Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-20
DIPLOMATS APPROVE
Stand Regarding Protection
of Americans.
USE OF WAR VESSELS
WILL BE EMPLOYED TO SAFE
GUARD OUR PEOPLE ABROAD.
Position Taken by Admiral Evans In
Opposition to the Chinese Sus-
tanned by Secretary Hay.

China has been formally advised that the
United States go yernment claims the right
to dispatch warships not only to those
Chinese ports declared by treaty to be open
to the world, but also upon the inland
waters of China wherever Americans may
be and where by treaty with China they
are authorized to engage in business or
reside for the purpose of spreading the
gospel"
The State Department has published the
CORES pondence on this subject between Mr..
Conger, the United States minister at
Peking, and Rear Admiral Robley u.
Evans, late commander-in-chief of the
Asiatic station, which followed protest
of the Chinese government against the
visit of the gunboat villalobos last sum-
mer in the Yangste valley, whether she
was ordered to gather such information
about the Americans residing there as
would be of assistance in rendering them
prompt assistance in case Of an expected
native outbreak against foreigners.
Approved by Diplomats.
The announcement that this government
will insist on the right to dispatch war
ships not only to Chinese ports declared
open to treaty but to any ports where
Americans are permitted to reside, has met
with frank approval among European dip
lon,ats at Washington.
1.-The principle laid down by Admiral
Evans and approved by Secretary Hay is
absolutely sound" said today European
Ambassador, who has spent large part OF
his career in China. This principle is held
by all the European powers, and If 1t were
not insisted upon the lives of foreigners in
China would be constantly menaced
II know that Poyang district and 1 have
not doubt that the visits of the Villalobos
to that section have had very sanitary
effect upon the natives. .
The taotai of Kiukiang protested to the
American consul at Hankow against the
visit of the Villalobos to Nanchang on the
ground that bad men lnhaDlted that sec
ton and he declared that the viceroy hao
informed all the foreign consuls at Shang.
hal to instruct their captains not to visit
Poyang lake except on most important
business.
Admiral Evans Stirring Orders.
Considerable correspondence took place
between Minister Conger and Admiral
Evans. which resulted in Admiral Evans
sending the following instructions to the
commanding officer of the Villalobos:
"You will, if occasion offers, inform the
taotai who wrote the letter protesting to
the consul general against your vessel that
his objections will not receive your con-
sideration, and that if he thinks the people
of the Poyang district are bad men such
a reason is the greater cause for more fire.
quent visits, and. more careful inspections
of our interests by our armed vessels, and
that these visits will be continued in the
future as in the past. You are also author
lied to inform the taotai, should occasion
Offer, and any other Chinese officials who
may raise objections of this character, that
our gunboats are always amply provided
for dealing with bad men, and that should
there be any indication to pay other than
proper respect to American life and prop
erty on the part of these men, they will be
dealt with Immediately, and that the gun
boats will without further instructions adj
minister severe and lasting punishment
1T is expected that the taotai and other
officials OF China will suppress all disorder
and give ample protection to the lives and
property Of Americans, but if these officials
fail to 90 so the ques lion of adequate and
proper pI otection will be taken in hand by
our gunboats. In order to satisfy ourselves
that the various local officials are properly
afford;nfy protection, Our gunboats will con-
tinue to navigate the Poyang lake and the
various other inland waters of China where
ever Americans may be and where by treaty
with China they are authorized to engage in
business reside for the purpose of spread
ing the gospel"
1t WAS later learned that the Chinese Off
cials at Nanchang failed to call on the COM
mander of the VilaloDos when his ship Wis
tied that port.
Admiral Evans Sustained.