Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-22

Washington, Nov. 16-The criti-
cisms of this governments attitude in
China by the London press is said to
be due to the transformation which
has been cabled from this country to
London.
This government is not standing in
the way of an agreement among the
ministers at Pekin. Now. as in the
past six months the president has
been urging expedition in every ques-
ton touching China The state de-
partment has not held back Minister
Conger, but has urged him to facilitate
in ever way possible an agreement as
Our minister has time and again been
prompted by cable suggestion to try to
secure an early agreement among the
ministers and to raise no objection that
will prevent agreement or cause delay.
The president and his cabinet are fully
aware that the fast growing trade of
this country with China has been para
lyzed by the revolution in China and
that there can be no hope of it's revival
until the powers agree upon what shalt
be the settlement and proceed to nego-
tiate new treaty with China. 1t can
be said on authority that this govern
ment will not interfere with the nego-
tiations now proceeding in Pekin un-
less the European powers go so far as
to demand eXactions which will result
in what all the powers have openly
proclaimed their purpose not to do
This is the partition of China.
1t is suspected in high diplomatic
circles that England and Germany are
ready to bring about by indirect means
the partition of China, which they have
denied any intention or desire of en-
couraging. This government is will
ing to go as far as any other govern
ment in Furnishing those who are re
sponsible for the outrages in China,
but it will not go so far as to destroy
and divide the Chinese empire An ex-
cessive money indemnity-one that
China cannot possibly PAYS here re,
garded as only another way Of exact
ing territorial indemnity, and since
this government in the beginning de-
clared against such policy it will op-
pose it. In the same way the demand
for excessive punishment of high Chi,
nese officials is regarded as a means of
destroying the Chinese government
and continuing the revolution until the
powers will be justified in parceling
out the empire among themselves.
There are Chinese officials whose pun
ishment cannot be exacted of the en-
peror. To attempt it would mean the
overthrow of the dynasty and cause a
general revolution throughout China.
The report in the cable dispatches
from Pekin that the arsenals in the
Yangtse Kiang valley are turning out
great quantities of arms and ammuni-
ton are confirmed by the official re-
ports to this government. A high au-
thority said yesterday that this is not
only true, but these arsenals are turn
ing out as many arms as we are. They
are of the most modern invention and
the most effective weapons manufac-
tured anywhere. With modern arms
and ammunition enough to equip a
great army it is only question of time
when the Chinese will have the men
who know how to use them against
their own government should it at
tempt to punish all who have been in
volved in the anti-foreign movement,
or against the foreigners if they at
tempt to exact indemnity which cannot
be paid.
The president regards it as wiser
and safer to modify the exactions de-
manded of China to the ability Of
China to give these indemnities and in
punishment Of Chinese officials, rather
than make excessive demands and
drive China to fight for self-protection
and make the claim that patriotism de-
mands resistance to foreign aggres-
sion. With moderate demands it is
believed here that a new treaty can be
arranged with China which will guar
antee protection to foreigners and the
facilities of foreign governments to see
that this is done This government
desires to bring about these results
and will aid in every possible way ev
cry step to that end. But it will not
aid England and Germany to bring
about conditions which compel the dis
of China, nor will it re-
main inactive while these plans are put
in execution to enable the European
powers to hold their trade in the east
by dividing the old empire among
themselves, either as spheres of influ-
ence or as territories to be annexed.