New-York tribune., 1907-09-16
CHINESE FEAR POWERS.
TURNING TO AMERICA.
Recent Treaties Cause 4larnt-Ihe
Work of Reform.

London Sept 15-The Chinese are again
turning toward America as their only friend
among the nations who be expected to take
their side against the threatened territorial aG-
gressfons of Japan and European powers, ac-
cording to the statements contained in letters
which have been received here from an eXcep-
tionally we'll informed American who has been
travelling in Manchuria and Northern China.
The writer has lived some years in the country
speaks the language and has q wide acquaint-
ance with Chinese officials. President Roose-
velt's proposal TO remit part of the indemnity
appears to have effaced the resentment caused
by the exclusion policy. and the preparations
made by Chinese mercantile guilds of Shanghai
which a year ago were actively promoting the
boycott, to give enthusiastic reception TO
Secretary Taft. appear significant of the changed
trend Of Chinese feeling toward the Uhl'eu
States. One letter says:
The Franco-Japanese entente is regarded with
much suspicion by the Chinese, who consider
that France and England are now mutually ac-
uuiescent as regards the japanese pohcy-ul9-
tinctly aggressive one-in Manchurla. 0louiu 0
Russia sign similar agreement with Japan
Uhe Russo-Japanese convention has been slsIled
since the writing of the letter quoted) strength
ening her position, China will have TO turn 10
America for assistance should such be neeueu'
The foregoing remarks throw light on the
growing hostility of China toward Japan
Writing from AIoukden. the traveller says;
Esu Shih Chang and Tong Shao VI dhe Vice
row a Yale graduate, who Is chlef leuIeIdiIl 5 "a
Yuan Chi Kai and Governor OF MoukdeIp noiu
daily conferences in the viCe-regal Yameh WIN
Hagiwara, the Lord Cromer deSlrah| OF Man-
Chura. There are many analrs thaI rem, remain -
be settled the question of the JOINT SOoCh I'm
ber company. the importation OF SaIt py japan,
ese in defiance OF China ancient nlotloPoIS, an!
the ownership of mines and the tue 10 kioPSltS
formerly usurped by the Russians ana suoSe
uuently claimed by the Japanese as sp0IIS %
war" Tong Shao Vi and HSu apparently dIe
playing with the Japanese the same game ~"ilIlH Will
the latter attempted with the newspaper CORE
spondents during the war Dinners ana hot
concessions are the order of the day, ana soIt
words and set speeches about tne sItdt
friendliness between the two powers theIr Gu %
mon development and kindred interests. li,o
wonderful people Japanese are so intensely
vain that such tactics may serve 10 WheI tilei
appetite in substituting notoriety ana printed
gf6r1r for more tangible evidences of this com
Inunitv Of interests which is SO much moutheu
by the willy Chinese The next rev fnohlhS VIII
tell.
Another letter. written in Peking. says:
The revolutionary feeling continues in spite
of the efforts of many to pooh-pooh II. The as
sassination of the Governor of An-Hui threw a
little light on the situation. The Chinese high
officials are badly frightened When Hsu Shln
Chang left for Moukden to be Niceroy he had
the whole station surrounded by troops lest
bomb should be thrown. That an eXpectant
taotaI who was head OF police school should
prove to be revolutionist and engage IN a pioI
Of assassination proves the high character or
The REVOLUTIONARY leaders. When the news OF
the murder reached Peking some Of the young
Chinese with foreign education did not hesl-
tate to express TO their foreign acquaintance
their pleasure in the result. Some OF the onl-
cia!s in Central China have become really panic
stricken, and there is q disposition 70 hold the
new schools more or less responsible
But in spite Of all this the Empress Dowager
holds firmly 10 her programme OF reform
few days the revised regulations for the re
organization Of the provinces We're approved ny
imperial resCript and published. They make the
al fFr lA
perial policy in their viceroyalties. and reduce
the powers OF the governors. except where there
is no yicer0v them. The provincial treas
urer. instead of being a vice-Eovernor and as
sociate TO the governor is limited In his author
ity to fiscal matters. and the judiciary with the
provincial judge at its head, is separated from
the executive and brought into direct connection
with the high court Of justice at Peking. Lower
courts Of Justice are established in all the pro-
vincal subdivisions. independent OF the local
magistrates This is really the most important
reform.
The beginnings Of representative government
are seen in the establishment Of two councils.
one deliberative and the other executive in every
department, district and prefecture. How the
members will be chosen is yet 10 be decided. but
probably along the lines adopted by Yuan Snih
Kai az Tien-Tsin. where hOusehOlders Of certain
property qualifications are allowed the suffrage
These elect for the Tien-Tsin district 13J cleo
tors. who in turn elect thirty OF their number
a deliberatve council. and these thirty elect an
executive council Of eight members. The vice
rows and governors are to have each a council
gether with certain representatives Of the gentry
and scholars. The old staffs OF the provincial
and local yamens are displaced by officers hav-
definite duties assigned and receiving definite
salaries. This scheme is to be introduced grad
uallv, beginning with ManchuTia and regions
adjoining Tien-Tsin and Shanghai and fifteen
years are allowed for its general adoption.
.
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