The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-29
Kwang Hsu's Appeal to Victoria.


July IL the Chinese legation forward
ed to the queen a telegram, dispatched
from Pekin July by the emperor, as
follows:
Since the opening of commercial in
tereourse between foreign nations and
China, the aspirations of Great Brit
ain have always been after commercial
extension, not territorial aggrandize-
ment. Recently dissensions have arisen
between Christians and the people OF
Chi Ii and Shan Tung. certain evil dis
posed persons have availed themselves
OF the occasion to make disturbances,
and these having extended so rapidly
that the treaty powers, suspecting the
rioters might have been encouraged by
the imperial government, attacked and
occupied the Taku forts. The suffer
lngs arising from this act of hostility
have been great and the situation is
much involved.
In consideration of the facts that
OF the foreign commerce of China more
than 20 per cent belongs to England,
that the Chinese tariff is lower than
that of any other country. and the re-
strictions thereon fewer, British mer-
chants have. during the last few de-
cades, maintained relations with Chi
nese merchants at ports as harmoni-
ously as if both were members of the
same family.
Partition Not to Britain's Interest.
But few complications have arisen,
mutual distruSt has been engendered
and the situation having thus changed
for the worse, it is felt that if China
cannot be supported in maintaining her
position. foreign nations, looking on so
large and pOpulOus a country, so rich
in natural geCOI1rpac roiorbt~na Ta,,,r,tad
TO exploit or despoil it and perhaps
differ among themselves with respect
TO their conflicting interests. 1t is evil
dent that this will create a state of
matters that would be advantageous
to Great Britain, a country which
views commerce as her greatest inter
est
China is now engaged in raising men
and means to cope with these eyentu-
alities, but she feels that if left to her
self she might not be equal to the oc-
casiOn should it ever arise. and, there
fore, turns TO England in hope of pro-
curing her good offices in bringing
about settlement of the difficulties
that have arisen with the other treaty
powers.
The emperor makes this frank ex-
posture of what is nearest his heart
and hopes this appeal to her majesty,
the queen empress. may be graciously
taken under consideration and an an
swer vouchsafed at the earliest posi-
bic moment .se
The papers close with the edict of
July 10, already published, which was
communicated to the foreign Office on
July b.
The parliament paper on China shows
that considerable negOtia tons had pre-
VlouSly passed between Great Britain and
cr-ar-f1i,
policy of Japans action, while Lord Sal
isbury notified Ambassador Pauncefote OF
June p as follows:
You should suggest to Secretary of
State Hay that any troops which II is
possible to send from Manila would be
OF great value. as it is probable that the
United States legation is i'll great danger,
as We'll as the legations of the other pow
Germany assumed the position regard
ing the Japanese matter that nothing
must be done to peril the accord of the
powers. Japan insisted upon an aSsuT-
ance that her invasion would not lead to
collision with Russia. Russia finally
declared, June %, that she had no desire
10 hinder Japan'S liberty, especially alter
her expressed intention 10 confirm her ac-
ton with that of the other powers.
The correspondence shows that Count
Muravien, the late Russian minister of
foreign affairs. took an optimistic view Of
the situation in China, but that Count
Lamsdorf, his successor, was far from
sharing in this sanguine view He thought
that northern China was in a state of
hopeless anarchy, as did NJ DelcaSSe. the
French minister. OF foreign affairs, who,
on June ., considered the imminent dam
ger over, but who afterwards. on July t,
proposed a collective note warning the de
facto government at Pekin, hoping that
this would demonstrate the solidarity of
the accord Of the powers. NJ. Delcasse
insisted that the relief of the legations at
Pekin was far more important than any
petty grievances among the powers.