Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-23
THE INTEGRITY OF CHINA
SINISTER DESIGNS ATTRIBUTED
TO GERMAN STATESMEN.
Program Proposed to Be Submitted at
The Hague NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Of United States.

After many repeated and decisive denials
It Is at last admitted that the most impor-
tant question to be discussed at The Hague
in June next has not been mentioned by
any one. The admission, made by diplo-
mat who desires the strictest anonymity,
| came this morning, and It was as follows:
That Germany will propose that the con-
ference take up the matter Of Chinese
affairs. and that the joint note sent by the
late John Hay (Which holds the powers to
respect the integrity of China), be tenn
porarily laid aside. SO to permit of
another manner Of adjusting the far east
ern question.
Whether the powers represented at the
peace conference will consent to Germany's
proposal. the diplomat declared, is matter
of conjecture, but in explanation he added
that the empire Is practically forced to
find a loophole in field now abandoned
(until further notice., feeling that there is
nothing for her to expect in the matter of
Mediterranean base. and fearful lest the
1talo-BritSh demonstrations of friendship
may leave her out in the dreary and cold
world.
But the thing that most concerns the
powers in general and the United States in
particular" the diplomat said, lis the fact
that Germany is beginning to turn around
herself on account of the present instability
of American politics. which may bring in
dU administration tIdI may cndnSe the
present policy in regard to the Philippines.
For a time Germany hoped tat the Oft
current rumors to a transfer of the Is
lands to Japan might prove true, but now
she is convinced of the inutility of awaiting
such stroke of good fortune for herself.
Germany suspects the United States of de-
string to annex additional territory In the
China sea or of planning to obtain from
Japan two or three earth-dots Immediately
north of the Tropc of Cancer or to lease
in the style original with Germany, bit Of
Chinese coast north of Shanghai, but south
of Kiao-chau, of German fame.
Now the nOrthernmoSt American Dos
session in the far east lies between the Bal
lintang channel and the Bashee channel, the
latter south of Formosa, Japanese possess
sion Germany, in attempting to consider
Chinese territory as belonging to the pow
ers. aims to check any ambition the United
States may have in establishing frmer
hold in China, which would prove disastrous
to the European empire.
German Suspicious.
Several German newspapers have made
mention of Secretary Taft's arranged trip
to the Philippines this year, and attribute
its purpose not to an investigation of con-
ditions there but to learn how sentiment
runs in that neighborhood. so as to be pre-
pared to establish the foreign-relation-a
expansion platform in the coming cam
paign. The publication of these articles
have not been noted by the American
press but nevertheless they are extremely
important in directing German diplo-
macy. Inasmuch as she is already an
noyed at the British possession of Wei
hai-wei, which guards the Gulf of Pechiii,
as well as Gibraltar sweeps the entrance
to the Mediterranean, Germany does not
care to have another neighbor.
'All this proves that the latter's at
tempts at ACKNOWLEDGMENT will ultimately
lead to the eastern continent, having failed
in northern Africa and having been
checked in the southern section; Persia
and the western Asiatic frontier are not
available, nor Palestine. There remains
China as the last resort.
'"Therefore,' the diplomat said in clos
Ing, when Germany will bring Chinese at
fairs before the conference, she will do 1t
in way that will conform to the formal
tiles and requirements of the meeting; but
by laying the whole question open she will
endeavor to break the friendly overtures
between Japan and the United States,
which have been uninterruptedly proceed
ing for two years, and thus secure for
herself as strong a footing in the celestial
empire she take is allowed to
take. But this movement, l can assure
you, will be fought by American and
Japanese interests, because 1t would prove
an inestimable gain for Germany if she
We're allowed to have her own way and a
menace TO the Philippines as we'll as
Japan"