The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-16
Empress Repression of Reform
ers Will Cause Complications.
May Encourage More Serious Anti
Foreign Demonstrations and n
General Renctfonary Tendency
The state Department Seriously
termination Reached to send n
Warshtp TO Chinese Ports where
Trouble Is the Worst, hut Not TO
Interfere In Her Internal Affairs.

SHANGHAI March i5-The American
Association here today telegraphed TO the
United States government that the atu-
tude OF the empress dowager toward the
reformers viii upset the open-door policy.
They also say rebellion and anarchy are
expected to the detrimcnt of foreign In
terests and advocate prompt concerted
action on the part OF the powers. The
The China Association will appeal to the
British minister on the same subject
statement Seriously Considered.
WASHINGTON, March i5.-The cable
gram from the American Association has
been received at the state department. 1t
has not yet been acted upon. but is un-
der serious consideration At first read
ing. II Is not clear Just what connection
exists between the attitude OF the Chinese
dowager empress toward the reform elc-
ment in China and the 'open-door'' pol
icy. in which the United States. with the
remainder OF the civilized world. is in
terested.
Persecution of Reformers.
1t is recalled. however. that the en-
press dowager Is prosecuting with relent-
less hatred the reform party. going so
far as to resort to the barbarous prac-
tice of Offering a large sum OF money
for the assassination OF leading reform
ers. This reform element in China Is
believed to include nearly ali OF the Chi
nese WHO are disposed to elevate China
into civilized nation, following In the
footsteps of Japan. They realize that
this can only be done with tho help of
| foreigners, and are therefore disposed TO
| the open door" as one OF the measures
| to iiberailze and enlightcn China through
| the introduction of foreign capital and
| foreign methods.
Fear of Antf-Foreign Sentiment.
II is assumed that the basis Of this
| representation from the American Asao-
| citation is an apprehension that the con-
servative party surrounding the empress
dowager. In satisfying their snimosity
| against the reformers, viii excite the dor
nant anti-foreisn feeling among the
| masses Of Chinese TO n degree that will
make the open door impossible OF at
tainment. II ia curious fact that our
minister to China. Mr.. Copger. has 40 far
| made no representations to the state de-
partment touching this subject He has
reported 20 tho department that serious
| attacks have been made upon the Ameri-
|
ers." powerful and numerous an,i-for-
eign league OF Chinese. 1t is this same
| organization which has attacked some OF
the French missionaries In that quarter
| ot China and has even carried opera
lions 10 the very doors Of kiaochao, the
| German holdings in North China
A warship WiIi ne sent.
Upon the minister's representation the
! state department has 1ecided that an
| American warship shall be Dispatched
| from the fleet st Manila 20 the nearest
| convenient port 70 tho seat 81 discorn,
! probably in this case Taku. AZ the mouth
/ of the Picho river. or weihsiwei II 4.
/ expected. however. that the Chinese gov
| eminent viii be able 20 repFess tho Boz
/ srs' without any action on tho part ~
/ the American w.rship. Is ia distinctly
/ understood that this little naval demon.
/ strNtion will have no connection with the
/ struggle now going on between the en-
4 presa dowaEeTs party and the refcrmers.
I fer this may be regarded a. a matter 81
/ purely Internal politics. with which our
/ government has No rixht % concern a.
4 self Il b. probable therefore that this
[ decision on ouT part Indicates the char
Z arter % ths response that viii ~ made
I By the department. q state 70 tho cable.