Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-03
ROCKHlLL on CHiaESe SITUATION.
Concerted Action OF Powers AbsoIuieI y Neces-
say Tor Effective Work

Copyright 1909 The Associated Press
Shanghai. Sept. 2.-Mr. VIM. Woodvllle
ltockhill, special commissioner OF the
| nited States government to investigate
ana report On conditions in China in An
interview with a representative Of The
Associated Press. empha sizing the impOr-
lance Of the harmonious action OF the
powers as p measure Of stlf-dtfencr. said !:
III the Chinese government Is able 70
break the concert Of nations and to hriul,
about a disagreement on the part Of any
government in Such a way az To secure
any relaxation " the joint demands an
the foreigners in China may as wen pack
up and leave. II is the very best oppor-
tunity to settle for all time the status of
foreigners in China. If that matter is not
settled now the Chinese will be-, rncour-
aged to persist in their present policy and
the powers Will have the whole trouble 10
threSh over again every TWO or three
years. ! believe that All the governments
are impressed with this truth ana | be
ASEe most OF them realize that a definite
ana prompt settlement of the status OF
foreigners ana the establishment Of free
dom Of trade are more important to them
now than the acquisition of territory
This has been deliberately MANNED
movement on the part Of the Chinese
government TO eXpel all foreigners. The
DEGREES printed in the Imperial Gazette
prove this. The movement has been prac-
uCJuE successful. since every foreigner
in the interior has been obliged TO Seek
refuge in the treaty ports. The imperial
government merely utilized the Boxers as
convenient accessories to its schemes
The relief of Pekin is merely an Incl
dent OF the crisis. The really important
work remains to be done. MARQUIS Ito
probably the best informed man alive ON
Eastern politics. said to me that the pres
ent was the greatest crisis in the history
Of China ana that all preceding Eastern
questions sank into insigniticance beside
IT, Are civilized nations to yield to the
Chinese conceit Of their own superior
ity?'
Nh Rockhill and other officials in
Shanghai like the public are utterly ig-
nOrant Of the course of diplomatic and
military events in Pckin. The consuls or
the various governments have sent fire.
quent kilograms to their respective min
listers but have been unable to get re-
messages are tempered with between
Shanghai and Che Foo.
The attitude of the southern ViCerovS IN
projecting foreigners commands conf
dence IN their good faith ana negotiations
VIII probably be conducted through them
lhere Is a financial panic in Chinese bust
ness circles here. Probably an important
FACTOR Is the money rate. which is now 70
per cent per month. The traders are try
ing to get the ear of the officials
Ii Hung Chang still remains in Shanc-
hai. lie is thoroughly discredited but is
intriguing to get the foreigners to quarrel
among themselves. Today he told Amer
lean and English diplomats that the Rus
slams had promised to Withdraw from Pc
KIN, regardless of the policy of other ma
tons. Ills statement is not believed on
the contrary ii is thought probable that
he is simultaneously assuring the Rus
slams that the Americans and British
have promised to withdraw.