Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-18
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES
IN CHINA MAKE APPEAL
Ask Intervention Of United States in
Negotiations Now Proceeding
With Japan.
MESSAGE TO WILSON BY CABLE
Ftve-Thousand-Word Petition Char
scterizes Demands as Acts of Ag-
gression, Such as VIII Eventually
Present Menace to. This Country.

PEKING, April l7.-Intervention by
tho United States in tho negotlat tions
now proceeding between China and
Japan Is recommended to President
Wilson In the appeal recently sent to
him by American missionaries In this
country. Tho message was 5000 words
long. and was forwarded to Washing
ton by cable. 1t characterizes the Jap
anese demands on China as acts of ag-
gression such as eventually will pre-
sent menace to tho United States.
Recalling the fact that Japan has at
present In this country double her
usual quota of troops (amountinE to
$4,000 men), the missionaries urge that
Japan be notified that the excess OF
troops should be removed.
Tho understanding here Ia that a
Chinese official, or several Of them.
paid the cable charges amounting to
nearly S6,000 on the message to Presi-
dent Wilson. This communication was
signed by tho Revs. Il. W. Thwing.
John Wherry, c. Fl. Fem and w. A. p.
Martin. all connected with tho Amcri-
can Presbyterian mission at Picking;
the Rev. Chauncey Goodrich, Of the
American board Of commissioners for
foreign missions, who is stationed at
Tientsin: the Rev. H. II. Lowry, of
the Methodist Episcopal mission at
PeklnG. and the Rev c. T.. Hubbard.
MAJORITY of MISSIONARIES
NOT SIGNERS OF MESSAGE
There are in China several hundred
American missionaries, OF whom tho
great majority have not seen the mes
sage. Some OF them who were re-
quested to sign II declined. The
American board recently requested Its
missionaries to avoid public expression
of opinion on political affairs, and, al
though it is said the missionaries gen
orally side with China In the present
controversy. few Of them have been ac-
tive politically.
The petition asked President Wilson
to demand Of China. and not OF Japan,
American participation in the confer
ences now under way 1t Is suggested
that Great Britain and other nations
be invited to participate.
The missionaries ask that tho gov
ernment OF both China and Japan be
notified that the presence OF unusual
bodies OF Japanese troops on Chinese
SOIL, not only embarrasses the freedom
or negotiation. but constitutes an out
rage of the rights OF China. and n seri-
Gus menace to the peace and safety OF
Americans and foreigners generally"
and recommends that pending the re-
moval Of excessive contingents Of Jap
anese troops. all negotiations should
be suspended"
Declaring that I'VE wish 1t under
stood that we are not partisans," the
message says:
Let 1t not bo thought that China Is
republic only In name because OF the
autocratic powers Mt present vested
In the President. The powers OF his
high office are wisely and patriotically
exercised. The formalities and parade
OF kingly station arc all avoided, and
Advancement toward n more popular
form OF government Is vastly easier
than 1T would be under imperial rule"
The memorial offers explanation of
tho shortcomings and enumerates the
achievements OF tho Chinese govern
ment 1t denounces Japanese aggrcs-
sion" as dangerous. not only TO China
but even eventually to America" and
adds:
Shall we go on forever being fooled
by fair speeches made at full-drcss
banouets at the Japanese capitalT