East continues to be an absorbing topic
in diplomatic circles here, particularly at
the embassies and legations of the pow
ers which are apparently aligning for
struggle for Chinese territory. There is
no further talk of the United States as
possible factor in the contest, as the re-
cent understanding at a Cabinet meeting
is accepted as removing this Government
from the field of controversy. AT the
same time an eminent authority on inter-
national affairs said today that situation
might develop 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 Chinese territory went
to the extent of the extinction of China
and the complete absorption of the old
empire by foreign nations. Such was the
apparent drift of the present movement,
he said, and if it became a reality, then
a condition would arise similar to the
determination of Poland. Poland had es-
tablished precedent in international af-
fairs, he said, and following that prece-
dent, if China was to be absorbed then it
was a question which the United States,
~ Goiiinlon Will an lne ila.ioiis " LII
this final movement occurred, however,
it was plain that the United States had
no interest in the fencing of European
and ports on the Asiatic Coast. In the
meantime, however, the diplomats are
much concerned in the movements OF
their respective governments.
A leading Japanese diplomatist said to-
day:-''I do not look at the question as in
volying the partition of China, and no
event has occurred thus far to indicate
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 a fleet at Port Ar
thur. But Germans action was taken to
collect an indemnity for an indignity to
German missionaries just as she enforced
indemnity from Hayt. Beyond this Ger
many may seek to establish a naval sta
ton at Kiao Chou and thus have 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 Immediately adjacent as to give
the port proper facilities.
If it comes to taking territory China
herself must not be overlooked. While
China is weak from a military and naval
standpoint, yet she has an enormous
number of men ready to. take the field,
while the entire force Of Germans at
Kiao Chou cannot exceed few thousand
men, Even weak nation IS strong IN
defending its own territory. There are re-
ports that Japan would alo Cnlna "a, n an an
extremity, put tnere IS notnlhg IA tnat.
Japan will doubtless act alone II there IS
any reason Tor actlng at an. nus IdI,
iloWeVgl, l hliow W. ~ ~ Sleps ona. : t1l
;lsls laher, H. ~ ontn, M
lns paIt u lil1 MI, e, w ;dane
Sloi1 - Siie sne WI q 81
uSii' il' aiu ,.I a. b ,i6 naIiou
than han # wn,i1d he nv an alliance at The out.
set AS an observer if she sees that the
si,a would have some mart to take hl1f for
the present there is no evidence that such
an emergency is near
Another japanese diplomat said :-ssAll
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 rea-
son the presence Of the Russian fleet at
Port Arthur does not lead other nations
to fear that Russia had begun a move
ment of territorial aggression on China.
On the contrary Russia and China are
nearer together than any other two ma
tions in the present contest, and if China
is to get any outside relief 1t will come
from Russia. 1t is quite plain from re-
cent events that Russia has not got ready
vet to have China partitioned and until
Russia is ready for that step it will not
occur. Moreover there is a misappre-
hension as to the Russian occupation of
Port Arthur It is not a land occupa-
tion hut is merely a uuartering of the
pnrsian f1eat in the ollter harbor VIad-
ivostock being ice-bound. without con-
nection with the shore
4 Chinese diplomat said:-ssThe alleged
offio;aI statements coming from the
chinese legation have been unwarrant-
"a &c tha I location has NOT received a
s,,l,d ~, a. f,.,n, PelSin since the first notice
,,,os cent that German force had landed
W " 90 r;nn sS,l. Cho,, uithont nreviol1s notice
a. q. NJ ~ I.hinosa Govarnnoent r. is feIt
70 me Cniaieee 81 4ba ,anor+s ~
nowevei, l nc nf fbo sit,,atinn narticn
ins set.ouan9TS t,sa f,.o,o " Sbanphai are over
iaIiA Ii1A .iio9e ris,ir ni ear, tba nress dis
alaWn. ya ttnro nnpaars 10 he 1ittIe douht
that tho oripinal nurnose of Germany to
tnal tle " s ,,aa,n;tt ilia, bas now davejoned
i,,to S,1,oiS seos,rna s1 naval station AT Kiau
lIilo @ sa ..sSes,sib1r ,a,e tarritorv IN the
Chou, anu posStoly airo NJ, =; ,ti+i.d ~ -
GROUND lndL 1eaaats a;ds a,,,;,.lr -, ~ c,hi,,o .
return Iof heT servlce ~ uullns ny oniils niia.
Japan War. 6uL y appeaiS .so,s,o7 ~ po s5;i
looked that germany mas IeceNeu uiS-
granting OF large concessions, Wnlcn. az
the time OF this, grant, were consldered
as most valuable 10 Germany
As to the Russian heet at Fort arthur,
that is not a surprise. "A Russian Meet
was wintered at a Chinese port last year,
yolved no sacrifice of territory. What the
outcome will be is difficult to say, but 1t
be made possibly by the granting of coast
stations, but without any serious dismem-
berment of territory
that there are but two actual steps on
the part of Germany, namely, the occu-
nation of Kiao Chou Bay, and the dis
batch of Prince Henry's fleet to Chinese
waters. Beyond this, they say all is
conjecture as to what Germany will do,