The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-28
FRANCE AND RUSSIA
FORMER BECOMES JEALOUS OF RUS
SlA'S LEANING TOWARD GERMANY
ANOTHER SOURCE OF DISCORD
Between Three OF the Powers Con-
cerned In the Settlement of the AZ
fafrs In China-France Thinks Russia
Is Sacrificing Her Friendship In
Order to Make Closer Erie .ldship
With Germany France I'm Accord
With the Position Taken by the
United States.

copyrighted by Associated Press.)
Paris, August 25.-The viceroys of
the various provinces of China may be
convoked to choose some one Of
weight in the empire to deal with the
powers in establishing such a govern
ment as will assure the fulfillment of
Whatever terms the poweers shall die
tate in settlement of their claims aris-
ing out of the recent outrages, and one
VINO Will give satisfactory guarantee
of complete change of Chinese policy
towards the outside world. Such a So
luton has been suggested in diplomatic
circles. but, with most of the corps abb
sent on vacation and President Lou
bet and NJ. del Case, minister of for
e1gn affairs. out of town, the idea has
not assumed crystalized form. Hope
still exists that a strong central power
will be found in Pekin which will con-
sutute the best guarantee for the fu-
ture, the best means of securing repair
atIon OR the wrongs suffered by Euro
peanS and the best safeguard against
division among the powers themselves.
NOW that the allied forces have entered
the forbidden city, the necessity for
maintenance of concord among the
powers is most pressing. Yet fears are
increasing that the strain of conflict
ing interests and ambitions may cause
q cleavage among the nations inter-
ested. This danger has been demon
strated already by the Individual ac-
t1on OF Russia in seiZing the present
opportunity to extend her frontier into
Manchuria and the recent incident re-
garding the landing of British troops
q INC r1oi l.1
ment is forthcoming as to the position
or France, in the absence from Paris
OF those in control of her foreign poll
cy, the following, emanating from an
on1c1al associated with the French
government, expresses the view of the
foreign office at the present juncture:
we have no revenge to seek in
China and we have no intention to de-
mand such recompenses in the shane
OF 1ndemnitieS as will create resent
| ment against foreigners. Our policy
Will be one of liberal education, an ef-
fort to teach this great mass Of people
to trust and regard Europeans favor
able. In the end this may result in the
advancement of civilization for the one
and commercial prosperity for the
others. Those who think that a
change Of government will change the
| character of the Chinese people have
not broad understanding Of the deep
| In them. To make a radical upheaval
OF their form of government just at
this time would do more harm than
good. We shall attempt to find per-
sons of liberal ideas toward foreigners,
who will assume the reinS of govern.
ment. Our position follows the iden.
| tical lines of the United States in near
ly every instance. Commercially we
wish the broadest international con-
struction to be placed upon foreign
privileges, and it is a fact that had
not your country declared an "open
| door at the time it did France herself
would have done so. The reply made
| by the United States to Earl Ii Hung
Chang's request for the appointment
| OF an emissary to act with a view to
| a settlement and the establishment of
peace receives general approval here.
France will take a similar position, for
we must be assured that we are nego-
tiat1ng with a concrete body and not
| with a shadow. While we have spe
| cial commercial interests in Yum Nan
| and SEE Chuen our desire to develop
| that region would be defeated should
| we act on narrow, selfish ideas there
The small anti-governmental papers
are still barking over Field Marshal
| Count Won Waldersee's acceptance OF
the chief command Of the allied forces
in China and the sincerity of Russia s
friendship is impugned, as these papers
say it was Russia that suggested Count
| Won Walderee as the commander-in-
| chief.
Mr.. Paul de Cassagnac, editor OF
L'Autorite writes: Il fear a Russian
| alliance will lose prestige and popu1ari-
ty after such an act. Russia sacrifices
| France to Germany. She needs tc
| Improve her relations with Germany
and uses us as a pledge of her sincerf.
| ty.'