Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1901 — STOP GRABS IN CHINA. [ARTICLE]

STOP GRABS IN CHINA.

UNITED STATES CHECK PARTITION OF EMPIRE. Power* Will Not Pres* Claims for Territory quired for Concessions—Punishments ..Demanded Will Be Infilcted. At the instance of the United Statee government the pdwers have accepted the principle that no further individual concessions of territory in China shall bo nought or obtained by any one poster without international assent. This agreement applies not only to Tien tsin, where there has been some rivalry exhibited iu the effort to obtain concessions for foreign settlements, but to all other Chinese points. According to a Washington correspondent, the State Department began this movement some time ago. It is surmised, though no Admission on that point can be obtained, that the occupation by Russia of the important concession opposite Tien-tsin, including the railroad terminus, caused the initiatiou of this movement. However, it was realized that it might be very difficult to deal with a separate case, because thereby national pride might be aroused. But it was conceived that all of the powers might be willing to subscribe to a general principle which promised upon its face to maintain the rights of all against selfish Individual efforts. The conjecture was well Manned, for after the department had addressed each of the powers on the subject the answers received from not only a majority, but nearly all df them—and certainly a sufficient number to insure the execution of tne plan—were an acceptance of the /American principle. So hereafter, if any one nation seeks to secure room for its individual settlements or like privileges in ports or elsewhere in Chins, the application must be approved by the other powers before the Chinese government will be permitted to assent, even if it desired to do so. China Yields All Point*. It is believed at the State Department that the Chinese acquiescence in the demands of the ministers covers also the additions to the punishment program made by the ministers on Feb. 8. These provide for the degradation and exile of Chao Chi Chao and Ying Lien and death for Prince Chwuug, the chief of the Boxers’ pociety. Later official information from Minister Conger was received that the Chinese to order Prince Chtjvang to commit suicide, to degrade and banish Prince Tuan and Duke' I.an and to inflict*some punishment, yet to be determined, on Chi Tsu aud Hsu Cheng Yu. While Minister Conger does not say that the action of the Chinese government is thoroughly satisfactory, it is inferred that it is. At any rate, the cause for the hostile movement against SinganFu has been removed.

A Pekin dispatch says that the European and Chinese secretaries of legations and others who have lived in China for years consider that China has gained a victory, as the only mau the court hah to behead is Yu Hsien. The other two are in the hands of the Japanese, and could be beheaded when their execution is wanted. Suicide is no disgrace whatever in the eyes of the Chinese. No one believes Gen. Tung Fu Hsiang will ever suffer punishment. People in Pekin say Ghlnese imperial edicts are very unstable documents, especially when private edicts to the executive officials aecompnny the public edicts. A recent decree ordered all the indicated officials to commit suicide, yet, it is evident, a secret edict was sent instructing the persons implicated not to obey. What proof, it is asked, is there now that the terms of the decree will be carried out?