New-York tribune., 1900-08-26
COUNT OKUMA'S VIEWS.
THE JAPANESE STATESMAN TALKS AT
LENGTH ON THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

THE JAPANESE STATESMAN TALKS AT
LENGTH ON THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
According to THE Japan Tines OF July g.
newspaper correspondent in Toxic had the follow
ing interview with Count Okuma regarding the
present crisis in China Speaking on the causes
that had led to tbs Boxer disturbances. the Count
said;
There are direct causes and indirect causes The
indirect causes those that always operate when
the western Powers come into contact with old
nations possessing e different civilization and they
have operated for long time past in the neighbor
ing empire which. considering itself inrnessurably
superior TO all Western nations hates them never
theless. with undying hatred for their superior
strength and prosperity. This indirect cause has
been responsible more than for the massacre
OF foreign teachers and missionaries in China We
in Japan know what that is. for it was once
working among ourselves: II has been working n
China, however for the last two hundred years
The direct OF the present trouble were first
OF all. IN my opinion. the usurpation OF powers
OF Government by the Empress Dowager and the
summoning by her 70 the helm OF state OF con-
servative statesmen who were in full and perfect
sympathy with the ant-foregn spirit OF the people
OF which have just spoken.
Another direct cause the conduct Of the Cath
olic priests IN the Middle Kingdom. In the old
days, when the Catholic missionaries first came
70 China and found themselves compelled for OBJ
vtous reasons 10 cut OF all connection with their
mother countries and live among the Chinese as
Cinnamon, the people received them favorably.
and there were then none OF those anti-missonary
disturbances OF which hear much at present
and have heard much for the last fifty years
or So What was the reason OF the change? II was
this The Catholic priests taking advantage OF the
power and influence OF their respective countries
had tried to arrOgate TO themselves political power
which did not cS right belong 10 them; and hence
the feelings OF the Chinese populace toward them
underwent sudden change. The treaties Of Ten
Ts1n forty years ago showed that Napoleon III
was anxious TO use the power OF his State for the
good OF the French missionaries and this tendency
TO connect religion with national authority in
creased the hatred OF the Chinese for the mission
aries very much
RUSSIAN AND GERMAN GRABS"
here asked the Count If he thought that the
action Of Russia and Germany in leading the way
in Chinese grabs had contributed in any way
the present difficulties
He answered follows:
The effect Of the action Of Russia and Germany
and other countries Is not, think great at
first sight appears to be the case. for the China
man has, as you know, no patriotism or his pa
triotism IS a all events. confined TO the lin
ited district IN which his dialect is spoken Hence
7 OF opinion that however much effect the
seizures OF Russia and Germany might have
the educated Chinese, the uneducated majority
did not know probably that those seizures had
taken place at all, and were perhaps aware
even that the Lao-Tong Peninsula was within
the boundaries OF their country. Under such cir
cunstances these seizures might have had
effect IN kindling the hatred OF the uterat but
think that the amount OF its influence on the peo-
pie was very small. The really important causes
and the which worked for a long time
those that have already mentioned namely. the
feeling Of hatred entertained by the Chinese IN
( general toward the civilized Powers, so much
stronger than themselves, and the feelings aroused
by the missionaries. In this latter connection
may add that the efforts OF the converted Chinese
TO escape from the influence OF their Govern
uent contributed q little
Here asked the Count what indemnity Japan
would probably ask from China after quiet had
been restored and how that indemnity would be
collected.
"Of course" he answered an indemnity may be
asked. but the question Is How will it be peid7
At present the central Government IS very weak
and incapable, I think. OF levying taxes through
the whole country. An appeal might be made. It is
true 10 the sentiment OF the peopIe. .qbhte among
the Chinese such sentiment is very weak at pres
ent The Chinese merchants do not consider them
selves safe under the protection OF tHEtr oyFn Gov
! erument, and great numbers OF, them are now
/ doing business under the protection OF foreign
! Powers and running their steamers under foreign
| tags Under these circumstances am very doubt
/ fuI whether the Chinese Government Will able
! 70 raise sufficient money TO meet the demands OF
! the foreign Powers. The demands Of the Powers
1 will think, be large Such damage has been done
! 10 the property OF their nations by the Boxers
and the expenses for sending considerable bodies Of
! troops 10 China and maintaining large fleets 70
! Chinese waters Will serve to swell the bill II viii
/ be. therefore useless TO demand indemnity
! cash down-froIn China at the end OF the present
! troubles. for at that time she viii be unable to
pay the interest on the national loan OF 500
! OO00oO 60OO0OOO0
/ PROBLEMS FOR THE POWERS
/ Several important questions VIII confront the
! allied Powers when they reach Pekng and bring
about the restoration OF peace In the first place,
II Is not yet known II the Chinese Emperor IS
alive or not II IS reported, as you know. that
! the usurper who has taken possession OF the En-
perors throne has also taken his life. and II that
Is true II Is lot likely that the Powers will Tecog-
nize this Usurper. for it was owing TO his efforts
that the present difficulties have arisen. II Is
| probable IN that that the Powers Will select
q suitable person from among the members OF the
Imperial family and place him on the throne.
With him at the head Of affairs. the necessary Sc
erry OF foreign merchants must be obtained, and
for that purpose the power OF the central Govern
ment must be strengthened No better means for
Strengthening the hands OF the central Govern
uaent can 7 think. be found than the creation OF
| a regular and well disciplined army, directly un-
der the control OF the Emperor That VIII. how
require the taking OF another step the read
tustment Of the finances. The finances OF China
are at present in a very bad state. The Governors
OF different localities have the sole control over
the finances in those localities The system must
need hardly say, be improved, and the power Of
rest with the central Government alone At the
same time q well organized police. established at
/ foreign merchandise These things cannot. how
ever, be accomplished by the Chinese themselves;
/ course the Japanese-and this will be one OF the
when they have restored quiet and entered Peking.
already pointed out 500 900 or S 900 900 1seis aHS
/ indemnity be dA-