The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-20

tung. Two German missionaries were
| brutaiiy murdered in Shantung in No
vember, 1897, and Germany demanded
an indemnity for their families as well
| as for the government. with a naval
station on the coast Of China China
| complied except as to the last require
ment. when German soldiers were land
ed at Kiaochau and the forts and ad-
| iacent territory seized. This seizure
| was afterward recognized, China exc
cutting lease Of the territory: and while
| the latter retained sovereignty over II,
the actual government of the territory
was vested in Germany.
The reason for this seizure Is well set
forth in the current issue Of the Forum
| by Charles DENLY, jr., former secretary
| of legation at Picking. Mr. DENLY shows
that except in Shantung there was
| scarcely a province in which Germany
| could have planted herself without en-
croaching upon the alleged rights Of
| others. He says IL is a sad common
| tary on the decadence OF China that
there is scarcely any desirable territory
| along the coast which does not fall
| within some foreign governments
sphere of influence" North of Shan
tung is the field over which the car
| thinks himself destined to hold sway.
South of shantung, in the provinces OF
Kiangsu and Chekiang, is the Yangtse
valley, which has been staked out by
England under a shadowy agreement
with China that no part thereof shall
be alienated 10 any other power. The
| coast Of Fukien, farther south. has
| been pre-empted by Japan by virtue of
her annexation of Formosa, a pre-emp-
ton which has been recognized by
China In an agreement that no part OF
the province shall be alienated TO any
power but Japan. In the next two
provinces. Kuangtung and Kuangsi,
any German establishment would have
been regarded with more than disfavor
| by England and France. Mr. DENLY
says that all the deep water harbors
of the coast are now practically in the
hands Of foreigners, except that Of
Annoy and italy is anxious to take
| Annoy as her share OF the spoils.
There may be sincerity In the profess
sions of some Of the powers that they
do not wish TO disturb the integrity of
the empire. But this willingness to
agree to refrain from any slicing up
process is OF course based upon an un-
derstanding that all parties will con-
tract to keep their hands off. To such
contract Russia will hardly be a
party. There has been no concealment
of her intention to cross the northern
border and appropriate territory when
ever an opportunity presented itself.
and that opportunity now seems to be
before her. 1t is admitted that Russia
is preparing for q separate campaign
towards Picking. and it Is not improb-
able that she will take tho spoils of It
to herself without consulting the other
powers. With such action on the part
! OF Russia, some of the other nations
would probably consider themselves
| free to strengthen their positions by
larger acquisitions OF territory. Much
! depends upon what Russia does within
the next few weeks; and. Judging from
past experience. II is TO be feared that
/ her action will not be disinterested or
taken with the idea of maintaining the
integrity OF the Chinese empire 70 that
all other nations may have equal privi-
! leges.