Evening star., 1917-03-14
CHINA BREAKS
WITH GERMANY
Diplomatic Relations Severed
and Kaiser's Envoy Handed
His Passports.
GERMAN SHIPS SEIZED

American Minister Reinsch at PekinR
today reported to the State Department
that China had severed diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany. and that the Ger
man minister had been handed his
passports.
China has also taken possession. of all
German merchant ships In Shanghai.
about six in number. placed their crews
on shore under guard and placed armed
guards on the vessels. Advices to the
Navy Department today from the
senior officer in Chinese waters gave TO
further details.
Seizure of the German ships may be
taken by Germany AZ an act OF war. as
in the case OF Portugal
. China's action may be followed by
seizure Of German property I'm China
all the concessions held by Germany in
Chinese cities. which. 1t is presumed
will be seized as quasi-publfc property.
there are extensive private German
that there are about !: :.eoe German civil
ians scattered throughout the republic.
but it is not known whether they will
be interned.
Action May Be Far-Reaching.
China's action is expected to have far
reaching effect on far eastern history.
as it alfgns her with Japan and the
other entente powers. German trade.
which before the war had become the
most dangerous competitor TO British
and japanese business in China.
amounted to about 20 per cent of
Japan's trade. and offered a tempting
prize for the latter.
This pha of the co,,ornerria1 sifffa fiou
was widely discussed at the Paris
economic conference, when plans to drive
Germany out of the far eastern market
The immediate effect of China's sever
ance Of relations will probably be q great
ly increased output of munitions for Rus
sa- China is Japan's source OF iron and
has provided much Of the raw material
on which the latters immense n1unitior
trade has been built up. China also has
six large aresenals. which. with her mines.
will add large resources against Germany.
China has already sent 100000 coolies
to France and Russia and can increase
the number almost without limit. So far
the men have gone under private
auspices as laborere Apparently as vet
China has not committed herself to ac-
cept the allies invitation to enter war as
an active participant.
Offers Made to China.
Immediately after Americas sever
ance of relations with Germany. China
began to discuss similar action. and
during the negotiations the French and
Belgian legations IN China invited her
on behalf of the entente to declare war
on Germany in return for q remission
Of the Boxer indemnity and permission
to increase her customs taxes.
Diplomatic sources in Washington.
however. said the entente promised
merely a postponement of the Boxer
indemnity, not its remission.
March 4 the cabinet definitely voted
to sever relations. but resident Ii
Yuan Hung refused to accede on the
ground that such power was his alone.
The cabinet resigned. withdraw 10
Tientsin and finally returned when the
president agreed to break.
March 10 the president and his cab
met appeared before the house and
asked approval of severance of re-
lations. which was granted by a vote
of 43l to 81. The senate later agreed.
Meanwhile the entente invitation to
enter the war remains in abeyance. ap-
parently pending a better agreement as
to the terms to be given to China
Recent dispatches from Peking have
spoken in high terms Of the part Amer
lean Minister Reinsch has taken in the
steps leading up to China's action.