The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-21

an understanding between Germany, Rus
STA, and France.
That such an understanding exists can
be doubted by no ono who recalls the Treaty
Of Shimonoseki and the circumstances UNI
der which that treaty was materially modi-
fed. There never was o case where q knowl-
edge of the past was more indispensable for
the comprehension OF the present. The facts
are that the three European powers named
combined to rescue the Pekin Government
from q critical position, and that, up to the
other day, only one Of the three, namely,
Russia, had received any compensation for
the service. What we are now witnessing
at Kiao Chou Bay is simply proof Of the
conviction on the part Of the second part
ner, Germany, that delays are dangerous,
and that 1t would be prudent not to wait
for her share of the reward until the Trans
Siberian Railway shall have been COM
pleted, and until the plans for a tremen-
dous increase Of the Japanese navy shall
have been carried out. The appearance of
the third partner, France, as a claimant
for recognition, is now not likely to be
postponed very long.
Let us call to mind, in detail, the events
of which we now behold the outcome. On
March 8, 1895, the Japanese captured Neu
Chwang, having previously taken Wei Hal
Wei and Port Arthur, the two Chinese
naval fortresses, which command the en-
trance to the Gulf of Pe-chili. They were
now in a position to advance upon Pekin,
and no force at the Chinese Governments
disposal could have prevented their occupa-
tion of that capital and the overthrow Of
theM anchu dynasty.
The advisers of the Celestial Emperor
were panic stricken, and, among the prof.
ects discussed was the flight Of the i'm
perial family southwark to one Of the
western provinces. Ultimately 1t was de-
termined to invoke once more the services
of LII HUNG CHANG. On March 10, the
Pekin Government notified Japan of its
wish to despatch the veteran statesman to
sue for peace. Four days later the envoy en-.
barked, and the conferences began at Shimo-
noseki on March 81. The Mikado's represen-
tatives at first showed themselves disposed
to insist upon very rigorous terms, but after
IN attempt had been made on March "a
to assassinate Ii HUNG CHANG. a cessation
of hostilities was ordered and a treaty was
negotiated some weeks later whereby
China, besides agreeing to pay a large Pc
cuniary indemnity, abandoned all claim to
Corea and coded to Japan the Liau Tung
peninsula, on which Port Arthur stands,
together with the island of Formosa and
that part Of Manchuria interposed between
Liau Tung and Corea. The treaty also
gave Japan the right to occupy Wei Hal
Wei, the naval arsenal in the province Of
Shan Tung, until the last installment Of
the indemnity should be paid and until an
acceptable commercial treaty should be
agreed upon.
On April "a, Just a week after the con-
~clusion of the treaty of peace, the Russian,
German, and French Governments protested
against the permanent acquisition of any
Chinese territory on the Asiatic mainland
by Japan. Had the British Government
foreseen the Significance of this demonstra-
ton and declared that the treaty was
equitable and ought to be upheld, the pro-
test would nave been UNDECIDED by the
Mikado, for on and he had nothing to fear
from the three protesting powers, and with
the help of the British feet he could have
faced them successfully at sea.
But England's interests In Egypt dis
inclined her to thwart the schemes of three
great powers In the far East, and, perhaps,
she shared their apprehension that Japan,
once planted In the Liau Tung peninsula,
would easily find a pretext for further en-.
croachments, and, at no distant day. would
effect the conquest of the Middle Kingdom.
At all events, she made no sign, and the
Mikado had to yield to the Intervention OF
the protesting powers, lest their combined
fleets should cut him off from communica,
tion with his troops ON the mainland, an d
should lombard his seaports. BY the
treaty, as revised, he got an additional
%pecunlary indemnity, but gave back to
China all the coded territory on the Aslatic
mainland, a retrocession which has prac.
tically involved the extinction of Japanese
influence in Corea, to uphold which wa
the original object of the contest.
Such was the service rendered to China
by the three protesting powers, and Il
needed no prophet to foretell that they
would, ultimately, insist on being paid fol
1t. Then came the tender of the Cars
good offices to procure for China the money
needed to pay the first installment of the
indemnity to Japan; and next followed, al
a decent interval, the treaty between China
and Russia. whereby the latter power &C
quired privileges In Chinese Man churis
tantamount to a protectorate over that re
gion, together with the right to occupy, as q
winter station for its fleet, some ice.fre,
Chinese harbor, which, although unnamed
was OWNED from the first to be Port Ar
thur. OF course. the occupation of tina
port once effected, Russia would dominat,
the Liau Tung peninsula, and would &C
quire the desired terminus for a branch o.
the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Russia, however, was In no hurry to avail
herself of her treaty rights, and, doubtless
would lave waited until the Trans.Siberia1
road was finished, had not her hand beer
forced by Germany. 1t was not the interesr
of Kaiser WILLIAM III. to wait any longer
both because the Japanese war fleet Is In
creasing at a rate which threatens to max,
it the p~reponderant naval force in the Pa
ciic, and because 1t was possible that tn,
Gear, when he should be able to pour hi
legions into Manchuria, might show him