The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-22
DESIGNS UPON CHINA.

B. F. Pierce of Huntsville inquiries,
What are the designs of the different
European powers on China?"
1t is a rather difficult question to an
swer, inasmuch as each of the powers
in question is trying to keep its inten-
lions secret from the others. If one
may judge from actions and hungry
| looks, they all want the entire realm.
But, as each realizes that the others
have longings in the same direction
and power to make it uncomfortable
for any one inclined to monopolize the
find, the necessity for a mutual under
standing and friendly partition be-
comes apparent.
If an equitable and satisfactory di-
vision of China could be effected by
some disinterested power or party, no
time would be lost in a general appro-
priation of the fragments of the an
cient empire.
The powers most interested in the
carving project are England, Russia,
France and Germany Recent events
have developed interests which the
United States may feel called upon to
guard, and Japan is not willing to let
the case go by default
But the four powers first named are
gaining a foothold here, erecting a for
tification there, establishing a garrison
in another place, and war vessels flying
their respective flags are uneasily pa
trolling the China coast. The minute
one SI1Spectc tho otba, Of eat+;oor n
larger slice of territory than she has,
trouble may follow. If it does, Eng
land cannot afford to be confident or
insiStent. She has not the friendship
of single one of the other powers
though she may have that of Japan
which is a Second-rate nation no
longer, and the best wishes of the Unit
ed States, whatever moral encourage
ment that may be. But there is very
little likelihood of this republic being
drawn into war over the Chinese car
cass.
British diplomats have been making
friends with Germany, which power
continues to view England with jealous
eyes and to her undoubted naval
strength can oppose the strongest army
in the world. Russia is chafing under
England's eternal vigilance, her guard
of southern Asia, and her influence at
the gates of the Black sea.
France is the Evolutionary foe of
England, and While the establishment
of a liberal government in France the
oretically approximates it to that Of
England, the race differences still find
sour expression and the questions of
right in Canada, arising from those
differences, work against amity.
Nor is it possible to find the least
harmony between Russia and Ger
many: they stand in awe of each 9TH
er's main strength, which is prodigious
in both.
Then Germany and France are NOR
tai enemies. after twenty-six years of
outward endurance. France has never |
forgiven her enighbor for a certain hui
the loss OF her provinces and |
the levy of enormous tribute, and Ger |
many is watchful lest a retaliation |
should be undertaken.
OF all these countries, only two are
on terms of outward amity; France (
and Russia. And in this division of |
China, their claims, fortunately for |
this amity, lie many degrees apart. !
The union of these two forces against |
either one of the other would be almost |
invincible, and the union of any two |
against another would result in one of |
the most deplorable and destructive |
wars of the century.
Therefore, while the powers have
designs upon China, they are totally |
unable to agree to a partition, and so
keep the plans and specifications a
closely guarded secret.