Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-07


in the autumn and winter Of I911-I2
resulted Ia the abdication Of the Man.
chu rules on February II. followed by
the formation OF a provisional repub-
lican government empowered to con-
duct the affairs of the nation until a
permanent government might be reg
ularly established The natural sym
pathy Of the American people with
the assumption of republican princi-
pies by the Chinese people was APP
propriately exressed in a concurrent
resolution of Congress on April II,
1912 A constituent assembly, COM
posed OF representatives duly chosen
by the people of China In the elections
that are now being held, has been call.
/ ed to meet in January next 10 adopt
! a permanent constitution and organ
/ lie the Government OF the nascent
/ Republic. During the formative con
stitutional stage and pending definite
/ action by the assembly, as expressive
of the popular will, and the hoped-for
establishment OF a stable republican
4 form OF government. capable of full
filing its International obligations,
the United States is, according to pre-
cedent, maintaining full and friendly
de facto relations with the provision
al Government.
/ The new condition of affairs thus
created has presented many serious
and complicatd problems, both of in
ternal rehabilitation and of lnterna
tional relations, whose solution it was
realized would necessarily require
much time and patience. From the
/ beginning of the upheaval last aut-
umn ii was felt by the United States
/ in common with the other powers
having large interests in China, that
Independent action by the foreign
Governments in their own individual
interests would add further confusion
4 TO a situation already complicated A
policy of international cooperation
4 was accordingly adopted In an under
standing, reached early in the disturb
ances. to act together for the protec-
ton of lives and property of foreign
ers if menaced to maintain an attitude
of strict impartiailty as between the
Chinese in their organization of a
new form of government In view OF
contending factions, and to abstain
4 from any endeayor to influence the
! the seriousness of the disturbances
and their general character, the Amer
lean minister at Picking was instruct
ed at its discretion to advise our ma
tionals in the affected districts to con
centrate at such centers as were cas-
lily accessible to foreign troops or
men of war. Nineteen of our naval
vessels were stationed at various
Chinese ports, and other measures
were promptly taken for the adequate
protection of American interests.
1t was further mutually agreed, in
the hope of fastening an end of hos
/ tilities, that none of the interested
powers would approve the making OF
loans by its nationals to either side
! AS soon, however, as a united pro
visional Government of China was as
sured, the United States joined in a
ernments request for advances need
ed for immediate administrative ne
cssities and later for loan to effect
a permanent national reorganization
The interested Governments had al
ready by common consent, adopted, in
respect to the purposes, expenditure
and security of any loans to China
made by their nationals, certain con
ditions which were held to be essen
tial, not only to secure reasonable pro
lection for the foreign investors, but
also to safeguard and strengthen
China's credit by dscouraging indis
criminate borrowing and by insurine
the application of the funds toward
the establishment of the stable and
effective government necessary to
Chinas welfare. In June last repre-
sentative banking groups OF the Unit
ed States, France Germany, Great
Britain, Japan, and Russia formulated
with the general sanction of their re.
spective Governments, the guarantees
that would be expected in relation to
the expenditure and security of the
large reorganization loan desired by
China, which, however, have thus far
proved unacceptable to the provision
al Government.
SHecial Mission of Coincidence to
Japan
In August last accredited the Sec
rotary of State as special ambassador
to japan, charged with the mission OF
bearing to the imperial family, the
Government, and the people of that
Empire the sympathetic message OF
the American Commonwealth on the
sad occasion of the death of His Ma
jesty the Emperor Mutsuhita, whose
long and benevolent reign was the
greater part of Japan's modern his
tory. The kindly reception every
where accorded TO Secretary Knox
showed that his mission was deeply
ioNnra,fatad h.. tho TananaGA nation