New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
FOREIGN INTERVENTION
THE BUGBEAR IN CHINA
Resumption Of Civil War Would
Compel the Six Powers to-
Take a Hand.
FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE
Legations Must Either Recon-.
mend Loan to Dynasty or Be
Responsible for Chaos i.
Which Will Ensue. .sasa
(By the Regular Correspondent of The Tilbur.
fp pakfpg

CBy the Regular Correspondent Of The 1Tiibus.
in Pekingp -Dh~s
Peking Dec. A-Foreign Intervention Al.
though no diplomat here VIII admit tia,
this term is applicable has come at iast in
| China. 1t takes the form OF a note pre.
sented to the peace commissioners at
Shanghai by the representatives Of Anerl.
ca, Great Britain, France. Germany, Japan
and Russia, expressing a friendly hope thct
| a settlement of the present disturbed state
of the empire will be reached during their
negotiations.
1t is hoped that this concerted action on
the part of the powers will have good in.
fuence, II only by way OF making the spec
| tire Of foreign intervention tangible. re-
sumption of civil warfare would mean
chaos-absolute chaos-throughout the land.
| and the powers would have TO intervene In
one way or another, even II 10 no greater
an extent than the lending Of money 10 the
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. they wished TO DO 50
or not The result of the powers action is
| awaited with the keenest interest. Posi-.
bly, this suggestion Of settlement will be
considered a covert threat by the Chiness.
and reprisals on foreigners may be In order.
Possibly IL VIII lIIEHltH Nilt iulD
reaching an agreement, for active interven-
ton on the part OF the powers is the oIs
thing that all patriotic Chinese desire 10
avoid. o.
Militant Intervention, such as might easily
be essential. is desired by no one. least OF
all the jealous powers, and certainly not by
either faction OF the natives. From any
point of view a failure Of the peace neso-
tiations would be deplorable, leading to ter
rible times for China and possibly interna'
;ionsl complications of great import one
power or another might take action in such
q way as 10 arouse the animosity OF an
| other and then there would be trouble
There has already been evidence OF In
| ternational jealousy and intrigue IN this
| revolt and things were getting 10 a pretty
pass. with certain charges and counter
! charges, when an agreement was reached
| among the powers to act in concert In ex.
| tending friendly advice TO China. Possibly
this agreement may be the first step tow.
ard harmonious action in all matters
pertaining TO China. II It is II will work
for the good Of China, which all the pow
ers claim TO have at heart.
A deep and hitherto highly successful
diplomatic game is afoot on the part cf
| some one whose identity Is still unknown
| To bring the Russians and the Japanese
whose special interests are preoominshl'
| into concerted action with the powers was
| an achievement IN Itself. It - sate 70 say
| ,bot o;ther one or the other of the spe-
otalI,- situated mowers would rather have
rim the show for themselves. But no one
| ,ower has been able at any time IN oo'
| tain the advantage. The English, II II
| true. lent the good Offices OF the bnusa
| consul at Hankow in the preliminary
| ems FOR the arrangement OF an armlsuos
| and the negotiations, but further than
| this as far as IS known, no power TOOK
| sanarate action or led the procession IN
any way. And the English, In lenaing
their good Offices, did so with the fuO
LnowIedge OF the other powers concerned
| II fs said here in gossipy Picking, that the
| Iararese are much vexed because they
have not been able 10 take the leaoins
| part. but az to this no one actualIy hho"a'
The old, vexatious question OF money -
still with us. The imperial government y
| absolutely, pitiably broke. ana ehou'
the peace negotiations fail 1t viii be mors
than ever the duty OF the powers 10 DE-
eide whether Yuan Shih-kai shall have an
! onuortunity afforded TO him to carry on
the fight. Without foreign loan, as every
] one. even Yuan himself will admit
{ continuation Of the struggle VIII oe inl'
| possible. The rebels are even worse on
| for they have not been recognized by ths
| nowers and the chances of borrowing ths
money which they need so badly on their
own credit are less than those Of the I'M
perial government. =,
II the negotiations fail the question VIII
be clean cut and well defined. The powers
must either sanction a loan to the I'M
perial government or be responsible Tor
the chaos which is sure TO follow. Tne
matter has been under consideration by
the foreign governments, but no decision
has been reached the powers hold aloot
until they see the outcome Of the Shanghai
effort at peace Some nations, it is known
here, favor the lending Of money. but GER
tain others-or at least one other-have
blocked the programme for fear OF re-
prisals on the part Of the rebels for THIS
assistance 10 the imperial government
The rebels have sent message after mes
sage to the ministers OF foreign NATIONS
here protesting against any loan oeIns
made. They threaten boycott OF toreis"
goods. These threats have had their enect
In certain quarters and have served for the
time being to block the loan negotiations
The ministers who favor the loan DO nos
fear the threatened boycott as much as tns
possibility OF reprisals being taken on for.
eigners and their property THIS mlsnt
prove to be very tangible danger anu y
one which must be considered. IL is eX-
tremely unlikely, however, that the rsoeI'
would dare to attack foreigners. They
have entirely too much respect TOT lot, lot
eign gunboats and marines. \ neaceiui
boycott Is more OF a possibility.