What views are being communicated about the Europeans (the people around the
table) in their role as imperialists?
They are arguing with each other over what parts of the pie that represents
China each country should be able to carve out.
They are listening to the concerns of the man behind them.
He is alarmed and worried that the other people are carving up the pie that
represents China.
They are helping China by carving it out among European imperial powers.