Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-03
ROCKHILL'S OPINION.
Our Special Commissioner Gives His
Views on the Chinese situation.

views on the Chinese situation.
Shanghai. Sept. 3.-William Wood
vile Rockhill, special commissioner of
the United States government to investi-
gate and report on conditions in China,
In an interview emphasizing the impor-
tance of the harmonious action of the
powers as measure of self defense,
said:
IF the Chinese government is able to
break the concert of nations and to bring
about a disagreement on the part of any
government in such way ms to secure
any relaxation of the joint demands, all
the foreigners in China may as well pack
up and leave.
This is the very best opportunity to
settle for all time the status of foreigners
in China. If that matter is not settled
now, the Chinese will he encouraged to
persist in their present policy, and the
powers will have the whole trouble to
thrash over again every two or three
years. | believe that all the govern
ments are impressed with this truth, and
| believe most of them realize that def
mite and permanent settlement of the
status of foreigners and the establish
ment of freedom of trade are more i'm
portant to them now than the acquisition
of territory.
"This has been n deliberately planned
movement on the part of the Chinese
government to eXpel all foreigners. The
decrees printed in The Imperial Gazette
prove this. The movement has been
practically successful. since every for
eigner in the interior has been obliged to
seek refuge in the treaty ports. The i'm
perial government merely utilized the
Boxers as convenient accessories to its
schemes.
PeI<inE's Relief nm Incident.
"The relief of Peking is merely an in
cident of the crisis. The really impor-
tant work remains to be done. MARQUIS
Ito, probably the best informed man
alive on eastern politics, said to me that
the present was the greatest crisis in the
history of China and that all preceding
eastern questions sank into insgniticance
beside it. Are civilized nations to yield
to the Chinese conceit of their own SUI
periority?"
Mr.. Rockhill and other officials in
Shanghai, like the public, are utterly ig-
norant of the course of diplomatic and
military events in Peking. The consuls
of the various governments have sent
frequent kilograms to their respective
ministers, but have been unable to get
replies. 1t is suspected that official mes
sages are tampered with between Shang-
hal and Chefu.
The attitude of the southern viceroys
in protecting foreigners commands con.
fdence in their good faith, and negotia-
tions will probably be conducted through
them.
There is financial panic in Chinese
business circles here. Probably an i'm
portant factor is the money rate, which
is now 36 per cent per month. The
traders are trying to get the ear of the
officials.
Ii Hung Chang still remains in Shanr-
hal. He is thoroughly discredited. but is
Intriguing to get the foreigners to quarrel
among themselves. Yesterday he told
American and English diplomats that the
Russians had promised to withdraw from
Peking regardless of the policy of other
nations. His statement is not believed
On the contrary, it is thought probable
that he is simultaneously assuring the