Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-10-06
CHINA TRYING
70 STAY NEUTRAL
President Of the Big Eastern Re-
public Bending Every Eff
fort to Avoid Scrap.

Picking, Oct. 5.-President Yuan
Shih-kai of China and the government
he represents are bending all their
energies to preserve neutrality and to
avoid, as far as possible, the evil con-
sequences of the war raging in Eur.
ope. The nation itself is inclined to
peace. Four times during the past
twenty years, China has witnessed
che horrors of war and China's soil
has suffered the ravages OF armed
forces. The C%hino-Japan war of 1894,
the Boxer war of 1900, the struggle
OF Japan and Russia over the north
ern Chinese provinces in 1904, and
the revolution Of 1911 have given
the Chinese people ample proof OF
the suffering and the losses which
inevitably follow an appeal to the
sword. 7h.+s2
The revolution was the natural re-
suit OF the Inefficient government re-
%sponsible for the invasion of Chinese
territory in the three previous wars.
The revolution was, in fact, a protest
against war, and at its conclusion,
the President of The new republic and
the nation looked forward with hope
and thankfulness to a periol OF peace
and prosperity. The determination,
therefore, to preserve the %strictest
neutrality, to refrain from any act
that might give offense or lay the
foundation for any future an.agonism
against the republic, is strong at Pc.
king and that attitude expresses the
feeling and sentiment of United
China. .~. ..
China is looking toward the future.
Her President and her people see
that if the nation is to live and pros
per the government in its relation to
other powers must be administered on
honor. The temptation to make re.
prisals and to build diplomatic bull
warks for future advantage was new.
er greater. But China, in the inter
est Of peace, and, with a spirit of the
utmost frankness ann fairness, is do
ing everything within her power to
preserve the respect of all men and
earn the good will Of all nations.
This attitude is not merely express
ed by official mandate and proclama,
ton, but President Yuan Shih-kai on
a number OF recen. occasions has Civ
en- ample proof of. his sincerity. BY
his direction, reports on the foreign
commerce Of the republic and particu.
larry the burden the war has imposed
on merchants of other nationalities
have been Obtained and made the
special subject Of conferences to de-
termine how the situation may be
improved. China's commerce in ma
tive and in alien hands is to be pre-
served and safeguarded in as far as
it is possible for government to act.
The great power of Yuan Shih-kai,
his resourcefulness, his coolness, and
judgment were never so much appre-
ciated. Tact in avoiding complica-
tions and measures to make neutrality
sure convince the nation that the cri-
sis will be safely passed. President
Yuan Shih-kai of China must inherit
with President Wilson of the great
American republic the gratitude of
people inclined to peace and the hon
or Of avoiding needless and democrat
izing war.
Chinese Emiorants.
The cabinet is formulating a policy
to protect Chinese citizens living in
foreign countries. The object is to
safeguard life and property rights OF
the Chinese in foreign courts of law
and to encourage education and in
dustry among citizens Of China re-
siding abroad.