Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-31

ilzation. Mr.. Davidson to keep employed
studied I he Island Of Formosa and its in
habitants thoroughly and. reducing his
observations to writing, produced a book
of exceeding interest which has come to be
regarded as the standard work on FormoSa
Just before the Russo-Japancse wa began.
when the State Department was still striv-
ing automatically to maintain tAe opel uoor
in Manchuria, Mr.. Davidson was selected
to establish a consulate at Antung.
Selection of Antung.
During the preceding summer he had
spent four months of his vacation in the
interior of Manchuria, and it was really in
some measure by his suggestion that the
State Department selected the hitherto un-
known to the world little river port of An
tung. on the Yalu river, as likely spot
for consulate. Mr.. Edwin Morgan, at
present minister to Korea, was originally
selected for the Antung consulate, Mr.. Da-
wilson himself being assigned to the con-
sulate at Dalny, but between them they ar
ranged an exchange.
At the same time Mr.. Cheshire, who had
been attached to the United States legation
It Peking for many years. was slated for
the consulate at Mukden, and it so happens
that he has just received from the Chinese
government his eXequatur, and will soon
depart from Washington for his post.
Shut Out by Hostilities.
But by the time Messrs. Cheshire. Nor
gan and Davidson were reAdy to report for
duty at their new posts the open door was
sharply Slammed in their faces. Russia was
in complete possession of Manchuria, and
not only declined to recognize the right of
these American consuls to exercise their
functions under Chinese exequaturs, but
fatty refused to give them Russian cre-
dentlals.
So all through the war the posts at Dalny,
Mukden and Antung remained vacant, or
rather could not be established The State
Department did not care to lose the ser
vices of such men these, however, and
found temporary occupations for them In
China. Mr.. Morgan, after some expert
ence in the American consulate in China,
finally became L. S. minister to Korea.
Mr.. Cheshire was employed at the Peking
legation, in the consulate general at Shang
hal and finally took charge of the consulate
a, Canton upon the retirement of Mr.. Nc
Wade.
Mr. Davidson relieved John Goodnow tenn
porarily as consul general at Shanghai un-
til the way recently became clear for him
TO proceed to Manchuria. When he was
relieved by Mr. Rogers at Shanghai he fell
| Ill from typhoid fever and lay four months
| in the hospital at that place.
Being granted leave of absence, he came
| to Washington to confer with the State De-
| partment officials respecting their policies
! as to Manchuria before proceeding to his
| new post.
| Aptung is a mere village. and its on,g i'm
| portance lies in the fact that it is situated
on the banks of the Yalu where that river
| is crossed by the principal highway con-
| Meeting Korea with Mukden. 1t is probable
| that as soon Mr.. Davidson shall place the
| Office at Antung on a working basis he will
/ be instructed TO carry on the work of trade
1 development by proceeding to Hardin, the
real commercial center of Manchuris OPEN
ing consulate general in that city.