The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-01-07
CHINESE TERRITORY.
Powers Aiigning for the struggis-Ths
United states VIII Take No Part la the
scramble Opinions Of Diplomats
Concerned In the Division.

lomatic circles here. particularly a:
the embassies and legations of the
powers which are aligning for an APP
parent struggle for Chinese territory.
There is no further talk OF tho United
States as n possible factor in the con
test. as the recent understanding at a
cabinet meeting is accepted as remov-
ing this government from the field of
controversy. At the same time. an
eminent authority on international
affairs is quoted as saying that
u situation might dcvelopc when
the United States would be called upon
10 20 much further than protect Amer
lean interests at the treaty ports in
emma. This situation would come, he
said, II the scramble for Chin csc terri
tory went to the extent of the extinc-
ton OF China and the complete absorp-
ton of the old empire by foreign ma
tons. Such was the apparent drift Of
the present ment, he sad, and il
1t became "a reality then a condition
would arise similar TO the exterminA-
ton OF Poland. Poland had estah
lished a precedent in international af-
fairs, he said, and following that pre-
cedent, II China was to be absorbed.
then 1t was a question which the
United States, in common with all the
nations of the world, must take cogn.
zance of. Until this final movemen.
occurred, however, it was plain tkae
the United States had no ~interes. la
the fencing of European nations and
Japan for coaling stations anc ports
on the Asiatic coast.
In the meantime, however, the Dip
lomats are much concerned in tho
movements Of their respective govern
ments. A leading japanese diplomas
said yesterday:
II do not look at the question as al
volvlng the partition OF China. and rr
event has occurred thus far to indicate
that China is about to be divides
among the powers The only tangih'e
fact Is that Germany has occu..ed
hioa-Chau bay, and hat u .ssia
has a fleet at Port Arth1y- But
Germany's action was tairp 20 col
lect an indemnity for an ind unity to
German missionaries, just rs she en
forced indemnity from iiayti. Beyon.
TINS Germany may seek TO establish ;
naval station at kica -Chau, and thus
have a naval base of operat ions OH the
Pacific. But that does not involve the
taking OF any considerable portion OF
Chinese territory. and it is yet tD be
shown that Germany will take more
than IA coast port and such land imme-
diatcly adjacent as to give the port
proper facilities. If it comes to taking
territory, the course of China 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 Kioa-Chau
canno exceed a FEY thousands. Even
a weak nation is strong in defending
its w territory. There are reports
that Japan would aid China in an ex-
tremity, but there is nothing in that.
Japan doubtless will act alone if there
is any reason for acting at all. Thus
far. however, / know of no steps that
Japan has taken or contemplates to-
ward taking part in the ontroversy
My impression is that she will remain
independent n n neutral observer.
Her position will be much by
such a policy than it would be by an
alliance at the outset. A an observer,
If she sees that the partition Of China
is ut hand, doubtless she would have
some part to take, but for the present
there Is no evidence that such an emer-
gency is near"
A Chinese diplomat said:
The alleged official statements com
ing from the Chinese legation have
been unwarranted. as the legation has
not received "A word from Pekin since
the first notice was sent that a Ger
man force had landed at K~.oa-Chau,
without previous notice To the Chinese
government. 1t is felt, however, That
OF the reports rs 10 the serious
ness of the situation particularly those
from Shanghai, are overdrawn. Judg-
ing from the press dispatches. there
appears to be little doubt that the orig
inal purpose OF Germany To enforce an
indemnity has now developed into
securing n naval station at kioa-Chau
and possibly more territory on the
ground that Germany is entitled
~ "a AOI ntT 5cEFlco /
the China-Japan war.
But IT appeared to be overlooked that
Germany has received distinct returns
those services, in the granting Of
large concessions, which, ut the time
OF the grant, were considered as mos.
to Germany. As TO the Rus
sian fleet at Port Arthur, that is not a
surprise. A Russian feet was " inferred
at a Chinese port last winter with the
consent Of China. as it involved no sac
riice of territory. Wha. the outcome
would be is difficult TO say, but it is
felt that an amicable settlement will
be made, possibly by the granting Of
coast stations, but without any serious
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of territory
The British embassy has not received
. word from the foreign office on the
eastern situation.