The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-23
CHINESE BOYCOTT IS GRAVER,
AGITATION AGAINST OUR GOODS
SPREADS THROUGHOUT EAST,

Merchants At Singapore Follow Lead Of
Shanghai--President Sends Assur.
anoes That He'll Endeavor to Have
Congress Modify tho Exclusion Laws.
WASHINGTON; June 22.-Advices to the
State Department. show that the agitation
in China against American trade on account
OF the rigid enforcement Of tho Chinese
Exclusion law by this Government has
reached a serious phase. In fact, officials
now openly admit that the danger to the
commercial relations between this country
and China has become . question OF imme-
date concern and must be adjusted prompt
ly to prevent q considerable money loss to
American manufacturers, shippers and
carriers.
The agitation threatens to be widespread.
According to cable message which came
to the State Department to-day, it has
spread to the Straits Settlements, where
the Chinese control much of the trade. The
message was sent oy the United States
Consul-General at Singapore, who said
that the Chinese merchants there had
Endorsed the action Of the commercial
to boycott American goods.
While the loss Of the Straits Settlements
trade would be slight compared with the
trade with China itself, the course Of the
Singapore Chinese ia significant Of the
feeling that prevails in that part Of the
ment should spread among the Chinese
throughout the East Indies, as it doubtless
will. there would be q serious curtaiment
Of the commerce between American ports
and that part of the world.
Last year the value Of American domestic
IN ba ct Ipli Tod 20
9,3ooole OF course, only portion of the
products represented by these figures were
purhased by Chinese, but the Chinese in
spectors and merchants Of the East Indies
WELD a considerable influence, and it Ia
feared here that an effort on their part
effect in other than Chinese business circles.
President Roosevelt has shown on several
recent occasions that he Is heartily in favor
OF an abridgment of the harsh features OF
the exclusion law and his views were voiced
IS to the Miami University students at
Oxford. Ohio. In which he declared that
we cannot escape the charge OF having
broken Chinese treaty rights by our legis-
lation,' and laid the blame to certain
Of California and other Coast States
1t was learned to-day that the President,
realizing the importance Of the situation,
had sent assuran ces to the Chinese Govern
ment that he would do his utmost to have
Congress modify the exclusion law. But
Congress will not meet for many months
and will hardly be able to give attention to
the matter until the beginning OF the new
year, and in the meantime the boycott
idea is growing in China and other parts OF
Asia.
The Government Ia doing what 1t can 70
overcome the feeling In China by directing
that the law shall not be enforced with the
unnecessary harshness that has given rise
to serious complaints on the part Of Chinese
officials, students and others Of the edu-
Gated classes, and 1t is hoped by the Ad-
ministration that this course. and the as
surances which have been conveyed to the
Chinese Government. will have some effect
in staying the resentment of the trade
classes OF the Flowery Kingdom.
ANTI-AMERIcAN DEMONSTRATIONS CHECKED.
TIENTsIN, June 22.-yiceroy Yuan-Shih-
kai has prohibited further meetings of
students in connection with the boycott
against American manufactures. He has
also issued a proclamation censuring the
boycotting merchants for interfering in
the affairs Of the Government.
SINGAPORE. June 22.-The Cantonese
merchants here have adopted the boycott
against American goods and products
which was inaug,Tated by the merchants
OF Shanghai on May 10 as a means of forcing
the American Government to modify the
terms Of the Chinese Exclusion law