The sun., 1916-11-17
FRENCH SEIZURE
STIRS ALL CHINA
Legation Follows Concession
Demand by A~rresting Gov
eminent Policeman.

A critical situation in China has arisen
as a result Of the attempts Of the French
Legation to obtain control Of a very val
liable district Of 700 acres In the city Of
Tientsin. adjoining the French conces-
sion. according to a message received
yesterday by Patrick Gallagher, editor OF
the Far Eastern Bureau.
The message states that the French
Consul In Tientsln. after the French Le-
cation had made attempts to obtain the
territory through negotiations with the
Chinese Government. sent a number OF
French policemen Into the district on Oc-
tober II last and arrested nine Chinese
police officers and men. Great excite
ment and Indignation were caused In
China, particularly among residents OF
Tientsln. as a result Of the detention OF
these men.
Later the French Legation and the
Chinese Government came to an under
standing, the French agreeing to return
the policemen and the Chinese onering
to open the district to foreign trade.
After an article had been printed concern
ing the settlement In n Pekin paper the
French Legation demanded the cancella-
ton OF the agreement. Negotiations were
opened again, and the French demanded
and received far more favorable terms.
including special privileges to French ma
tionals In the disputed district.
situation BECOMES DeadlOcked.
The French Charge d'Affaires de-
manded so much. according TO the des-
! patch, that matters came to "A deadlock,
with the French holding the Chinese
I policemen. Sir John Jordan. the British
Minister, finally offered to mediate.
After a conference on November 10 the
British Legation requested the Chinese
Foreign Minister to put the agreement
IN writing and submit 1t next day to the
French Legation, but owing to the neces-
sity for preparing the papers and uo-
hitting them to Parliament the Chinese
officials replied that there was not time.
The British Minister then warned the
Chinese Foreign Office that the agree
ment would be considered null and void
by the French Legation should the
Chinese Government fail to deliver 1t to
the French Legation within the specified
time. The cable was despatched before
the denouement OF the AFFAIR. but II Is
recognized here that the situation Is Sc
rious.
'ftl8n ftuuutu SHkrrso"
Prof. jeremiah w. jerks. director OF
the Far Eastern Bureau. said that tbs
! acts OF the French appeared on Their
face to be acts OF high handed aggres.
sion, especially the seizure Of the Chi
nese police officials.
~ can see no excuse for such an act.
said Prof. jerks yesterday. THE French
act emphasizes the crisis in China at the
present time. With the new Government
just taking charge of AFFAIRS and the
delicate financial situation II Is extreme
ly unfortunate. II Japan starts In eX'
acting conditions and making extrava'
CANT demands. as she has done, and the
French follow Il up in this name
China presents great temptations for thu
other nations to come in and make de
mands FOR territory and other advan
tages.
1T seems apparent that England |.
acting In good faith In attempting Il
mediate. | consider the time allowanc,
consideration imposed by the French a
especially high handed. II IL I,
giving the French jurisdiction over thu
district Il seems that IL would stir III
such political feeling as TO make i, nee
essary To submit the agreement to tn,
Chinese Parliament