Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08
MISSIONARIES WANT u. S.
TO REFRAIN FROM FORCE
Special Protection Held Unnecessary in
Consideration of New Treaty With
China-Doubt Change Can Be Made.
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.

By WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.
YCST as President Coolidge 1,
preparing to reState American
foreign policy in his Havana ad
~ dress on January 16. the ex
pectation being that he will as
sure the world OF the disinterested
motives OF the United States when.
ever the Nation takes protective steps
abroad for its citizens. American mis-
Sionaries are coming forward with
not give them protection il they be-
come imperiled on foreign soil.
The American Board OF Foreign Mis-
sions is polling its goo missionaries in
China. or in this country on furlough.
on this proposal, in its own words.
that efforts by the Government in
their behalf be limited to only such
diplomatic protection as may be pro-
vided without the use. threat or show
OK military force"
BY March / it is hoped that the
canvass will be completed and g petit
ton presented to the Department of
state In the meantime the board,
which speaks for the Congregational
churches in America. Is taking up
with the missionary boards OF other
denominations the question of their
Joining in the petition to the Gov
eminent.
Considerably, the Student volun.
teer Movement, in its tenth Quadren.
NAL convention in Detroit. December
$50. with about 1000 delegates pres.
ent. including some from China. India.
Africa and other mission fields, debated
the following proposition:
How can we persuade the Govern
ment to permit missionaries to so into
other lands without availing them
selves OF military protection"
Would Take Own Chances.
Numerous speakers at the conven-
ton urged the students to renounce
absolutely the expectation OF forceful
exertions in their behalf, such as were
made in China during the last year.
and to be willing to risk their lives
and property in any foreign field in
the effort to spread Christianity. Dele
gates from China and other fields gave
the native viewpoint as favoring such
o course.
. 81 should like to see our gunboats
sent home and have every American
citizen In China forego privileges of
extraterritoriality." declared Miss
Mildred WEIGH. who had spent many
years in Chinese missionary work. Her
proposal obviously would put the bust.
hess Americans outside the protection
OF the Washington Government. and
thereby emphasizes the issue in inter.
national law and customs.
Since Americans engaged In com.
mercial pursuits in China or elsewhere
abroad desire protection and uphold
the use OF force in their behalf, the
Government now Is confronted with a
situation wherein II is asked to pro.
tect some Of its citizens but not to
protect others. and the question is,
can government discriminate in Civ.
jig protection?
Incidentally there were in China at
the outbreak In 1925 OF the present
civil war approximately 1900 Amer.
aca ns, Of whom 5000 were missionaries
and their families. Many OF the mis-
sionaries have been forced out by the
ngntlng and some business men have
left because Of trade depression. But
probably more than 5000 Americans
remain there and the United States
has nearly 5000 Marines and nun,cr.
GUS gunboats and cruisers in China
or its waters. for the protection of its
Citizens. including missionaries.
Equal Protection Seen.
On the question OF giving protection
20 all citizens alike the authorities on
international law whose opinions have
been sought here see no possibility OF
the Government making any discrimi.
nation. Charles f. Hiil. Phi D.. pro.
tessor OF political science In George
Washington University. gave a typical
expression:
Equal protection under the law IL
basic principle I'm the American form
CT government. This ideal has ex.
tended 20 the foreign policy Of the
United STATES, In which the Govern.
men; always has acted with uniform
vsgor in behalf Of all its citizens i'm.
peFiied in foreign lands.
voluntary remuneration Of protec.
ton by citizen. or group OF citizens
EoDld not absoiye the Government
from doing all that IL could TO safe.
guard him or them. and II would be
going contrary 10 the traditional prac.
tie Of the Government TO emhody I'm
q treaty with a foreign power a stip.
uiatton that particular class o.
Americans shall have less protection
from their Government than other
! ciasses Of Americans. cannot recall
any discrimination of the kind ind.
eatsd ia treaties hitherto made or Ia
fcrce"
~ 4
that the United States has no treaties
In whicb specific inequality ~ pfoIcc.
tlor Is provided TIE non-rcsigtance
policy now being aRiiate.3 in mission
aFy clfcie1. lsowevef. has come bia-
torfeai aspects which throw light on
the PROPOSE.
Privileges Under Treaty.
After the Boxer rebslIioD IN China
\ ~ ihE beginning Of this century, me
pow ers generally. including the United
States. revised their treaties with
Ghins. The treaty OF 1903 between
the United Eistes and China greatly
strengthened he rights and privileges
~ ilissiona ries ia China. ard st that
fitns the missionaries generally urged
sdch treaty stipuiatlons. TIE mission.
aries, In fact. were given much wider
privileges than Americans engaged IA
commerce,
WAT IL known SIS the federation
ciause" ia the 1903 treaty was a re-
statement u an older policy Of tbs
Western nations tDwsrd China and II
required China ~ accept Christian
propaganda, In the following words
quoted IN Dart from this section oi
tie treaty:
'"The principles Of Christianity, 81
pFofesseG by the Protestant and Ko'
man Catholic Churches, are ree0g
siiZsd as teaching fasi 10 10 good hnl
~ d. unto others 49, they would have
others d. unto them. Those Win
quietly profess end teach these dog
frines shall not be hafssged or pefss'
tuted On account Of their faith. ABs
f3srs0D, N1iether citizen Of the United
ss3ataE OF Ihinsss convert, who ae,
s.srding 10 these teAeta, peaeeabis
stssfbeS AgAH pFhftice the DrinpiIiel
of Christjabty shall In no case b.
4niesfefed With og uelested therefor
II VIII be noted tiaat this siipuis iI0I
..g.I s.xAa. a.