Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-27
TRADE OF THE EAST
Meaning of the Oriental Movement
of the Powers.
SEEKING TO SHUT OUT AMERICA
How Hawaiian Annexation Would
Check the Effort.
SENATOR MORGAN'S VIEWS

tHe lNlportaI Ce 10 tn.S government OF the
actions they appear to be about taking.
was the subject of an interview today by
Star reporter with Senator Morgan of Ala
bama- This subject involved the policy of
the United States in regard to the acquisi-
ton of foreign territory. Senator Morgan's
view was that the action of European pow
ers in relation to Chira was of interest 10
thiS government because of the effect upon
readjustmelt of the situation in China IN
restricting American commerce. In his
opinion, the United States could have no
concern in the controlling influences ir
China, the policy of II is government being
averse to meddling in European and Asiatic
Questions that do not affect our treaty
rights.
No Possessions In the East.
My view is that sane American ex-
poets that We will ever establish any pos
session of the United States anywhere on
the eastern hemisphere" said Senator Nor
gan. The people of the United States
naturally consider that they have the right
to include within their possessions any Of
the contiguous islands of the Atlantic or
racine that belong TO the American sys-
TEN Wlen they can do So without giving
Just cause OF oifense 10 any other American
state. including Canada. Within these lin-
lis. our plan of acquisition of territory, if
We nave any plan, excludes the idea of
tCIoHlZdtlOn ana OF conquest, unless a
quest might become u proper indemnity for
u just and inevitable war
Any territory that may ever acquire
within the limits of the American geo
graphical system will come to us tnroue!:
their adoption of our institutions and Will
De accepted by US from some necessity ta;.t
Is SO important that we cannot avoid the
results. Our history in this respect is very
clear. In the case of San Domingo a treaty
OF annexation was rejected for no justifi-
able reason except that we were not COM
no CE-TtT Tf
acquire the islands, We have rejected a
similar overture for acquisitions from Hon
duras and for like reasons. We have de-
cldred that no other European nation
should acquire the dominion of Cuba but
We nave retained our respect for the claims
of Spain in the midst of temptations per-
plexlties and wrongs that would have
forced almost any other nation to take
Cuba in order 10 secure the peace and
safety of our own people. If Cuba had been
as near to England il is TO the United
States no one can doubt that it would have
been part of the British empire. :.
our nearest approach to the policy of col
onlzation was in Liberia, to which we were
driven in order to make home for slaves
captured by our ships when in transit
across the ocean to America. That policy
was founded on necessity of our govern
nent and was justified by the highest mo-
tiVes of benevoenCe. Yet, having planted
that colony We have religiously abstained
from any interference with its government
and have even refused to prevent the ag-
Sressicns OF other nations upon those peo-
pie.
1T is therefore clear. both in theory
ard practice. that the United States never
have extended and never will extend their
jurisdiction beyond the sphere of the Amer
lean geographical system. Whatever we
may md 1t necessary to do. therefore, in
respect OF this new movement of the Euro
pean states 10 take possession of the
Asiatc coast of the Pecinc ocean the idea
OF occupying any portion of that country
with our flag of our extending the iuris-
States ic
simply absurd.
Our Policy In the East.
This movement Of the European powers
serves to define and emphasize the attitude
or the United States upon this question
I'VE cannot extend our boundaries westward
further than the Midway Islands, which
lie beyond Hawaii of which We have taken
possession by the solemn acts of our gov
ernment. 1t is even doubtful whether we
would resist an encroachmcnt upon the
Islands by foreign power because thew are
not definitely within the sphere of Ameri-
can influence. They are 800 miles to the
west OF the Hawaiian group and may be-
come very important as a place of refuge
for ships in distress as a coaling station
The Hawaiian Islands are nearly 900
miles 20 the east of the line that describes
our water boundary between Russia and
the United States, as fixed by treaty AS
the United States is the nearest continental
power to Hawaii and as they lie to the
eastward both Of our Russian boundary
and of The Midway Islands the expressions
or severa! OF our secretaries of state that
these Islands are a part Of the American
system Il thoroughly true and very impor-
taEt- The relations of the United States
toward Hawaiis shave been those of nurture
protection, civilization and close relations
of trade. When we protect those islands
against Asiatic or European Intrusion we
are as clearly within the limits of the Mon
roe doctrine as We would be in protecting
any islands of the Caribbean sea or the
Ef raj
States government is not qualified by its
constitution to maintain protectorate over
any foreign governments. We could not
POSSIBLY maintain such relation to a for
eign monarchy. The situation would be
utterly absurd when should undertake
TO exercise PrOtectorate over kingdom
OF any description We can only include a
republic within the scope of actual protec-
tion and We can 90 that much, not by col
oniZatiCn, but by acquisition. If the coun-
try is not fit to be annexed. If the rea-
sons for annexation are not cogent the
United States will never accept them with
in our territorial Jurisdiction.
Asiaic Trade Aimed At.
The movement for the occupation Of the
eastern coast of China and Corea, follow
ing the occupation by Great Britain and
France of the southern coast of Asia must
have some great and emergcnt cause for
its activity. That cause is not merely the
acquisition of territory. for every nation
concerned III tillS movement has
more territory than il can govern and taLa
care of with proper regard to the welfare
of the people 1 can find no reasonable c.
luton OF this problem except that the
western states of Europe, including Rnssio
intend to interpose a barrier to the ereat
commercial seaPorts between the United
States and the orient for the purpose AZ
effectively interceptng the trade of the
G'0.000.000 of people who have access To
the Pacific ocean on the eastern hemis
phere and drifting il through Euronean
ports. and preventing 1t from coming to US
direct lines across the Pacific ocean
More than half of the money they make
out of the handling OF our productions is
Drawn from our indirect trade with Asia.
They are the middlemen who get the com
mission, the interest and the Transportation
money, In handling productions, which
ultimately reach Asiatic markets. and their
profits are enormous. Seeing that the cur-
rent of trade is opening a great activity
between the United States and the orient
and seeing that with the possession of Ha-
l. H -