Evening star., 1901-01-22
CHINA HAS CLAIMS
Yang Szu Declares His People Have
- Lost More Than the Allies.
LAUGHS At KEEPING PROMISES
Says His Own Country and Russia
Alone Will Reap Benefits.
PLEDGES THAT WE'RE BROKE
Copyright, 1901

Copyright, 1901
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PEKIN, December 1, 1900.
Yang Szu, my ancient yellow banker
friend, who has given me so much to think
about in connection with Chinas great
problems, has been talking to me again
Now, when l interview Yang Szu, or when
he interviews met is not quite clear which
forces the other to do the most talking
am very apt to come away with the con-
viction that have failed to make any i'm
preston this sage old heather, and
that, on the contrary, he has succeeded in
making out my white people to be in the
wrong at all points.
1t was after o'clock in the afternoon
when I reached the building in the south
ern city of Pekin that serves Yang both
as dwelling and banking establishment. AS
is usually the case with him at this time
of the day, he was seated in his back room
slipping tea between short smokes of his
six-whiff pipe.
AS 1 passed through the front room, now
closed to business, and stepped through the
door into the rear room, the old man
caught sight of me. Had l been the en-
peror himself he could not have shown me
greater honor, save to throw himself upon
his face-and, indeed, his attitude limited that
that added humiliation was avoided only be-
cause 1t would be unnecessary and gro
tesque. Yet 1 was no more important
parsonage than an American correspondent
who had often bothered him in the past.
AS he rose and bowed, Yang SZu thrust
upon tabourette near his chair a book
that he had been reading at the moment
of my arrival. 1t was, as 1 perceived, by a
'China's Only Hope" This augured badly
for my mission, since Chang is, without
doubt, the Chinaman who is, beyond Ii
Hung Chang, best Informed on questions
relating to China and the outside world.
Yang Szu's second bow, and his gesture
waving me to a chair, were perfect be-
yond cavil.
My good friend" began, as 1 dropped
into a seat Of teakwood, Il have come to
ask you for some information.
"Ah! Yes?" he answered, in tone that
intimated that this was the first time had
approached him bent on any such mission"
Yes; 1 am puzzled
Then | shall be glad to help you, Ah
Selwyn. 1 bowed my thanks. half rising
to accomplish the feat"
sinuatingly.
Il will be frank with you, All Yang"
you will then make me your debtor"
he responded. ASK me what you will"
You have heard that the powers will
ask indemnities for what has happened
here in China?"
Yang>Szu raised his scant eyebrows
"Indemnities? You mean damages? What
have the powers suffered as compared with
what China has undergone?"
1t was my turn to take the offensive.
What have we suffered?' / repeated.
"That is what l asked" the old banker
made answer.
''You had better ask what we have not
suffered l retorted, with all the indigna
ton could assume
What are your wrongs?" Queried Yang
Szu. clapping his hands to summon the
lilo -hp ffIyh frpS faa
tobacco and pipe.
1.-THE allies have lost hundreds Of men,"
And we have lost thousands Of our peo-
Pile"
1.-The foreign nations have had property
destroyed"
1--WE Chinese have suffered a hundred yen
Of loss for every yen that your people have
missed
sending armies here"
I'VE did not ask you to meet that ex-
pense
"Your Boxers have killed Chinese con-
verts"
''They were our own neighbors-surely
they belonged to u.s..
There was nothing offensive about either
the manner or tone Of Yang Szu. On the
contrary, he was courteous as it is
possible for an oriental to be-and that
means far more than we of the west are
able to conceive-but the nature Of the re-
ply made me indignant.
ing as slowly and cautiously as l could for
1t would never do to give way to anger be-
fore this peachable oriental. You do
not understand, my friend The Chinese
who become converted to our Christian
faith pass under the protection of the al
lies-whenever there is any trouble in the
way Of riot and international murder
Warned His People to he Wary.
Yang Szu's eyes cleaned, though ever so
little. He filled his cup with tea from the
cosy" alongside ere he replied:
80? Then that is why you foreign devils
try to convert our people to Christianity.
Ii is because you mean to annex your con-
verts to your various flags? l have always
told my people that they should be wary
about adopting your faith"
"Then you think, my friend. that we have
no right to preach our religion among your
people?''
the banker, who, in his way. is far more
willy than Ii Hung Chang. IF you claim
that every native Christian is one of your
own people, and must come under the pro-
lection Of your flag and that Of Europe,
what becomes Of China? Suppose that you
every Chinaman? Our people would then
become your people, would they not? Then
what would become Of Gilman
This was getting at too close quarters.
I took sip Of tea, smoked ref1ectiyely Of
the tobacco provided by my host, and then
said, slowly:
dodge the question as you will, my
friend, you cannot avoid the fact that Eu-
rope and America have suffered grievously
at your hands. We have lost lives for
which the ransoms Of kings cannot pay;
the nations of the world have spent sums
on military expeditions that will require
millions in indemnity from your people;
your Boxers have ruined property for which
many millions Of taels are needed in pay
ment Europe and America will demand
vast sums in payment. How are you Chi
nese going to meet us?''
For little while 1 thought had the old
chap where he could not answer me. Smok-
ing slowly, twice emptying and refilling his
pipe, Yang Szu thought over the question.
In the meantime downed two cups Of tea,
inwardly chuckling over the predicament
into which l had led this willy old China
man, who had seen the world, since he has
been as far as Shanghai, and even to Hong
Kong.
How will you meet the demands for the
losses Of the foreigners?" l insisted.
Claims Allies Violated Treaties.
I'VE will meet your demands with the
claims of China" the old banker made re-
| sponse. you foreigners talk about what
| you have lost. Well, does 1t amount to any
thing? Your foreign devil soldiers have ex-
| terminated whole towns in China, you have
looted our stores, maltreated our women