The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-07
AMERICA,IN m EAST.
Nv GOverSsnent a Factor There in
International Politics.

lut"TnhtlOnal fOlVlcs.
One of the ablest members of the
| diplomatic corps, in Washington, a
man whose country occupies a neutral
position I'm regard to the Eastern ques-
ton, according to the correspondent OF
| the New York Herald, has given ut
terence to some highly interesting opin-
ions concerning the position of this
country regarding the important pO-
| litical and commercial developments in
| that part of the world
The United States" this diplomat is
| reported as saying, lis more of factor
! in the game Of international politics
| which is now in progress over affairs
! in the East than is generally under
stood. All the great European powers
| are seeking to ascertain the attitude
| of this country on the great Eastern
| problem, and until that is known there
will be no move on the international
| chessboard. Your country thus has a
commanding position in the big fight
| that is going on, and by shrewd diplo-
| macy ought to be able TO obtain almost
| any concessions in the East that are
| desired
There can be no doubt that the great
| European powers are planning for fuf-
Their acquisitions of territory In the
East. How much farther they will go
| depends in a large measure upon the
position of this country. 1t is con-
! test on one hand between Russia, Ger
many and France to secure a distinct
| declaration that the United States will
| not concern itself about the opening up
| of any more new ports by foreign coun-
| tries, and England and Japan on the
nf ha, ha nd 70 TTnita6
To join them in protest against "A pol
| icy which will give any nation or group
| of nations superior rights in any Chi
nese ports.
The head and center of the fight is
| just at present right here in Wash
| ington, and it will become even more
exciting upon the arrival Of the new
Russian ambassador. Until his arrival
you need not look for any new move
by Russia in the East. The action OF
Russia in raising the legation in TINS
| city to an embassy and transferring
| to this post Count Cassini direct from
China is. in my mind. very signifi-
cant. He will come here prepared to
explain in detail the exact state OF af-
fairs i'm China and with instructions
not only to sound the United States
on its position in the matter, but To
make advances looking to an under
standing which will give this country
almost anything that may be desired
in a commercial way in return for its
moral support in favor Of the schemes
of those countries which have arrayed
themselves against England and ia
pan in the Orient.
Russia win even be satisfied if the
United States will take neutral po-
sition. or, in other words. Will refuse
10 ally with England and Japan in
the contest. The expectation is that
the French. German and Russian am
bassadors wih work in concert upon
the arrival OF the latter in this coun-
try. The United States is very pru-
IDENTIFY keeping silent, and in this Rus
STA will seem 10 have an advantage.
She will be satisfied If the present pol
icy is maintained, while Great Britain
wishes the United States to depart
from her traditional policy and at
least give moral support to her side
Of the controversy"
There is no doubt that the Admins
tration is giving very careful consid-
Grafton To the Eastern question. While
the prevailing opinion in the Cabinet
is that we ought to avoid all entang-
ling alliances, there is a strong senti-
ment in favor of following course
which will extend American trade in
| the Orient. provided it can be done
without tying up too closely with any
European country. The policy will be
| to wait and hear what each side has
| to offer and TO follow that course
| which will be most likely to boom
| American trade without causing a
| rupture with any other country"