New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-28
INTERESTS IN CHINA.

Great Britain has vast interests in China. Her
commerce with that Empire amounts to S112,-
900 900 n year IN total Of sos 900. or just
tvv1thirds OF the whole foreign trade OF China.
or the 81 132 ships entered and cleared ut treaty
norris in 1895 1850 were British and only
c.CSI were German. The tonnage OF the for
mcr was 2O,525 1JS and Of the latter only
2.442. 1875 Naturally. Great Britain desires TO
retain this profitable trade. and does not relish
the idea Of Chinas being partitioned among
other Powers. which are not only her rivals. but
are actually hostile to her In spirit. and VIII be
sure TO injure her trade by adverse tariff regu-
laions No wonder that there Is general eX-
pectation that Great Britain will insist upon
taking a hand in the game OF wholesale grab
which has now been started In the East, either
TO check the rapac.ty OF the others or 10 secure
n lions share OF the spells herself. Neverihe
less. the question may well be asked whether
Great Britain had not better be content with the
worldwide empire she already possesses. and
which IL now taxing her severely to hold and
10 administer Would It not be wiser TO save
her West Indian colonies from the ruin that is
so remorselessly descending upon them, TO cure
the growing discomfort OF Hindostan. and to
cultivate and improve the neglected estates Of
do bu, has not yet done? The weary Titan
is already overloaded. Is It wise to add to his
burden? Is Grea: Britain perpctually TO be one
whose wounds are never healed. whose weary
race Is never rum
Japan. too has great Interests IN China. and
has had ever since she beat back the invading
lcglons OF Kublai Khan and established her
right to Independence OF her giant neighhor.
She stands second 10 Great Britain IN magnl-
tudc Of trade with China having S2j.O0o,OOO n
far more than Russia. or all The rest Of
Europe pu, together. Naturally. she wants to
retain TINT trade and Increase II. But In her
case. too there Is room for grave questioning
whether Il would be wise 10 Increase her terri
torial posses sions by seizng n province or two
on the mainland. At present Japan IL secure
in her island home Just Great Britain H.
She has merely to keep control OF the sen about
her to be safe from Invasion. There are only
two Powers IN the world to-day that could beat
her in naval war, and II she keeps up her
prescn, rate OF naval progress there VIII prob
ably never he any more But II she had an
empire on the Continent TO defend she would be
subject to land attack from the Overwhelming
forces ~ Russia and she would also have 10
divide her feet In such way rs actually TO
put ucr .SIIDu nome NSt!l VI 4iiNi-
sion. Il would DE tine thing in many respects
TO annex some Chinese provinces. but such
possessions would be a source OF weakness that
might in time prove fatal.
The United States, too. has great Interests in
China. and hopes to have greater when the an
ncxation Of Hawaii and the laying OF a telc-
graphic cable shall have helped this country
into the dominant rank In Pacific commerce
to which II is naturally entitled Its trade with
China is now over $40, OO0O 600 a ycar-exce~ied
only by that Of Great Britain and Japan. II Is
cmncnty desirable that that trade should be
preserved and increased But that end Is not
TO be attained by going to war with the par
tltonlng Powers nor by selling for this coun-
try a share Of the crumbllng Empire. There IS
no lack OF suggestions that We should adopt
such n course Those who disputed the right or
this country to express any interest even In
Venezuela who talk about yankee insolence"
in Cuba, and who weep crocodile tears over the
awful blunder we shall make In annexing Hn
wall. are daily urging this country to interfere
in the partition Of China. The trick will not
work Tho Monroe Doctrine cannot be stretched
to cover Asia The United States will not. by
mcddling in the affairs Of European Powers
Invite and Justify the mpddng Of European
Powers in American affairs. Doubtless the le
climate rights Of the United States in China |
ought to be and will be safcgrarded. But that |
10 to be done by peaceful negotiations with the
Powers under whose control China passes, ex-
nelly as Japan's rights In Hawaii will be Sc
cured by treaty with this country when this |
country has annexed those islands. And 1t Is |
by no means impossible that this country may |
got more real profit out Of China than any Of |
the Powers that arbitrarily Cypress her and |
divide her lands among them.
In t,,,t ~ bar hat