The evening times., 1900-07-17

The serious trouble in China which is
now engaging the attention of the civil
ized world can be laid to the door OF Rus
sia." remarked well-know. diplomat.
who is thoroughly posted on affairs in the
Orient. And he continued, lit will not
be many weeks before the whole truth
is known. Few people. even those who
visit China Cor the purpose Of studying the
political and economic conditions of that
country. are able to fathom Chinese diplO-
macy: they survey the field simply from
the surface standpoint. Bug there is some
thing underlying the Chinese diplomacy in
the present crisis which is unbeknOwn, ex-
cept TO the very few who are in the Sc
cret. The Chinese are a peculiar people.
They have a Nell-defned policy OF their
pwn which they steadfastly follow. In very
recent years the Chinese statesmen have
awakened to a reaIizatiOn of the danger
that besets their empire and they have
been quietly at work preparing for the
emergency which is now at hand.
Prior TO the war with Japan the Chi
nese believed their army and armament
were invinclble. but they soon found their
costly error by the defeat of the army and
the destruction Of their armament 1t is
pertinent to state here" continued The
Times informant "a fact never before
made public that during the Japan-China
war the Russian diplomats took advantage
of China's misfortune and made the enter
ing wedge which may eliminate in the dis
memberment OF the Chinese Empire
In 1895 the Empress Dowager requested
De-
tersburg to send her copy Of The New
Era in Russia which had been published
IN the United States. and also a copy Of
the Cincinnati Enquirer Of August 19,
1898. which contained an article from
diplomatic standpoint on the Oriental ques-
SioD. After receiving the book and paper
the Empress DOwager proceeded TO COpen-
hagen. where she submitted the article on
the Oriental question to Count auravien,
vino was then the Russian Minister 10
Denmark. and in whom the Empress Dow
Rger had the most implicit confidence 1t
was Immediately after that Count Muravien
formulated the new Oriental policy for
Russia. which he submitted to the En-
press Dowager.
After the sudden death OF Prince Laban-
of. the Russian Foreign Minister. the En-
press DOwager, to the surprise OF the whole
diplomatic corps In Russia. at once. through
her influence a. St. Petersburg. had Count
Murvarief appointed TO I'll the vacancy in
order to carry out the new Oriental policy
as outlined in the article printed IN the
American paper. Count Muravieft whose
sudden death shocked all Russia not many
weeks ago. ordered the Russian Minister TO
China 10 open negotiations with China for
ceclng 70 Russia port on the gulf OF Pc
chill for the purpose of a southern outlet
for the Trans-Siberian Railroad. then in
the course OF construction. The result OF
the negotiations. as is we'll known, was the
leasing 10 Russia Cf Port Arthur and Lao
Tuug PrOmontOry. In return for this con-
cession the Russian Minister pledged Chi
ia the protection Of the Russian Govern
ment against the alleged deep-laid scheme
Matched by Japan. England. France. and
Germany 10 partition OF the Chinese En-
pire which was. Russia said. at that time
contemplated. The Chinese Government.
placing implicit confidence in Russia S
honesty Of purpose. readily acceded to all
the demands OF the Russian Minister.
As soon as Russia got 4 fOOthold in
China the Cars Government at once COM
meuced to fortify its position. and under
one preteNt or another they demanded from
China cession of additional territory until
the Chinese found that under the pretence
OF friendship Russia was trying to absorb
the whole Chinese Empire. These contln-
ued demands of Russia SO alarmed the
Chinese that they secretly cOmmen - "a
organize and arm themselves for protection
against the further encroachment of Rus
sia- In the closing part of 1897 and early
in 1898 the Chinese Government in order
to per ct their armament asked Russia as
a friend 10 aid her and TO sell her arms
This request was granted. and the Rus
sian Government sold for cash TO the Chi
nese Government 500 600 stands of arms
and 500. 600 rounds Of ammunition for each
gun.
After China had received the arms from
drill in every section OF the Empire under
the gUise Of athletic clubs so as TO throw
of all suspicion Of the powers. When the
Chinese had perfected their organization
SO that an immense force could be concen-
1rated at any given point without delay
the Chinese Government directly and in
directly intimated to the United States
Minister. Mr. Conger that il could not be
responsible for his safety. advising him to
leave Pekin. But il seems he did not heed
the warning.
1T was prior to this warning. however.
that NJ De Giers. the Russian Minister.
in a peremptory manner made a demand
On China 20 aid him in forcing Korea to
cede to Russia Mozanpote harbor in Ko-
rea BY this act the Chinese Government
saw at a glance that with Port Arthur in
possession. Of Russia the entire gulf
of Pe-Chi-Li the entrance to Tientsin and
Pekin- as well as the whole Of the Province
of Chill and YaUgtse Valley together with
the Province Of NanchuTia. fCrcibly taken
by Russia the Chinese Empire was alb
sorbed and their power made nil The
Tsung Ii Yamen (the Chinese Foreign Of
fice) laid before the DOwager Empress the
sad plight Of the Empire thus brought
about by the false friendship OF Russia
The DOwager Empress was so surprised
end shocked at the perfidy of Russia that
she at once ordered Prince Tuan to as
sumo the presidency OF the Tsung Ii va
men and to exert all the power and influ-
ence she possessed TO expel the foreigners
from the Empire in order to protect and
save her country. Prince Tuan Immediate
Iy placed himself at the head of the regu-
lar army and gave orders TO eXpel the fo--
eigners. The Boxers or militia. for that