The San Francisco call., 1904-03-17
" Yellow Peril " Is
Alarming This
Government.
Trouble May Fol-
low Arming of
MongoIs.
Special Dispatch to The CAN.

CALL BUREAU, HOTEL BARTON,
WASHINGTON. March 1S.-This Cow
ernment was brought close to a realiza-
ton of the yellow peril to-day by Of
fetal information that China is pur-
chasing vast quantities Of modern fire.
arms. The fear was expressed In many
quarters that once the Chinese have
modern breech-loading rifles in their
hands they viii realize the immense
power Of their 4OO.OOO,OOO population
and will give rein to their natural
hatred Of foreigners.
The Information. which caused the
State Department officials more uneasi-
ness than they would admit, was con-
tained in report to the Department
OF Commerce and Labor from B. H.
Warner. United States Consul at Leip-
zig, Germany. which says:
The Waffenfabrik at Steyr, Austria,
has just received an order through
Berlin house for a large number OF
small arms for the Chinese Govern
ment. Such a quantity of rifles has
been ordered that II will take the Steyr
factory several years to fill the same.
even with the additional force of men
ment."
The plenipotentiaries of the powers
at Peking following the Boxer outbreak
insisted upon the insertion in the pro-
tocol signed on September Z. 1901. OF
this provision:
China has agreed to prohibit the i'm
portation into its territory of arms and
ammunition, as well as of materials
exclusively used for the manufacture
Of arms and ammunition"
PROHIBITION HAS LAPSED.
The prohibition vas. however. limited
to two years from August %. 1901.
The period was not extended, al
though the Russian Government, which
had held that the period Of prohibition
should be ten years. addressed -prac-
tically all Of the powers on the danger
OF permitting unrestrained Importation
of arms to China. These representa-
tions met with indifference from prac-
tically all of the powers, including the
United States. Congressional action
would have been necessary for this
Governments action. Secretary Hay
was disinclined to recommend il, even
though urged to do so many times by
Count CdSSitiS lhc ANuSSldA AAuoc'S-
sador.
The protocol provides for a renewal
of the period of prohibition two years
at time in case Of a necessity recog-
nized by the powers. Action to this
end may now be taken by the powers.
The Steyr factory is probably the
largest small arms factory in the
world. 1t has built guns for nearly
every nation of Europe. 1t supplied
the German army with the service rife,
which is considered a highly effective
military weapon.
ENDANGERS NEUTRALITY.
An order which will tax the capacity
of the Steyr factory evidently means
many hundreds of thousands of guns.
1t is feared that the acquisition OF mod
ern arms by the Chinese army will lead
to a greater strain upon the Empress
Dowager's desire to maintain the neu-
trality bespoken by Secretary Hay.
The State Department is willing u
give considerable time and probably
approval to any suggestions coming
from Minister Conger or United States
Consul Miller at Newchwang respect
ing the detention of the United States
gunboat Helena at that place, provided
it is made to appear that by remaining
the ship can give necessary protection
To American lives and property there
Otherwise the State Department will
make no request to have the Navy De-
partment's instructions TO withdraw
the ship repealed.