Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-14
IS NOW ON TIE WANE
EARLY END OF CHINESE BOYCOTT
EXPECTED.
Optimistic Tone of the Reports Re-
ceived by the Department Of
Commerce and Labor.

Much satisfaction is felt at the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor over the
toue of the reports received during the last
few days from the orient pertaining to the
Chinese boycott. From the best and most
authoritative sources Acting Secretary
Murray has been assured that the boycott
has been overrated and that 1t Is now
on the wane. 1t appears that the action
was never sanctioned by the conservative
element of Chinese ports, and that the
Chinese merchants themselves are begin
ming to feel the loss of American trade.
Other officials at the Department of Com
cerce and Labor are equally optimistic. and
the end OF the boycott Is looked for within
a short while
Much interest has been aroused by the
description of the Chinese placards illus
tratng the manner in which 1t Is alleged
by the sensational agltators against Amer
lean goods and Chinese are being treat
ed in this country and posted in some
parts of China for the purpose Of inflam-
ing the popular mind against everything
that comes from America.
None of these placards has yet been re-
ceved in this country either by the State
Department or the Department Of Com
merce and Labor. The fact is the bureau
of manufactures Is not essentially inter-
ested In the Chinese boycott on American
goods as that is a question that is being
dealt with by the State Department. 1t is
done to promote not only good business
methods between the two countries, but
also to foster the good opinion Of the Chi
nese toward this country.
The placardS are described a. being about
four by one and one-half feet. and are COW
cred with crude drawings showing Ameri
can policemen clubbing Chinese and hang
Ing them by the queues. Underneath the
picture IL the statement: This Is the way
the Chinese are treated In the United
States" A consul. whose name is with
held. writes that the vlceroy of his province
is doing all he can to prevent the distribu-
ton Of the offensive placards, and has Of
fered large rewards for the names of the
persons responsible. He adds that In spite
of the campaign conducted by anti-foreign
extremists the boycott Is waning.
The State Department today received
communication from Consul General Rodg-
ers at Shanghai setting forth the condition
of affairs there commercially growing out
of the Chinese boycott. There arc in
Shanghai warehouses approximately 169.-
600 bales of American piece goods valued
at 100000 Haikwan taels. or nearly
So. 900. 600 gold The question of marketing
this commodity and Of collecting the money
therefore under the present conditions and
with Manchuria closed presents a very Sc
rious condition. and Is apt to cause great
difficulty not only to the Chinese merchants
but also to the importers Under a con-
tinuance OF existing conditions a very grave
state of affairs In this respect Is certain to
ensue.
What Is true OF piece goods is also true
of all other lines OF staple products The
market has been overstocked and now moth
Ing Is moving. while the Chinese merchants
are now suffering, the foreign firms will
assuredly feel the effect on the settling
dates. The total value OF foreign goods
likely to feel the effect of this boycott
movement in Shanghai alone has been esti-
mated conservattvely at s25,OO0.OOO gold.
Consul Simmons at Niuchwang China
also communicated to the State Department
hp hp had hoe, H.,,,
Chinese Officials at that place, when they
took occasion to declare that the boycott on
American goods had been suppressed.
The State Department has been informed
that the Japanese government has removed
the restrictions on river shipments to the
interior of Manchurla. This is interpreted to
be favorable to the marketing of American
goods in Manchuria