New-York tribune., 1900-07-09
FEARS LEGATIONS LOST.
CHINESE CONSUL-GENERAL AT SAN
FRANCISCO APPREHENSIVE.
MOST TERRIBLE WAR OF MODERN TIMES
SEEMS INEVITABLE - MISSION
ARIES BLAMED
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BrNE.I


Try TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
San Francisco, July SIN all this country
there is probably no man more profoundly dis
tressed by the present situation in China than
Ho Vow, the Chinese Consul General in San
Francisco a diplomat only second in Importance
to the Chinese Minister in Washington, whose
predecessor was. in fact, Ho Vows brother-in-
law. Ho Vow is a type of the Chinese aristo-
crat. such as foreigners rarely see. tall stately
scholarly distinguished in carriage and feature
with most gracious and winning manners, speak
ing the English language fiuently; we'll in
fact that last month he contributed to The
Forum" fine papers on The Open Door in the
Orient He belongs to the foremost leaders
of the progressive party in China.
He is an enthusiastic admirer of American
civilization, of American character and enter
prise, and he counts among his personal friends
many of California's abIest scholars and bust
ness men, with whom he has entered into close
social relations. 1t is therefore from the stand
point of friendship and with the greatest pain.
that he cOnfesses his own apprehension, based
upon what is already known of foreign ag-
gression at Taku, that the legations in Peking
have been annihilated.
Tonight he discussed the present menacing
and desperate state Of affairs in China with
candor analyzing the causes which have bred
the present trouble pointing out the significance
of the situation, and almost passionately i'm
ploring the civilized nations to reflect we'll be-
fore further involving themselves in strife.
which he believes threatens to be the most
bloody in history. He said;
MISTAKES OF MISSIONARIES.
The origin of the whole trouble is interfer-
ence with our religion in China.
I do not question the worthy intentions of the
missionaries who have gone there, but they
have made the mistake of trying to convert
people who not educated as race even to
the point of religious liberation. Good mis-
sonaries merely waste their energies and in
cenSe the people.
Studying the history of the world we find
that almost every great war has been brought
on by differences in religion.
There is another cause for the present upris-
ing aside from the purely religious work of the
missionaries in proseiytng the Chlnese TO their
faith 1t has happened in China that when
ever missionary has been injured or Killed IN
the country the nation which ne represented
has made the tragedy an occasion for asking
grants of lands from the Chinese Government
I do not mean TO say that they were not right
in demanding indemnity for such misdeeds, but
this course, which has seemed peculiar in the
eyes of many of our people, who are extremely
suspicious. has been misCOnstrued and mlsln-
terpreted.
am positive from dispatches I have received
that it was the original intention OF botn me me
Government and the Boxers TO respect the
Pekfng legations Otherwise it would have
been easy to attack them before June 20 |
am sure the Government was ready 10 put
forth every effort to protect them
FEARS FOR THE WORST.
To-day I cannot speak so confidently The
bombardment of Taku has changed the whole
aspect of the situation. AS soon as tldlnSs OF
that act of hostility reach Peking rear that
those who UP to that moment had been held In
control by the Government would become tren-
zied and become beyond its control for they
would reason that they were to be punlsned
anyway, and all reason for restraint would then
have been gone. From polite point of view
it seems to me to be fatal mistake on the part
of the Powers to have taken that aggressive step
before they had landed sufficient forces to De
able to support 1t to follow It up.
They stirred up a beehive, when not in position
10 accomplish anything. Instead Of relieving
the legations in PekinS they aggravated the
situation, stirring the ignorant and maddened
populace TO frenzy. Such an act as hrlnS upon
the Taku forts, even in case OF an enlightened
people would have been, in my opinion, serl-
Gus affair under the circumstances. Ihe en-
ragged people already on the warpath would
embrace such opportunity for selI-JuStLHca-
ton. l fear, knowing my race Inat 5eSliIs E
rose in mass when the intelligence reached there
from Taku. and executed vengeance on the Ie-
cations.
GOOD JUDGMENT OF ADMIRAL KEMPFF.
What effect a different policy would have had
on the Chinese is, l think, eXempllned IN the
attitude Ii Hung Chang, Chinas most pro
gressive and influential statesman mas taken
toward your Admiral Kempff VINO refused TO
ioin in the bombardment Ii has invited the
American Admiral to accompany MN on MS
mission to Pekng, for the purpose or paciiylns
the Chinese and he has expressed the desire
that the United States should act as the inter
medary in the settlement of the trouoies Ad-
niral Kempff made fine demonstration or Wis
dom in declining to Join in preclpltaunS nos
tilities at Taku, and he has by his conduct won
the confidence of the Chinese for his Nation Al
the same time he showed good military judg-
ment for the act of aggression was as useless
as il was dangerous to the interests back of it.
In my opinion the Powers would need an
army of about 250OO0 to subdue this one north
ern province by force. Should there be gen
eral uprising throughout China, before they
could do any policing Of that great territory,
with its 400 OO0OO0 people or bring them under
subiection they would require not less than
one million soldiers, and many millions of dol
lars would be wasted and millions or lives lost
before the entire country could be brought un-
der subjugation.
These Zealots are not omen 10 reason. They
are possessed By strange supersttions, chief
among which is the commonly accepted belief
that Europeans come 10 our country to obtain
Continued second page.
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