The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-20
THE PARTITION OF CHINA
THE COMBINATION OF vICEROYs
AGAINST TUAN.
The Southern Portion May be Separat-
ed From the Northern-Country
May be Erected Into a New Empire

WASHINGTON, July 1O.-Mr. WI,
the Chinese Minister here, is in constant
correspondence by cable with the vice
roys of the great southern provinces of
China. The substances of some of
known to the State Department. others
have been altogether withheld. 1t is
not known positively whether or not
the minister has the means of commun-
icating with Peking; if so the channel
must be tOrtuOus and involve the use
of one of the viceroys as an intarme-
diary.
There is also correspondence in pro-
greSs between the various Chinese min
lister in Europe and between the min
lister at London and the minister at
Washington.
Viewed in combination, these facts
taken in connection with the apparent
ly genuine concern expressed by the
Chinese minister for the safety of the
foreign ministers at Peking, and their
strenuous urging of Lii Hung Changs
request that neutrality be observed by
the powers toward the southern Chi
nese provinces, are regarded in diplo-
matte circles here as pointing to the
development of a combination on a
large scale of the great viceroys and
the ministers against Prince Tuan and
his Boxer adherents in Picking, 1t is
realized that Tuan himself will not idly
submit to the disregard of his officers
by any single viceroy. If they are to
follow their own. judgment and keep
aloOf from his fortunes they can do so
only by combining their forces to re-
sSt him.
The impression is growing here that,
no matter what happens at Picking, the
division of China is already an accom-
plished 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, has forever parted
from northern China. But, contrary to
the common expectation, it is now
maintained here in the diplomatic cir
Giles that these vast and pOpulous pro-
vinces of the south are not to pass inn
mediately under direct control of Eu-
rope and America as dependencies of
the nations; they are either to be cree
ted 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 ma
tive 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
An evidence that the anti-foreign
feeling in China exhibited by the Box
ers is not of very recent origin is af-
fordcd by a report made to the State
Department by Ministers Conger from
the Chinese capital as far back as Oc-
tober l. 1893. On that date a street
mob attacked number of foreign
ers in Picking, including the family of
Bishop Cranston. This led to the call
ing of marine guards to Picking by the
various legations here. In his report
to the State Department Mr.. Conger
said, in part:
LAS this is the first time, an attack
of this magnitude has occurred in Pc
king, it was at first thought to have
been a spontaneous 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 a couple of Japanese students,
another on an English lady and gem
tlcman and still another upon an Eng
lish customs AGENT, on the same day
and in different parts of the city. a
French priest was attacked, and a
Marquise Salvage, wife of the Italian
charge daffairs, was jeered and in
suited while passing along the streets
in her chair. Then it was concluded
that there must be some new and gen
eral occasion for this unexpected out
burst here against foreigners"