Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1894-11-17
UNCLE SAM, P|RE
Our Government the Arbitrator
Of the ORIENTAL Trouble.
CHINA HAS ASKED FOR IT
Both Nations in the East Naturally Look
TO the United States TO Conduct
the <egotiatlous.

| Washington, Nov. 10-As a result Of
| negotiations now pending it is conf
| IDENTIFY believed that the United States
| viii Very soon be asked to mediate be-
tween Japan and China with a view to
permanent peace on a basis satisfac-
tory 10 both countries. 1t can be stated
positively that the United States has
declined to Join with European powers
III any arbitrary intervention to force
Il settlement But while unwilling to
act in an arbitrary manner, either IN
diyidually or jointly. with European
nations, the representatives Of the ma
tions parties to the war have been given
to understand that the good offices of
this government would be gladly eXer-
cised to secure peace III case such is
the expressed wish.
Naturally theJapanese insist that('hi-
ma shall take the initiative in any ne:so-
tiations looking to a restoration Of
peace, but that she is entirely willing
TO accede to any reasonable proposition
is not doubted. From the beginning
OF the histilities the Chinese have been
anxious to have the United States ar
bitrate the differences between them
selves and the japanese, which led to
the war, but of course there could be
no arbitration except upon the request
of both parties and that was lacking
After the battles of Chin Lien Chang
on October % last when the Chinese
suffered their severe defeat, they be-
came thoroughly alarmed and conyinEed
that something must be done to termi-
nate the war. They could not, however,
SO humble their pride as to sue for peace
directly to Japan, but casting about for
some means of opening peace negotia-
tions, they hit upon the treaty with
the United States of 1S4S.
TREATY PERMITS IT.
The first article OF this treaty pledges
the United States, in case that China
is Cppressively or unjustly treated by
another power, to use its good offices
to arrange the difficulty. 1t is similar
i'll scope 10 the first article in our treaty
with Corea. which led Secretary Gresh-
am at the beginning of the trouble to
write a lete to the United States min
lister at Toxic relative to the Japanese
occupation of Corea, which has excited
SO much comment. Encouraged by the
attitude Of the United States at that
time, the Chinese government appealed
to United States Minister Denby at
Pekin to cause his government to inter
vene and Mr. DENLY transmitted the
application to Washington, where it
was laid before the PRESIDENT who has
had it under consideration for a week !
or more. AS our Representations inter
Ventlon in the case Of the occupation
of CCrea had little effect, there was
no reason to suppose that a different
result would follow an attempt to use
our good offices in favor of China. AS
already Indicated our government was
indisposed to cooperate directly with
European nations in any effort to coerce
either party to the war and for this
very reason We We're an independent
Intermediary in bringing about peace.
AN IMPARTIAL MEDIATOR.
Both China and Japanese We're as
sIred that we We're free from any sls-
picion Of the desire to secure ac-
cession of territory in Asia which hung |
over the great European powers and |
their confidence in our firmness and |
impartiality was strikingly manifested
by the selection of the United States by
both nations to care for their subjects
in the Others territory. TheUnitedstates
is at present placed in a position in
which she would naturally be looked
to by both China and Japan to serve |
as an arbitrator in case of difficulty in |
arranging the terms Of peace and it is |
therefore very improbable that we viii |
forfeit this position by yielding now |
to China's request to intervene.
Arbtrate we may, but intervene Ws
can not, is the manner in which the sit |
uation is summarized in official circles |
here.