The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-07
@ G 9 Q G Q 20

| NEW YORK, March 6.-The Herald's
Washington correspondent sends the
! following: In making her demand on
| China for the cession of territory and
sphere of influence surrounding it, Italy
has the support of France, Germany
and Russia and the diplomatic opposi-
ton of the United States and Great
Britain. I learned to-day from a high
diplomatic authority that before max
! ing her demand Italy sounded all the
powers of Europe and then submitted
a note to this government detailing her
! purpose and asking what action would
! be taken by it in case her plans were
! put into execution. The reply of Sec
retary Hay, formulated after careful
| consultation with the President, depre-
| Gated the proposed course of Italy, and
was in the nature of an objection to it's
| adoption. But Italy has taken no heed
| to the wishes of the United States,
! though she was careful to ask before
hand how far this government would
go in opposing her pretentions. Infor-
nation in possession of the authorities
confirms the press reports of the land
ing of Italian marines at San Nun Bay,
despite the refusal of the Tsung Ii va
men to comply with the demand.
In refusing the Italian demand the
Chinese Government is supported by
Great Britain, notwithstanding the re-
ports to the contrary which have been
published, and the British Government
would like the United States and ia
pan to join with it in strongly protest
ing against this invasion of Chinese
territory, even to the point of making
Of nd criO in
tilities TO compel Italy to withdraw.
But the administration has no inten-
tion of engaging in a European war, or
of making entangling alliances. OF
course, it has under serious considera-
tion the policy it shall adopt. AS told
to me to-day, there are two courses
! that can be pursued One is to make a
| diplomatic representation to Italy de-
| claring that her acquisition of Chinese
territory and of sphere of influence"
! surrounding that territory is injurious
| to trade interests of the United States,
! and that this Government would be in o.
| clined to see abandonment of her pre-
| tensions. The second contemplates the
| submission of a remonstrance and then
! protest against such acquisition, and
preparation to back UP such protest
with a display of force, and if neces-
sary to engage in war.
1t is needless to say that the admin
istration, while appreciating the inter-
ests involved, will not adopt the second
course, certainly not at this time. Min
lister Conger at Peking, under instruc-
! tions from Washington, is sharply
watching developments in the situation
| and keeping this Government Informed,
| but so far as l have been able to learn
| he has made no direct representation to
! the Chinese Government against the
granting of the Italian demand, though
the Peking authorities undoubtedly un-
derstand the attitude of the United
! States.
! WASHINGTON, March 6.-There is a
mass of information on hand in both
! the Navy and State Departments rela-
tive to the encroachment of foreign
powers on the Chinese coast, but it is
| in such shape that a concise statement
| of the situation is difficult to obtain.
! The fact is, however, that the occupa-
tion of available ports along the coast
has gone to such lengths that the ma
| jority of the desirable harbors, both in
value as roadsteads and for commune
| cation with the interior. are in the
hands of foreign governments.
! With England in possession of Wei
! Hai-Wei, the Russians at Port Arthur.
the French at Anam and Tonquin, the
! Germans holding Kiaochau, and with
! the additional ports of Hongkong and
Singapore in the hands of the English
| there is but little left in the way of de-
sirable ports on the Chinese coast.
Shanghai is nominally in control of the
Chinese Government, but really is con-