The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1900-07-28
!!MR ROCKH|u'S 5 MISSION.
The Presidents Special Commits
sioner to Study Existing Con-
ditions in China.
He WILL SAIL ON THE AMERICANA
The Task In One that May Involve
Personal Peril. But the Under-
taking is Regarded as Necessary-
Germany and Great Britain Doing.
Likewise.


hill, who has been selected as special.
commissioner fy the president to go to-
China, returned to Washington from
Block Island, and began Immediately
preparing for his long journey. He,
las decided to take Mrs. Rcckhill with
him. and sail from San Francisco on
the America-Maru cf the japanese
line. He will leave Mrs. Rockhill at
Yokohama or Nagasaki. while he goes
to Shanghai. At that point he will de-
tcr'nine in which direction to proceed.
Difficult Task.
Mr.. Rockhill does lot underestimate
The task before him. He is tC act as
the eye and ears of the administration
in CT ina, to make careful inquiry into
the existing conditions, 10 learn the
exact causes of the present uprising,
and report the facts directly to the.
president for lis guidance in the ul--
timate settlement, and in framing his
policy for the future. This task will
involve a large aricunt of travel in
China. Mr.. Rockhill is of opinion that
it will not be sufficient to merely look
into conditions in Shan Tung province
and perhaps i'll Pekin-if he can OBJ.
tain access TO that capital.
Must Visit Other Provinces.
He also must visit other provinces s;
nnd cities where there is disquiet and
langer to foreign interest, and this,
will be fraught with perhaps some per-
sonal risk. I:ut it is regarded as a
nect ssary undertaking if the president
is to be put into possession of a co1n-
prrhensive understanding of Chinese
conditions.
Mr.. Rockkilrs Status.
It is expressly stated that Mr. Rock
hill is going to China simply as an
observer for the president. This is
technically true, but it also may be.
stated that he will be intrustcd with
full diplomatic pcwers, later on. if it
seems eNpedie mt and in tie interest of
an early settlement of the Chinese
problem to have, directly on the field,
an authorized agent of the United
States government. 1t is even proba-
ble that he will be the next United
States minister to Pekin, if Mr.. Con-
ger has perished.
Germany Doing Likewise.
II is gathered here that the German
government has done something of the
same kind, and although the assur-
ances of the death OF the German min
Ister to P,kin. Baron Won KetteIer,
are as strong as to leave no doubt of
the fact Of his death. yet it is under
stood that the credentials of Baron
Mumm Won Schwartzenburg. now on
his way to Tic1 Ism. are as vet only
those of & diplomatic agent of the
German government. making his posi-
ton thus correspond closely 10 tIaat OF
Mr.. Rockhill.
Britnin Takes Similar Action.
II is also noted that the British gov
ernment has taken similar action in
dispatching to China Sir Walter Hill
yer. He is well known to Mr.. Rock.
hill, having been British consul at a
Chinese port during the presence of
The American commissioner at Pekin
as secretary of the legation.
There is reason to believe that the
other European powers having direct
interests in China will follow these ex-
amples and thus it may happen that
the international commission idea.
originally contemplated by the United
States as means of settlement of the
Chinese trouble, may take a form ac-
cepta Bile to all concerned.