CHAPTER XV

GERMAN RAILWAY RIGHTS IN SHANTUNG AND THE TIENTSIN-NANKING RAILWAY

THE

HE occupation of Kiaochau by Germany was decided upon in principle in 1896. In that year, it will be remembered, Li Hung Chang paid his celebrated visit to Moscow, being present at the Coronation festivities of the present Czar. On his return he passed through Germany. It was suspected at the time that Russia had secured valuable rights in North China and Manchuria. On being pressed Li Hung Chang steadfastly denied that this was so. Shortly after he had left the country, however, the German Government received certain information that their suspicions had been correct. Thereupon Kiaochau, in anticipation of Russian aims, was mentally earmarked as a future territorial acquisition of Germany, who was badly in need of a naval station in Chinese waters, with the province of Shantung as their sphere of influence. The opportunity to act upon this decision arrived shortly afterwards.

In November 1897 two German missionaries were murdered by Chinese, and the occurrence was made the ostensible cause of the seizure and occupation of the coveted territory. By a curious coincidence the scene of the outrage was the province of Shantung, a circumstance that served to foster the illusion.

The circumstances of this proceeding were briefly as follows. Early in November the missionaries were murdered. On the 14th of that month Admiral von Diedricks, Commander-in-chief of the German squadron in Eastern waters, took possession of the heights surrounding Kiaochau Bay. Later in the day a proclamation was issued explaining the circumstances of the occupation, and while maintaining that friendly relations existed between Germany and China, hinting by no means obscurely at the intention of Germany to retain the occupied territory.

In Europe the significance of the German action was fully realised. The Russian press dwelt upon the logical consequences that must ensue, and on all sides it was recognised that a crisis had arisen which might entail far-reaching consequences.

The following comment of the Novosti is of interest, as indicating the current view :

"This event will perhaps form a starting-point for a decision in the Far Eastern question. Everything depends on whether the Germans remain in the occupied town or decide to give it up again. If the occupation should be a lasting one, Russia must take immediate steps to safeguard her life interests in China. Of all the colonial struggles heretofore undertaken by Germany, this one with China is by far the most important, as it brings her into contact with the interests of Russia and Japan.

"It is in no way desirable for these two States that Germany should establish herself in their close proximity, and force herself into what is to a certain extent their sphere of influence. Moreover, if Germany is not deterred by protests on the part of the other Powers, the occupation of Kiaochau will form a very convenient excuse to ask the Reichstag to grant a further increase of the navy.

"Russia especially can learn a lesson by the occupation of Kiaochau by German troops, and it can well serve as an example. Russia stands greatly in need of a port free from ice in these regions. The Chinese Government will never of their own free will place a port at their disposal in gratitude for services rendered. If, therefore, Germany declines to evacuate Kiaochau, Russia on her side will have every right to occupy, in retaliation, some portion of Chinese territory."

The occupation of Kiaochau was followed up by the presentation by Baron von Heyking, the German Minister in Peking, of the following demands:

1. The building of an Imperial tablet to the memory of the missionaries who were murdered.

2. The families of the murdered missionaries to be indemnified. 3. The Governor of Shantung to be degraded permanently. 4. The Chinese Government to defray the cost of the German occupation of Kiaochau.

5. German engineers to have preference in the building of any railway which China may construct in the province of Shantung, and also in the working of any mine which may exist along the track of such railway.1

These demands the Chinese refused to discuss until Kiaochau had been evacuated. In reply Baron von Heyking informed the 1 Blue Book No. 1 of 1898, at page 2.

Yamen that "the uselessness of putting any faith in the promises of the Chinese Government having been proved by experience, the evacuation of Kiaochau would not take place until the Chinese Government had assented to the German demands." The Chinese then changed their ground, and negotiations proceeded.

Meanwhile, to the previous demands, had been added a request for a guarantee of proper protection in the future of the lives of German subjects in China. Early in 1899 these several demands were acceded to, including the demand for a guarantee. The latter took the practical form of a lease of Kiaochau Bay and a section of the hinterland to Germany for ninety-nine years, which, as Baron von Bülow put it, affords "the best security," for "by this the Chinese authorities will have continually before their eyes the evidence of German power, and will realise that wrongs committed against German nationals will not remain unavenged."

On a later occasion the same statesman summarised the policy of Germany:

"Mention has been made of the partition of China. Such a partition will not be brought about by us at anyrate. All we have done is to provide that, come what may, we ourselves shall not go empty-handed. The traveller cannot decide when the train is to start, but he can make sure not to miss it when it does start. The devil takes the hindmost. But we do not desire, and I beg to impress this point on you-we do not desire a partition of China, and I do not believe that there is an immediate prospect of such a division. But in any case (and here, I think, I can best resume the advantages secured to us by the occupation of the port, as well as the reasons which induced it), in any case, I say, we have secured in Kiaochau a strategical and political position which assures us a decisive influence on the future of the Far East. From this strong position we can look with complacency on the development of affairs. We have such a large sphere of action and such important tasks before us that we have no occasion to grudge other nations the concessions made them. German diplomacy will pursue its path in the East as everywhere else-calmly, firmly, and peacefully. We will never play the part of mischief-maker, nor will we play that of Cinderella."

The lease in its final form was signed on the 6th of March 1898, a railway convention being concluded on the same day, whereby the right to construct a triangle of railways in Shantung was also secured.1

The first of these lines was to run from Kiaochau to Chinanfu

1 Appendix E. No. 1.