Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-04
PARTITION OF CHINA
Southern Portion May Be Separated
From Northern.
MAY Be ERECTED INTO 4 new EMPIRE
The Combination of Viceroys
Against Tusn
VIEW OF THE DIPLOMATS

Mr.. WI. the Chinese minister here. is in
constant correspondence by cable with the
viceroys of the great southern provinces of
China. The substance of some of these
communications he has made known to the
State Department; others have been alto
gether withheld. 1t is not known positive
ly whether or not the minister has the
means of communicating with Pekin; if SO
the channel must be tortuous and involve
the use of one of the viceroys as an inter-
mediary.
There is also correspondence in progress
between the various Chinese ministers in
Europe and between the minister at Lon
don and the minister at Washington.
Viewed in combination. these facts, taken
in connection with the apparently genuine
concern expressed by the Chinese minister
for the safety of the foreign ministers at
Pekin, and their strenuous urging of Ii
Hung Chang's request that neutrality be
deserved by the powers toward the south
ern Chinese provinces, are regarded in
diplomatic circles here as pointing to the
development of a combination on large
scale of the great viceroys and the minis
tiers against Prime Tuan and his Boxer
adherents in Pekin. 1t is realized that
Tuan himself will not idly submit to the
disregard of his orders by any single vice
roy. If they are to follow their own judg-
LcAl dIlu hccp dlOO1 from Ills loItuueS lHeS
can do so only by combining their forces to
resist him.
China Already Divided.
The impression is growing here that, no
matter what happens at Pekin, the division
Of China is already an accomplished fact.
drawn out upon the lines contemplated
heretofore by Europeans. 1t is felt that all
that part of China south of the Yellow
river, perhaps, and certainly all that part
south of the Yangtse Kiang, mas forever
parted from northern China. But, contrary
to the common expectation, 1t is now main
tanned here in the diplomatic circle that
these vast and populous provinces of the
south are not to pass Immediately under
direct control Of Europe and America as
dependencies of the nations; they are either
to- be erected into another Chinese empire
under a new dynasty or are to continue
their existence as independent nationalities,
the present viceroys, perhaps, becoming
petty kings and princes, of absolute power
within their own district. From one point
of view this system of native states is
viewed with favor, for it is believed that
the civilized powers can hold them in line
more easily than if they were combined
into one great nation.
The Anti-Foreign Feeling.
An evidence that the anti-foreign feeling
in China exhibited by the Boxers is not of
very recent origin is afforded by report
iAiluS " eAS SbatC Dcpeti ny hlHlSltT
Conger from the Chinese capital as far
back as October 1. 1898. On that date
street mob attacked a number of foreign
ers in Pekin. including the family of Bishop
Cranston. This led to the calling of ma
rine guards to Pekin by the various lega-
tons there. In his report to the State De-
partment Mr.. Conger said. in part:
AS this is the first time an attack of
this magnitude has occurred in Pekin, it
was at first thought to have been a spon-
taneous movement of the crowd, following
the lead Of some thoughtless loafer. and all
without any generalization.
But it was afterward learned that beside
the above mentioned attacks Zone on d
couple of Japanese students, another on an
English lady and gentleman and still an
other upon an English customs agent, on
the same day and in different parts of The
city, French priest was attacked, and a
Marquise Salvage. wife of the Italian
charge d'affairs. was jeered and insulted
while passing along the streets in her chair.
Then it was concluded that there must be
some new and general occasion for this I'M
expected outburst here against foreigners. =
A Chinese Prophecy.
Mr.. Conger reported in the same connec-
ton that the Chinese police were appealed
to in vain to stop these assaults. The tsung
| Ii yamen was also dilatory and tried to pre-
vent the coming to Pekin of the foreign
guards. Their prophecy of evil in that con-
nection was significant. Mr.. Conger quotes
from their note as follows:
Just now we have heard that all the for
eign ministers who reside at Pekin have
spoken of a project to call troops to Pekin
for the purpose OF guarding themselves.
If this is true, we believe the popular senti-
ment will be excited by 1t, and it will be
likely to produce new incidents"
1t appears from Mr.. Conger's report, how
ever. that the yamen finally yielded on that
point but only after 1t had been informed
| that the troops were to be brought with or
| without consent.