Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-26

signed, Sealeu anu TablHedy Is DeyOnu
question. .
1 1t began with an acknowledgment by
the Emperor of China of 1.-THE vari-
Gus benefits arising from the loyal sup
port of His Imperial. Majesty the En-
peror 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 having had 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 Rus
STA the port of Kiaoehou in the prov
inee of Shantung, the period of such
{ lease to be fifteen years. The
document proceeds to establish Russia s
right to the use of the Liaotung ports
for Talienhwan 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. -s
Why Germany was on Pacific soil
at all, in any capacity other than one
of peaceful commercialism, is not to
be explained by anything save the
Ivaulting ambition of an imperialistic
policy, coupled, no doubt, with active
jealousy of British expansion, but she
was there and she was there as Rus
STA s ally in the checking of japanese
ambition, so it is hardly possible that
she was not aware of Russia s proposed
occupation of Kiaochau Bay.
when Germany 'ttGot Busy"
The wheels of diplomacy grind slow
ly, as a rule, and especially the wheels
of Russian diplomacy. Nothing was
done until January, 1897, when we find
Germany sending an expert harbor en-
gineer out to China to investigate the
possibilities of Kiaochau Bay and
make a report thereon. This engineer s
report being most encouraging, Berlin
forthwith made oyertures to Picking
regarding the requirement of lease
for herself of that port and some adj
jacent territory, but the Chinese gov
eminent would have nothing to do with
such proposition. In fact, being
fully engaged at the moment with the
altruistic aggressions 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 Fatherland were forced to retire to
a respectful though not invisIrle dis
lance and await developments.
Suddenly, providentially, exsraor,l'n-
arily, came their golden opportunity.
On the first day of Noverrber, 1897.
three German missionaries, whose
names were Stem, Mes and Henie,
were attacked by band of Chinese
in the interior of Shantung and the
latter two were murdered. Stem Is
capped to tell the tale and exactly four
teen days later the Far Eastern Ger.
man cruiser squadron, under command
of Admiral Diederichs-the salie man
who got into difficulties with Admiral
Dewey at Manila the following day.
steamed into Kiaochau bay and called
lt occupied. = 1t 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 general spill.
So in the spring of 1898 the Kiao-
chau convention was signed by their
respective Imperial Majesties of Ger
many and China, whereby Germany
found herself in possession of ninety
nine years lease of Kiaochau bay, to-
gether with colonial territory of no
mean dimensions and certain railway
and mining concessions in Shantung,
which are supposed to be prizes of ex-
traordinary value.
Wonderful German Achievement.
Now it is not likely that Germany,
being years behind her rivals in prep
arations for demanding share of the
probable rich East Asian spoils, would
waste much time in intrenching herself
in the field once she got foothold,
but il was not to be expected that she
would do in such a few years more
than her competitors have accomplished
in half century or more. But, accept
ing surface indications as strong evil
dence, this is the achievement which
she has placed to her credit.
The town of Tsingtau is new, mir
aeulously new, but it is built for time
and for withstanding the shocks of
GREAT events, while most casual OBJ
scrvation of its extravagances proves.
beyond doubt that the kaiser s treas
ury is a few hundred millions of good
German marks the poorer for it.
While Kiaochau bay looks deep,
magnificent and trustworthy, it is, as
a matter of fact, a great, silt-choked
expanse of sheltered water that has had
to be dredged and made navigable in
almost its entire extent. The inner
harbor of Tsingtau is wholly artificial
and it alone represents the expenditure
of many millions. / don't know how
many, because all the available Stats
tics are so carelessly grouped under
comprehensive headings that it is inn
possible to secure details. But it real
" doesn t matter. 1t is a splendid har-
Dor anyway, and glorious bay, and
one cannot but think that it is likely
tc be very valuable Chinese posses
sion one of these days, unless Japan
finds it too difficult to keep her prom
Use of restoration; unless China, so
long threatened, is really destined to