Evening star., 1898-12-14
TRADE IN CHINA
Gossip on the Alleged Interview With
Senator Davis.
ALLIANCE WITH ENGLAND And JAPAN
The Subject Discussed, but Not
Ripe for Action.
WILL BE RATIFIED

The interview credited to Senator Davis,
published in London from a Paris corre-
spondent, in which the senator is repre-
sented as strongly favoring an alliance be-
tween the United States Great Britain and
Japan to protect their common interests in
the orient has excited considerable interest
here. OF course it is not known whether the
interview was fully authorized, but Sena-
tor Davis views on this subject are well
understood by some of his colleagues, and,
in general way, the interview represents
Senator Davis views and those of senators
who have been giving attention to the Chi
nese question. Where Mr.. Davis is repre-
sented as favoring treaty" of alliance
there has probably been misuse of terms.
The subject of an alliance with Great
Britain and Japan has for some time been
receiving serious thought, not only among
senators who study International ques-
tions. but in the State Department. Prac
tically the controlling consideration among
the leading advocates of maintaining Amer
lean control in the Philippines is the i'm
portant bearing it is expected to have on
the subject of our commercial interests in
China. The idea of an alliance with Great
Britain and Japan does not comprehend
treaty with those countries, but simply
joint action for common object.
Not Ripe for Action.
1t is matter, however, that is not ripe
for action yet and will not be until after
all the complications of the Spanish ques-
ton have been settled There is fixed de-
termination that the same privileges grant
ed other powers-Germany, Russia and
France-jointly or separate y-shall be ac-
corded the United States, and to insure
this it is recognized that cooperation with
Great Britain and Japan will be necessary.
This cooperation Is expected to take the
form of joint or simultaneous demand
from the three governments for equal
privileges in China with all other nations,
the demand to be enforced if necessary
The President is not ready to go into this
question now. but it has been discussed suf-
fcently to indicate his general views with
respect to it, and the reference to our in
tereSts in China in his message at the
opening of Congress is regarded as sig
nificant in the light of conversations that
The attitude OF Secretary .-ay on the sub
ject is represented as being pronouncedy in
favor of such an alliance as is being dis
cussed by weIl-nformed statesmen, both
here and in England, privately.
A BROADER Trade Interest.
The acquisition of the Philippines is eX-
pected to result in broader trade interest
for this country in the orient, and senator's
who are lest informed as to the desire of
the ultra-eXpansionists say that this will
not necessarily depend upon the retention
of absolute sovereignty in the entire Philip
pine group by this country, but will be
served probably as well whatever ultimate
disposition is made of the islands. The
ratification of the treaty, it is held, will fix
the interest and establish the influence Of
this government in that quarter of the
globe, and there will be no serious opposi-
ton on the part of sO-cailed eXpansionists
10 any disposition of the islands which will
insure the liberties of the people and a
good government. A canvass Of the Senate
indicates that the treaty will surely be
ratified, and it can be stated positively that
the most advanced eXpansionsts have not
yet settled upon any plan for the future
which is inconsistent with an unprejudiced
consideration of any proposition for the
ultimate disposition of the islands. The es-
tablishment of a base for Chinese trade
an outpost of commercials the main OBJ
jecl they have in view.