Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-28
MOVEMENT GROWING
SPREAD OF POPULAR AGITA-
TON ALARMS PEKING.

PEkING, December 2S.-The dowaker
empress has given verbal ofders to the
interior department and to the police to
suppress all public meetings in Picking,
and there Is reason to believe that this
order will be extended to the provinces
The popular agitation along the lines of
rights recovery" is growing in q phe-
nomenal manner. The question of pro-
vincia1 as against federal sovereignty
enters largely into the matter. Women s
societies, schools for boys and girls, the
family newspapers, and the political press
all are participating in the agitation. and
for month past the government here has
been receiving kilograms In increasing
numbers expressing the strong desire Of
the senders that the rights which have
been alienated from them by foreigners
be restored to the Chinese.
The movement has reached such maxni.
tude that the government Is thoroughly
alarmed, and 1t Is today striving to Ill
a conciiatory position between the revo-
lutionary agitators and those who con-
slider themselves to be aggrieved. The peo-
Pile of Chi Kiang province have sent some
delegates here to protect their interests.
These delegates the foreign board has
taken into it's confidence. opening its ar
chives to them. and asking them to make
a careful examination Of the position of
the CnlneSe government Win regard 10
Great Britain, and then to recommend .
solution Of the difficulties.
For Constitutional Rights.
The reception accorded these civilian
delegates by the government and the adj
mission Of representation OF provincial
councils into state affairs at Picking IL
without precedent. and it is believed to
constitute what can be called the thin
edge of the wedge which is to give con-
stitutional rights. 1t shows also the Inn
portanee Of the agitation which has been
going on In Chi kiang province. and
which undoubtedly 10 the cause of the
recent edict by the throne.
The agitation embraces the question OF
the patrol of West river by Great Britain
in an effort to put an end to the piracy
prehend that the present popular hostility
will result in an inquiry into British
trade. the government Is relying on the
support of Great Britain, whose insist
enee upon China's maintenance of her
original position has produced an APP
parent solidarity among the Chinese min
listers. The pressure Of the British gov
eminent Is Strengthening the position OF
Yuan Shi Kai whose security and infiu-
ence in Pekins 10 regarded by foreigners
OF China.
Japan's Attitude. {.
1t is declared here that the foreign asi.
tation in the matter Of the attitude adopt.
ed by Japan with regard to Manchuria
and the warning Of Russia concerning the
annulment Of the telegraph convention
have led the British foreign office to take
action. and it is understood that this has
been in the form of representations to
the Toxic government. Ftance has con-
sented TO the revision of the Tonkins
convention regarding land teiegraphs, but
she has postponed discussion with China
of the cable controversy. as she desires
to secure facilities for the extension OF
the submarine line to Vladivostok
China, 1t is stated here. considers the
attitude taken by Japan to be based upor
impossible claims, and Japan, 1t is avArred
is taking advantage Of China's complica-
tions with Great Britain in order to post.
pone the negotiations regarding Man
churia. She has delayed drafting the
new postal convention. which was prom
Used for November.
Travellers arriving here complain of what
they call the organized incivility. and in
some cases even the brutal conduct" O,
the Japanese trainmen and guards on the
Manchurian railway.