The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-20

And May Involve the Country 4 III
Very Seriors Tanqle. IA!
CHINESE SIDE or THE AFFAIR
No Notice was Given That Sel4uxu
OF the Port Was In Con-
tempIntion.

Washington November io,--Mr WI Ting
the following official statement from rskin I
relative 10 the seizure OF Kiao chau ~
Germany:
Upon the killing OF two German mi&-
sionarics by bandits In the district Of Ku
Ych. in Shan Tuu, decree WAS issucd
peremptorily commanding the governor az
shan Tun TO order the high officials OF tbs
province to take Immediate measures for
the arrest and punishment OF the offend-
ers. On the 18th inst tho governor re-
ported BY tho telegraph the arrest OF four
culprits and this was communicated to the
German minister
"But German warships had on the 18th
advanced to kiao Chan island. landed
troops and after occupying all the high
ground gave tho garrison forty-eight
hours to retire. The German minister did
not give the Teungh Yamen any notice.
On the evening Of the 18th telegram from
the minister superintendent OF the mol ihern
ports giving a report OF this occurrence
uccasioncd the greatest surprise. China.
In view OF the friendly relations between
tho two countries. thereuron ordered the
governor OF Shan Tun to keep the garrison
| under strict control. to withdraw the troops
| 10 positions outside the limits OF The island
and TO enjoin ,hem not to make any move
without express Instructions
! This official statement places q new COM
| ploxion on the press cables In that IL In
| dicatts that the Chinese government had
already taken active steps for the punish
ment Of the murdercrs of the two German
! missionaries before the landing OF the Ger
! man troops at Kiao Chan and the occupy
Ing OF the fort there. The remarkable
thing In connection with Germnny's sum
mary action Ia the fact SCI forth in the
foregoing cnbled statement that the Teuna-
Ii Yamen tChinese foreign oftce) was
given no notification that the seizure OK
Kiao Chau WIS contemplated, Such pro-
ccdure Is sald 10 be fragrant breach OF
International comfy and IL interpreted In
some quarters az evidence tina, Germany
! used her grievances as pretcxt for the
occupation OF the island. II II believed
! that possibly ficrmany's object Is TO Use thu
occupation of the island az a lever for
compelling trade concessions from China.
In the general scramble FER 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 tho treaty
ports and trade arrangement which gives
her advantages In Burinah and Thihet;
] France has Tonqngh ana Russia has adysn-
tages In the north OF China.
In the event Germany should decline 70
J relinqhsh kiao chau, which, commands
one OF tho best natural harbors and ports
on the Chinese coast, she may have not
} only China bu, Russia 10 reckon with, BY
a recent treaty between the governments OK
China and Russia the latter country in re-
, turn for pledged support In case OF certain
contingencies liz 10 have the use OF l'ost
Arthur and Kia0 Chau harbor should the
car become involved IN war Thus 10 .
! certain extent Russia has an interest N
Kiao Chau, This interest. it-is believed,
she would not be SLOW To protect u Ter.
! many should manifest any Interior designs.
London. November 10.---Count Won VIII
! denburg Hatfield. the German amoassa-
. dor here, Ia In receipt OF important as
, patches from Berlin and has explained 20
tho MARQUIS OF Salisbury the occupation o.
Kiao chau bay. province OF shan Iun.
. China, by the German squadron IN chinsAo
waters and promised fertnet explanss s''..s
which, he added, had been mailed from
. Berlin.
.pENpING A SETTLEMENT"
J washington. November 1s.--lne cable
gram receiyed yesterday by The navy dc-
49,. Ad,ntrsI McNair colyfDS fsd-