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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF the following telegrams, so far as the
CHINA.
Americans are concerned:
CONGER, Peking:-
"Shangbai, January 5th, 899.
French Settlement extension on exclusive lines reported
imminent, Americans here again vigorously protest. (Signed) HASKELL Chairman, American Association,
of China
"
"Shanghai, January 5th, 1899.
Americans Shanghai strongly protest against extension
(Signed)
!
HASK EL,
Chairman'
(Daily Press, 6th February). Those of our renders who read the speech of Lord CHARles Beresford delivered at the farewell dinner given to him in Shang- hai will no doubt remember that he made reference to the American Association of China, and representatives of that organisa-PRESIDENT, Washington : --- tion were also present on that occasion. This was the first public appearance of the American Association and we do not think it could possibly have enjoyed a more ear- nest or a more practical introduction to the foreign community in China. The new association was the outcome of a distinct and very often felt need, and we are pleased to learn that its birth was due to the good work performed by that excellent organisa-worthy of publication, though it might be tion that watches over British interests-
suggested that the Associatiou should give the the China Association. Our American
question of reforming the Chinese Govern of the country's territorial integrity:- ment privority, over the mere preservation
inteul their new society to do real practical cousins are distinctly practical and they work that will not only benefit their com- mercial enterprise but American interests in general. The number of American re- sidents in North China has within the last two years increased largely; new and re- sponsible business firms have been started, representatives of home houses have arrived, and American vested interests have thus rendered an Association of this description imperative. In addition the Philippines have come under American influence and American merchants in those islands will be invited to join the new Association, The American Association of China has already in its initial action justified its existence, which is an earnest of the things it intends to do, for it has unanimously offered to Lord CHARLES BERESFORD its emphatic support of the maintainance of the policy of the " open door" in opposition to any foreign power seeking exclusive com-. mercial privileges. The objects of the Association as stated in Article II of its Constitution are
()-To foster and safeguard the trade and commercial interests of the oitizens and the United States and others associated therewith i. the Empires of China, Japan, and Koga and in the Philippine Islands and elsewhere in Asia or Oceania
(2.) -To secure the advantages of sustai ed watchful- Less and readiness for action which will accrue from dinite and permanent organisatio in all matters relating o Asiatic trade or legislatio or treaties, affecting the tame.
(3.)-To provide for co.vedis t ascertainment a d dis- tributio of í .formatio affecting tho i terests of its mein- bern, Bad,
(4)-Generally to promote a beneficial-acquainta ce and associatio. of those haviag i terasts and parsuits in common concerned to sach trade or commerce."
It is not intended to confine the member- ship to Shanghai alone but to include Korea, the Outports, and, as we have already men- tioned, the Philippines also. No doubt many of the Americans in Hongkong will also hastan to join it and otherwise lend it support. It is important to noté that in addition
to questions affecting trade the Association can employ its energy and resources in other equally responsible functions. When the riots took place in Szechuen and the ma-sacre of missionaries
"
at Foochow the American citizens in China were cousiderably handicapped because they had no organisation to appeal to. There was no difficulty," said a recent speaker at one of the meetings of the Association “in getting the money for telegrams, but there
"
was nobody to whom they could appeal "in whom was based anything like au- thority." The new society will in the event of any future trouble fulfil that need.
The strong universality of objection which prevails among foreign residents in China in conjunction with the British against the French demands at Shanghai is shown in
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ciation at New York from the Chairman of In a letter to the American Asiátic Asso- the American Association at Shanghai the goodwill and sympathy with Lord CHARLES BERESFORD's mission is strikingly mani- fested and the whole of the letter itself is
[February 11, 1899.
that n penceful solution of the questions at issue might be arrived at. Instructions had been sent to General Oris to avoid a side was understood to be holding in his collision if possible, ami AGUINALDO on his
followers, but apparently their impatience has got beyond control and a general attack was made on the Amer
merican position on Sunday. The result of such an attack whe a foregone conclusion. Reuter informs us
French Settlement with exclusive jurisdiction; reported that after fourteen hours severe fighting imminent.
the United States troops carred two of the Filipino positions and advanced
ed; the Filipino loss is placed by a their lines. The American loss was twenty killed and a hundre l'und twenty-five wound
Private telegram at 1,900 AGUINALDO though occupying the supreme position of President of the Philippine Republic, does not now exercise the powers of a dicta- tor, but is more or less in the hands of his Council of Government, and the operation which has ended so disastrously for the natives may possibly have been undertaken without the formality of ́úb- taining his consent. This is mere surmise, and it may turn out that AGUINALDO himself directed and led the attack, but we are inclined to think that.
Sh nghi, Chinn. 7th Jinuar EVERETT FAZAR E-q.,
President of the Ameri an
sia e Association.
65, Wall ~ reci, New Yor
1399.
SIB,It is with much gratification at the
the
Amari an Association of China lears that the Right hed any part in it it was only after neva Honora Rear Adiral for: Cuaries Beresford conflict had been precipitated and when C B., who 18 ccredid byt e A-sooi ted Chambers of Commerce of Great Britain, and os spent som he could no longer by anything short of onths in Ch na in the iut rest of British trade and abdication of his office resist the pressure to commerce, is about o pass through h United States on hi ooward j urn y Lord B resfor
which he was subjected. The Philippine Government has been but a few months in existence and already there have been several Cabinet crises and reconstructions, the personal influence of the President being apparently less tent than it was originally. After the severe lesson of Sunday it s pos sible the Filipinos may be, more ready t listen to reason and to leave the negotiat with America once
has had exceptional opporinsitief ra careful stude of pro en political and e mmercial con ions in this con: ry, nd we fel that th· resuite of his in. vestigations cannot but b of esp cial v la to Àmerican, merchants and other laying interests in
in We trust, tie efore, tha he may have th opportunity, as he has ex tressed his willingness to 08, o present his views befe your own Assoc a tion or the heger boly of merchants consin the His public
New York Chan er of Comt eras
address si Chiga show thit e has a s'ranz gras. of the situation here and innamuch as we helin e American nd British interests in China to be re- ically dentical, we fe assured htris angges'ious as to the best steps to be aken on h half of the on
more entirely ge
AGUINALDO's hands, or at all events that the more extreme party will moderate their would be best also for the other Th por known agitation. Those of the natives who are not as that of the open dor,' which is but another n me intoxiented with their new and as yet insub- for that gawrant ed by the "favoured n ton" clause in the sting fronting wth ('hia, is wit out
stantial political enfranchisement must re- qustion to o le poli y which pes vs the ights cognise the utter hopelessness of any at- of al and es i justic. 10. the righ • thur gurant se parej·purd zed y the recent ag res-ive
tempt to drive the Americans out of Manila, ac ion in he North of è in the arif ceriai
O.. the other hand, if the Americans enter Ento an pov ers, Cooki g at the acquis in of 'er. on the task of completely subjugating the ritoria at exclus re privileges. Teperation country they will have a war on their hands
of the territorial integrity of the Kupi o of“ kìn‹ is A Reutil he consers ·tion Four
0
romer l ard other in erests.
산 fee -ti-fied hat
(+1 b t. be se ured by the uctive co-operatio of Great Britain and the Uited States and possibly other powers for this purpose Such a combi a- tio, too, would be in the interests of Chi a herself, a d appears to be the only course that ca give promise of securing the peaceful developme.t of her vast resources as well as her political and social regeneratio..
We bespeak for Lord Beresford a atte Itive hearing upo. these question and beg to suggest to your Associa tin the propriety of further representations & our Government of the pressing need of immediate actin with referense to the ma ters herein discussed.
I beg to remaiņā, Sir,
Your obdient servant,
T. S. HASKELL,
Presiden,
Amerion Ass oia ion of his In conclusion we wish the American Ass.- ciation of China much prosperity in the useful career which we can see before it and we feel sure all British merchants in China and Hongkong will re-echo that wish.
THE COLLISION BETWEEN UNDIED STATES A D PHIL PPINE
FORCES.
(Daily Press, 8th February)
The news of the collision between the Phil- ippine and United States Forces at Manila must have been received with extreme regret by all parties. The situation has for a long time past been strained, but there seened some ground for hoping that moderate councils might prevail on both sides and
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which will prove more difficult and involve
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uch larger stcrifice of life than the struggle the Dutch have so long wige in Acheen. The case is one for compromise. The natives would be wise to accept au- tomy under an effective American protee- torate, and this we think, is as much as the Americans should try to enforce;
THE REBELLIONS: IN (CENTRAL CHINA.
(Daily Press, 4th February')
The rebellions in Central China are in Me
ཎྞཾ - ་་
giving serious trouble to the Authorities, and that in the province of Anhui appears to be gathering, force rather than showing signs of discomfiture. The cities of Kuying- and Mengeheng, after standing a siege hy.. the rebels, have at length fallen into their bands. The former city was carried by assault on the 21st ultimo, and the gates of were opened to the foer 00 Mengcheng the 22nd by sympathisers in the city. Its is stated that the rebel force is now en route ---7 for Shachou and Kauchou, which cities, s they have also resolved to capture. The fig rebel leader NiU is reported to be a savage chief, and it is said that he butchered the com- mandant of the garrison at Kuyang. It is . also said that some two thousand men, women, and chil tren fell in the struggle ʼnt- tending the capture of the city. The rebels
R