AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 37, 13 February 1901, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

GERMANY’S STRANGE ACTION.

INDIGNATION IN JAPAN.

“RUSSIANS HAVE BECOME DEVILS.”

VOICE OF GOD DROWNED BY AB

TILLERY.

(By Telegraph.) (Per mail steamer at Auckland.)

The United States Government and American newspapers have accused Minister Conger of undue severity in dealing with the Chinese, but Pekin 'correspondents write to London that he is there regarded as specially lenient. President McKinley addressed an identical note to the Powers, requesting negotiations as to indemnities and new treaties with China to be held at some other place than Pekin. This roused such opposition on the part of Germany that the President thought it wise to withdraw the note. It appears, therefore, that Germany has succeeded in keeping the indemnity question to Pekin. It is said to be the opinion of all diplomatists-that if the question of indemnity be not removed from Pekin nothing can prevent the carving up of China.

The proposal of the United States that the indemnity question be referred to an international commission was not only objected to by Germany, but was, it is whispered, not agreeable to Lord Salisbury. Japan is said to be most indignant because of the atrocities committed in China by the soldiers of some of the allied force.

Newspapers publish daily articles, strongly' condemning the brutality and license which have reigned for months in China.

. Serious reflections are cast upon Christianity, which, tho Japanese claim, does not withhold the Russians front committing crimes which the pagan Japanese are ashamed even to witness.

One paper at Tokio says the Russians have become devils, and the voice of God is drowned by the thunder of artillery. In ".many shops are pictures showing Europeans murdering children, knocking down women, and assaulting old men, while the Japanese are represented as bestowing gifts and benedictions upon the kneeling Chinese people.

Horrible- details of tho crimes of Russians and French are published, and it is claimed that the Japanese troops behaved behaved best, with tho Euglish and Americans next. The English were well disciplined, except some Indians, who were unable to resist the temptation to loot.