New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
MISSIONARIES CRITICISE.
THEY HOLD A MEETING IN PEKINC AND
DISCUSS THE JOINT NOTE.
AN OFFENSIVE PANToMIME-PRoGREs OF
THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

AN OFFENSIVE observation-disclosures OF
THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
Pekng. Jan. 5-A meeting of the Protestant
missionaries held to-day consider the
terms of the joint note of the Powers to China
majority of the missionaries spoke on the
subject. The consensus of opinion that the
note is not comprehensive enough.
The Rev. Mr. Owens. of the American Board
of Foreign Missions, said he was opposed to ii
for three reasons-because it narrow. selfish
and careless. He added that it did not mention
the slaughter of Christians, but merely referred
TO the killing of Baron Ketteler. the German
Minister, and official of the Japanese Lega-
tion, Sugiyama Akira
The Rev. DR.. Tewksbury, of the American
Board Of Foreign Missions. said the note was
better than could be expected, considering who
prepared it. Still. it unsatisfactory.
The Rev. Mr.. Wherry % pointed out that the
note was not comprehensive enough.
the Rev. Mr.. Lowry CDr. H. H. Lowre. of the
Pao-Tng-Fu Mission?l thought it was only
preliminary note, and said the missionaries
should get together, the same as business men,
and press their demands upon the Ministers
when the time came for making the treaties
The Rev. Mr. Upcraft said he thought that the
mention of Christianity in the note would have
been mistake, as it might have prevented it's
adoption by japan. the latter being a heathen
country. and also might have prevented its adop-
tion by the Catholic countries, the latter being
opposed TO Protestantism.
The Rev. Mr.. Lowry's proposition that the
missionaries should adopt programme and en-
deavor TO get their respective Ministers 10
it inserted in the treaties agreed TO.
Finally, two representatives of each mission
were appointed a committee to formulate the
views of those who took part in the meeting
The British Foreign Office notified General
Gaselee to-day that an American correspondent
had stated that British pantomne which had
been running in Peking caricatured the Empress
Dowager and was exceedingly offensive 10 the
Chinese. and that il this statement was true
the performance must cease. The pantomme,
which for three days in the Christmas
week, is said TO have been harmless and 10
contain nothing that would hurt the sensb-
ties OF the most sensitive. II made UP OF
purely local skits regarding loot and the pro-
pensties of the allies. II was named Aladdin.
or The Looted Lamp" 1t very funny. and
pleased everybody. The proceeds were divided
equally between the American and British mis-
sions.
The British authorities here surprised that
any one could have found cause for offence IN
the performance. The British desire to state
that il was not their intention to offend sny one.
do they believe that the performance could
be construed as offensive.
The preliminary joint note will probably not
be signed before Sunday, everything will
proba bly, rot be ready before that Gay. Pr1nce
Ching says the Chinese plenipotenciaries are
prepared TO sign a the agreement IS be-
fore them. He does not believe the reports that
are prevalent in Peking that Southern China "a
antagonistic 10 the present dynasty ard viii
endeavor TO formulate a revolution, acting with
the Boxers, soon the foreign troops leave
China. He says the regular troops of the
Chinese army could easily quell such insur-
rection. When asked why the Chinese troops
could not quell the Boxer uprising. Prince Ching
said that the situation different; that the
Boxers in Pe-Chi-Li Province had practically
acquired the allegiance Of majority of the
populace, which not the case South
China, the inhabitants there being amena BILE 10
law, order and discipline. He added tnat the
lesson learned there would be sufficient TO deter
a majority Of those who wavsrng in their
allegiance to the dynasty. He believed that the
future OF China would be peaceful.
Letters We're received yesterday bearing date
wondering why the mail service has improved so
greatly since the Japanese took charge or Amer
lean interests in China. As consequence OF
this Improvement every one is again praising
Japanese methods. and IL is generally admitted
that the japanese have done more than all the
other foreign troops and have asked less than
all the other Powers put together
Baron Nissi. the Jaranese Minister. leaves
here tomorrow, the new japanese Minister. NJ.
Jutaro Komura, having arrived here from ST.
Petersburg. NJ. Komura was formerly jap
anese Minister at Washington. from which city
he was transferred TO ST. Petersburg in 1900.