The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-15
WILL SHUT THE DOOR.
Empress DOWager of China Up
sets McKinley's Plans.

Shanghai, March 15.-The American
association mere telegraphed to the U.
S. government today that the attitude
of the Empress Dowager towards the
reformers will upset the open door,
policy. They also say rebellion and
anarchy are expected, to the detriment
of foreign interests and advocate prompt
concerted action on the part of the
powers.
The China association will appeal to
the British minister, Sir Claude NJ.
Macdonald, on the same subject.
A SERIOUS NATTER.
Washington, March 15-The cable
gram from the American association
has been received at the state depart
ment. 1t has not yet been acted upon,
but is under serious consideration. At
first reading it is not clear just what
connection exists between the attitude
of the Chinese empress dowager towards
the reformers in China, and the open
door, policy in which the United States
with the remainder of the civilized
world is interested. It is recalled, how
ever, that the empress dowager is perse-
cutting with relentless hatred the reform
party, going so far as to resort to the
barbarOus practice of Offering a large
sum of money for the assassination of
leading reformers. This reform ele-
ment in China is believed to include
nearly all of the Chinese who are dis
posed to elevate China into a civilized
1cllAOl4I IOtiOWlLS III lf16 1OOISIepS Oh
Japan. They realize that this can only
be done with the help of foreigners, and
are therefore disposed to the "open
door" as one ofthe measures to Hberalize
and enlighten China through the in
PRODUCTION of foreign capital and foreign
methods.
It is assumed that the basis of this
representation from the American as
sociation is an apprehension that the
Conservative party surrounding the en-
press dOWager in satisfying their ami
mostly against the reformers, will ex-
cite the dormant anti-foreign feeling
among the masses OF Chinese to a de-
gree that will make the open door"
impossible of attainment.
1t is a curious fact that our minister
TO China, Mr. Conger, has so far made
no representations to the state depart
ment touching this subject. He has re-
ported to the department that serious
attacks have been made upon the
American missions in Shan-Tung by the
Boxers" a powerful and numerous
anti-foreign league of Chinese. It is
this same organization which has at
tackled some of the French missionaries
in that quarter of China and has even
carried their operation to the very doors
of KiaO-Chau, the German holdings in
North China.
Upon the minister's representation
the state department has decided that
an American warship shall be dispatch
ed from the fleet at Manila to the near
est convenient port to the seat of dis
cord, probably in this case Taku, at the
mouth of the PiehO river, or Wei-Hai-
Wei. It is expected, however, that the
Chinese government will be able to re-
press the boxers" without any action
on the part of the American WarShip.
1t is distinctly understood that this lit
tie naval demonstration will have no
connection with the struggle now going
on between the empress dowageI%S par
ty and the reformers.
1t is probable that this decision on our
party indicates the character of the re-
sponse that will be made by the de-
partment of state to the cablegram from
the American association.