The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-06
China ASKS us.
TO FORCE PEACE
New Republic Wants This Ma
hon to Prevent Hostilities
in Far East.
MAY NOT HONOR PLEA
Il Is Taken for Granted Here British
Fleet Will Battle in Chinese
Waters.
MAY NOT HONOR PLEA

| The government Of China has appealed
| to the United States to intercede with the
warning powers for the purpose OF assur-
| ing the maintenance OF peace In the Far
East.
While this government has not yet made
its final answer to the Chinese govern
| ment, there is every indication that the
| Chinese government will be informed
shortly that the United States does not
] consider Il advisable or practicable to
| take the step requested.
It is possible, however. that the United
States government will undertake to
make representations to the European
| belligerents with a view to obtaining the
exemption Of the foreign concessions in
China from becoming the scenes OF con-
| fict Provisions in the treaty between
| the United States and China OF 1858 af-
ford a certain basis for such restricted
representations TO the powers by the
United States but Il Is not believed that
China's broad proposition will be viewed
favorably.
Plea by YunR Kwni.
The request of the Chinese government
was made by Yung Kwai. secretary Of
the Chinese Legation, who Is a man Of
American education and long experience
In Washington. He based his request
that the United States seek to localze
the European war sufficiently TO exempt
the Far East from becoming battle
ground on the action OF the United States
government IN 1910, during the war De-
tween France and Prussia
At that time Secretary Of State Fish
brought about an agreement between the
respective belligerent governments. and
also between the respective naval COM
manders in Chinese waters, to refrain
from hostIlities In those waters. The
basis of Secretary Fish's appeal and the
reason for its success at that time was
his representation that fighting between
the French and Germans in Chinese
waters might provoke China and the
Chinese people into a general warfare
upon all foreigners
Asked Their Cooperation.
Secretary Fish not only asked that the
French and Prussian naval commanders
desist from hostilities, but that they CO.
operate in the protection Of foreign lives
and property, which had already been
menaced by a massacre at Tientsin. On
this basis Mr.. Fish's proposals were ac- |
cepted and peace and order maintained.
It is understood however. that the
State Department does not view the stu
alton in China and the Far East in the
same light as did Secretary Of State
Fish during the Franco-Prussian war.
It is pointed out that not only are the
Russian. British, and French forces
aligned against Germany in the Far
East as well as elsewhere, but that japan
is a real factor in the situation That Is.
the present situation is not one seeking
to protect the lives OF foreigners in the
Far East, but one involving very con-
siderable interests OF not only the Euro
pean belligerents. but Japan as well.
There Is no basis whatsoever for a be-
lief that the beIligerents, in view OF the
large and important interests and pos
sessions OF their respective enemies in
China, would pay any attention to pro-
posals thatb they refrain from striking
at their enemies in that part Of the
world. any more than in Europe. Neither
is II now considered that hostilities be-
tween the European belliserents. with
the possibility of Japan taking a hand
in favor OF her ally. England, will arouse
the Chinese to anti-foreign outbreaks
It is taken for granted here. for ex-
ample that the British fleet will at once
seek out the Germans, who are concen-
trating at Tsingtau. their chief port in
China. and attempt to destroy them.
But 1t is not believed the United States
is in a position to do more than come
to the defense Of Chinese neutrality and
integrity in case It is menaced.