CHINESE  HISTORY  :  THIRD  PERIOD  41
the  belief  became  prevalent  that  China  was  so  weak  that
she  must  yield  to  whatever  demands  were  made  of  her,
provided  a  sufficient  show  of  force  was  displayed.
Acts  of  Foreign  Aggression
In  1897  Germany  seized  Kiaochow,  on  the  south  of
the  Shantung  Peninsula.  Her  pretext  for  so  doing  was  the
murder  of  two  German  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  in  the
southern  part  of  Shantung.
Russia  forced  the  Chinese  Government  to  lease  Port
Arthur,  one  of  the  strongest  naval  bases  in  the  world,  and
Talienwan,  thus  strengthening  her  position  in  Manchuria.
Great  Britain  put  in  a  claim  for  the  lease  of  Weihaiwei,
and  China  granted  this  in  return  for  the  help  received
in  financing  the  indemnity  owed  to  Japan.
France  claimed  and  obtained  the  lease  of  Kwangchowwan,
  in  Kwangtung,  so  as  to  “  restore  the  balance  of  power
in  the  Far  East."
In  1899  Italy  demanded,  but  was  refused,  the  cession  of
Sanmen  Bay  in  Chekiang.  The  people  of  China  began  to
realise  that,  if  this  process  of  granting  leases  went  on  longer,
the  integrity  of  the  Empire  was  doomed,  and  a  strong  antiforeign
  feeling  began  to  manifest  itself.
The  Reforms  of  1898
In  1898  the  Emperor  Kwanghsii,  strongly  influenced  by
a  band  of  ardent  young  reformers,  the  chief  of  whom  was
Kang  Yu-wei,  attempted  to  introduce  radical  reforms  in
the  Empire,  believing  that  only  thus  could  the  ship  of  state
be  saved  from  foundering.  The  Empress  Dowager,  as  well
as  the  conservative  officials  of  Peking,  regarded  these  innovations ­
  with  dread,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  depose
the  Emperor.  She  began  a  vigorous  crusade  against  the
Reform  Party,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  put  to  death  all
who  fell  into  her  hands.