New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-14
FOREIGN NATIONS IN CHINA.
AMERICAN INFLUENCE LEFT BEHIND
BY THE EUROPEAN CONCESSIONS.

THE TWO POLICIES OF EXCLUSIVE OPENING AID
TOLERANT oPENING-THE CLEARING
HOUSE FOR WESTERN IDEAS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir Within the last few days attention has
been drawn 10 the remarkable developments
taking place in international affairs In the Far
East. The position that the Government ana
people Of the United States should take in the
changed conditions now going or is matter OF
great Importance. Some of these points desire
briefly to note.
1t is very apparent that there ARE two poll
cies advocated by the great Powers in relation
to China. The one policy is exclusive. opening
UP China part Of il to commerce, eduoa-
ton and missions. In so far as they are directed
by ones self, ones country or ones religion
The other policy is broad and tolerant opening
China, or pert OF it, 10 the commerce. educa-
ton and missions of the whole world without
regard to nationality creed. II has seemed
for some time as IL England and Japan favored
the latter policy. though perhaps not 10 the eN-
tent OF insisting that this policy should he car
Iied out on the part Of all 1t may turn out 10
be the that both Of these countries VIII.
under the force Of circumstances, decide them
selves TO adopt the exclusive policy II has also
seemed that France Germany and Russia have
not care to insist that such policy should be
adopted by all. One may be anxious TO he ex-
elusive ones self and yet not wish others TO ne
exclusive. IT may also he the case that these
three great nations. in ths future development
of China will gradually cease TO he exclusive.
and will adopt the other and broader policy.
Where the Government Of the United States
stands IN It's advocacy Of ore or the other OF
these policies is unknown. 1t is naturally in
ferred that this country would incline To the
broader policy as promulgated through the
official voice OF England and Japan. In all
probability however :he Government as such
will not insist that either policy be carried out
unless there should lie such pervasive senti-
ment among the people Of this country az 10
demand that its representativ at Washng-
ton take such a stand This is not likely 10
occur for the people of this country have little
interest in questions in the Far East. especially
If there is to be any dispute with certain Powers
in Europe
Nevertheless. it is important for our CONNER
cial men TO understand what will be the state
Of their commercial enterprises IN China If the
more exclusive policy should really be carried
out. Let us take the large territory Of Man
churia first example. Suppose that Rus
STA should secure the lease for ninety nine years
Of the ports of Port Arthur and Talien-Wan
Suppose also, that she should secure conces-
sion for the railroad in Manchuria to connect |
these ports with her Siberian railroad 1nevi !
tably American railroad spectators would be
unable 10 secure for themselves any railroad |
concessions in that part OF China. Neither |
would any Americans interested in securing |
rights 10 open up the mineral resources Of that |
part Of China be able to Secure any concessions
Such a right Russia would demand for herself |
I'll, for Ane 10
enterprise would be such as would be deter
mined by Russia rather than by China quite |
probably the Russians would be willing TO pur- |
chase materials or certain goods from the Amer |
leans and in that way American commerce |
would extend in Manchuria. There would not |
however be that same extension Of American |
commerce as If China were able to direct her |
own affairs and decide for herself what country |
or what men should receive any privileges or |
concessions
Take also, for example, the province of Shan |
Tung. The Germans have already secured |
lease for ninety-nine years OF magnificent |
harhor on the southern side Of that province |
known by the name Of Kiao-Chau. Any rail |
road concession in that province is also claimed |
for the Germans. Thus Americans would be |
largely eliminated from commercial specula- |
tioas in that province with its thirty millions
inclined to allow Americans TO compete with !
it's own people. Having lived in this part OF
China for some ten years. and having known
Of the great possibilities that existed worthy |
TO receive the attention OF my own country
men. am somewhat chagrined that America !
should again be found mot 10 be in II"
AS for the provinces in central CHINA on
either side of the Yang Kiang, it seems TO
be taken for grant thai English domination
will exist there. While England as have said,
is inclined 10 broad policy. it is yet none the
less true that in great many speculations the
English try TO outbid the Americans. Natural
w. in this section English spectators would
have the first claim and the first chance. Amer
leans would not be in IL unless the English
wo I'D allow II.
From all this it is that some strong
and definite position should have been taken
ere this on the part If our Government and
people to help on the development Of China on
broad lines; in other words, To recognize that
China was a government de factO and had
right TO rule her own territory and 10 develop
her country in any way she might be persuaded
to adopt In any such effort. even now. Amer
lea might easily take the lead, showing that
China has rights to be respected and that there
are principles to be advoca ted. taught by inter
national law. and in harmony with our best
Christian civilization. Both our Government
and people could well speak forth in un-
to go to war over any such matter in behalf of
China as opposed TO the entertainments OF any
other nation.
In saying all this would avoid the impress
sion that China is to be dismembered as the
result Of even the exclusive policy being car
red out TO the extent Of opening certain ports
and securing certain concessions. Already up
ward OF twenty-five ports have been opened to
foreign trade and certain definite boundaries
have been fixed at these ports for foreign resi-
dents and termed foreign concessions or THE
foreign settlement" Though all this has ex-
listed for several years il has not been taken
for granted that the provinces where these
treaty ports have been opened were 10 Oe-
come in consequence. the territory OF all foreign
Powers In certain ports. as shanghai ana
Tien- Tsin certain parts are known 10 be under
English rule. or French, or German and YET
this only meant that this rule was TO exist
within definite limits. Now II happens that. In
addition 10 these treaty ports. two ports