The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-20
GOODNOW WINS
HIGHEST PRAISE
Shanghai Papers Credit Him with
Having Averted a Great
| ~. Calamity.

Another and perhaps a better view
waged in Shanghai over the retention
OF Consul General John Goodnow, for
merly Of Minneapolis, has been fur
nished. his Minneapolis friends by
Shanghai papers. In their account Of
matters going forward at the Chinese
of savior Of Shanghai instead of a
man dangerous to the ports CONNER
cial interests and moral Tone So
Instead OF acting as an agent Of the
Standard Oil company, in suggesting
that the United States destroyer Chaun-
cey be anchored off the Standard Oil
company's plant when there was pros
Pect that the Japanese warships would
ire on! the imprisoned Russian refu-
! saved Shanghai from a most disastrous
| confagration,L one which would have
| wiped out its entire water front.
| Whatever may be the opinion Of a
certain portion of the foreign colony
in MS Shanghai the local papergg-espe-
seem to feel at liberty to express their
| appreciation of the United States con-
sui general. The Times of Aug. 26
says: 10
50 Shanghai has escaped from dan
ger more horrible than the majority of
her citizens imagined. Had the en-
passe resulted in warlike operations,
suffered, but the shock of cannonading,
| in close proximity, would undoubtedly
have caused the bursting Of the huge
iron cases in which are stored many
thousands Of gallons of oil, the prop
erty of the Standard Oil company, in
Pootung. ".T 49, - 49,
A Real Danger Avoided. =
"Let the imagination run riot, it
cannot exceed the actual accomplish
ment of several thousands Of gallons Of
burning petroleum let loose on the sur
face Of the Whangpoo, when the food
only recollect the disaster at Batoum,
vastly intensified as it was in Shang-
that flaming kerosene in tidal river
is not despicable menace to their
| safety zs'-.' '~%@.>5. .a.. l.. ~
s"The story goes that the destroyer
Chauncey anchored off the Standard Oil
company's premises to prevent, if pos
sible, any such terrible disaster as
might M t. have "a; eventuated from the firing
in q position to warn a sleeping town
Of it's danger. Besides this precaution-
airy measure the vigilance of others has
contributed greatly to the safety of
our settlements and chiefest amongst
these has undoubtedly been Mr.. Good;
States, poyea Of the co consular body 1' in
Shanghai. In the latter position has
the greatest call been made upon his
! iudicious handling of delicate situa-
ton. By thoughtful tact he has led
his. confreres to maintain the pacific
the presence Of both the Japanese and
Russian representatives at the meeting
Of the consular body, to receive the
tao-tai's appeal for relief, the posi-.
bility Of misunderstanding was avoided
and the opportunity Of an expression of
view, before their colleagues, was thus
OPPORTUNITY offered to the representa-.
tives Of the belligerents.
Diplomatic Master Stroke. -
"These views were. expounded and
a master stroke of diplomacy on the
part Of Consul General Goodnow was
thus gratifed with complete success
from which the settlement Of the AS.
! kold- Grozovoi question became an &C.
complished fact and the credit should
be given to the organizer Of a situation
which has proved so fruitful Of good to
the world II II general and to Shanghai in
In speaking Of the happy manner il
which the threatening Askold incident
was disposed Of, the Shanghai Mercury
Of Aug. 25 says:
con Mr.. Goodnow, as senior consul
fell the heat and burden Of the day
and it is largely owing to his urbanity
and unfailing tact that the delicate
negotiations have been carried thr,
successfully. Not only had Mr.. Good
now to mediate between the opposing
! Japanese and Russian interests, but b,
had to keep the slippery Chinese off
4 Gals, who would have been only to,
/ glad to wash their hands Of the who'll
|affair, up to the scratch. That tn
Neutrality Of Shanghai has been pre-
Iserved, and no foreign interests in
Iiured as the result Of the conversion
i of Shanghai into a port Of refuge, i
chiefly owing to Mr.. Goodnow's skilfu
/ diplomacy -
A Petitioner Explains.
1 Something Of interest to Mr.. Good
now IS friends who have read the lates
|petition adverse to Mr.. Goodnow il
Ifound in q letter to the North Chins
News from John P. Roberts, marine sur
lveyor for various insurance association
doing business in the port. In thi
Iletter Mr.. Roberts says that he signed
i the petition upon the express under
standing that it was not to be published
that a misprint made it appear thai
tall the insurance companies for whom