The Detroit times., 1914-09-11

ties concerned, out tnat ~ Wap "a
changed, though never signed. sealed
and ratified. Is beyond question
IL began with an acknowledgment
by the emperor OF China OF the
various benefits arising from the loyal
support OF his imperial majesty the
emperor OF Russia at the close OF
the late war between China and
Japan" and goes on frankly to set
forth the fact that Russia, never nav
ing had a seaport on the Pacific coast
which was free from Ice and open
the year round. found herself very
greatly In need OF one. Then says
the Cassini agreement: "As China is
well aware of this. she Is willing To
lease temporarily to Russia the port
OF Kiaochow in the province OF Shan
tung. the period OF such lease to be
Is years" The document pro
ceeds TO establish Russia.s right 10
the use of the Liaotung ports OF Tall
enhwan and Port Arthur. the bases
wrested from victorious Japan, but
that has nothing to do with Ger.
many's part In the curiously tangled
enterprise.
Why Germany was on Antipodean
soil at all, In any capacity other than
one of peaceful commercialism, Is
not to be explained by anything save
the vaulting ambition Of an Inn
perialistic policy, coupled. no doubt
with active jealousy OF British ex-
pansion. but she was there and she
was there as Russia's ally In the
checking OF Japanese ambition, SO
II Is hardly possible that she was not
aware OF Russias proposed occupa-
ton Of Kiaochow bay.
When Germany "0ot Busy"
The wheels OF diplomacy grind
slowly, as rule. and especially the
wheels of Russian diplomacy. Moth
ing was done until January, 1897. when
we find Germany sending an expert
harbor engineer out to China to In
vestigate the possibilities OF kiaochow
bay and make a report thereon. THIS
engineers report being most encour'
aging, Berlin forthwith made over
lures to Picking regarding the acquire
ment OF a lease for herself OF that
port and some adjacent territory. but
the Chinese government would have
nothing 10 do with such proposition.
In fact, being fully engaged at the
moment with the altruistic aggres'
sions of England and France, and the
frankly selfish projects OF Russia
China would not treat with Germany
in any way, so the sons Of the Faith
erland were forced to retire to re-
spectful though not invisible distance
aud auaft davalonmenta
Suddenly, providendally, extraor'
dinarily, came their golden oppor
tunity. On the first day Of Novem
Der, 1897, three German missionaries
whose names were Stem. Mes and
Henle, were attacked by band OF
Chinese In the interior OF Shantune
and the later two were murdered
Stenz escaped to tell the tale and
exactly IA days later the Far East
ern German cruiser squadron, under
command OF Admiral Diederichs--the
same man who got into difficulties
with Admiral Dewey at Manila the
following day-steamed into Kiao-
chow bay and called II occupied
II was. China was wholly without
means OF defending herself and no
other power would rock the boat,
even to get Germany out, for fear
of precipitating q general spill.
So. In the spring OF 1898 the Kiao-
chow convention was signed by their
respective imperial ma1esties OF Ger
many and China, whereby Germany
found herself In possession OF q
90 years lease OF Kiaochow bay, TO-
eether with colonial territory" OF
no mean dimensions and certain rail-
way and mining concessions IN Shan