Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-04
THE CHINESE CRISIS
Ii HUNG CHANGES STATEMENT OF
HER CASE.

Claims 1t Is Unjust to Cypress Her While
She Is Struggling to Emerge From Re-
straints of Her Ancient Civilization.
China Would Keep Her Territory Intact.
According to instructions received
from The Herald, an interview was re-
quested with Lii Hung Chang, inform
ing him that the New York Herald Of
fered the publicity of its columns for
any statement that China desired to
make to the western world in respect
to the actual crisis in the east.
His excellency's views are given here
with in the following interview, which
he has approved:
"The forcible occupation of Kiao
Chou by Germany is a direct violation
Of existing treaties and of international
law.
1.-The pretext made for this act Of
war was the murder Of two mission
aries by robbers in the interior Of the
province of Shangtung. The Chinese
government offered immediate and full
redress for this outrage-punishment
of the criminals, dismissal of the local
officials and large compensation for all
losses.
"Anxious to avoid hostile acts, the
Chinese troops were withdrawn from
Kiao Chou when the Germans landed,
and in spite of strong public feeling
prevailing throughout the country for
the defense Of Chinese territory against
aggression my government has not sent
re-enforcements to Kiao Chou.
Outlaws exist in China, as in all
countries. Neither treaties, law nor re-
ligion a entirely suppress crime any
where in the world, though they con
denim and punish the criminals. There
are places in every country where law
lessness abounds, and to such a place in
Shangtung the German missionaries de-
termined to go, knowing that the in
habitants themselves were often victims
Of these bandits.
Unfortunately China has not yet
recovered from the effects of the late
war, and our country requires a period
Of peace to carry out the work Of re-
form lately begun.
"Of late years, from instruction and
observation, the Chinese have come tc
regard the countries Of the western
world as models and even greater in
justice than in arms.
SIS it just to Cypress us while we are
struggling to emerge from the restraints
Of u ancient civilization, while i'm.
provement and progress steadily con
tinue? Should China be distressed by
having her shores invaded and her ter.
ritory occupied because of an occurrence
which western countries would deal
with by law and not by war-an une
pected incident, deplored by my govern
ment and followed by full redress?
"Our desire is to preserve our terri.
tory intact and to steadily improve it al
a field open to all countries equally fol
the development of commerce."
The above interview with Lii Hung
Chang was listened to with close atten
ton by Minister Wu-Ting-F Fang, til,
diplomatic representative of China il
Washington, when it was read to hin
a few nights ago at his legation. Minis
ter WI has always admired the grea'
Chinese statesman and considers hi
words Of great weight. In discussing l.
Hung Changes words he said:
IF the statements attributed to l.
Hung Chang are true, then the opinion
expressed by him is what might be ex
pected from a man of his experience ant
high position. I do not believe ther,
will he any complete ACKNOWLEDGMENT o.
China. I think the controversy between
Germany and China will be amicably
settled"