The evening times., 1898-03-18
China's Complications
From the Forum.)


one is naturally impelled to consider
what attitude the United States assumes
on behalf Of her own Chinese export
trade, which. now rapidly developing.
seems destined to grow to great proper
tions-provided the existing markets re-
main undisturbed. Having ourselves no
aim or prospect Of land requirement in
the far East, we are happily relieved from
the consideration of what might other
wise have an incongruous effect, viz: The
carrying there of our own protective tar
iT practices. As il is. our position is clear
and simple: We now need only TO look to
the care Of our existing trade rights
which under our various treaties with
China. and particularly under the most
favored nation clauses Of the same. are,
in that country. full and ample. Let US
see then. what our Government is doing
or likely to do in this regard. AS vet no
evidence is forthcoming that the Wash
ingtOn Administration means aught else,
by way Of Crea ting "A safeguard for these
important interests. than simply TO let
matters drift in happy-go-lucky fashion.
II would indeed appear as if it were be-
lieved that treaty rights derived from
hopeless power, whose territory Is freely
open TO outside absorption, are automau-
cally self-protecting and infused with in
herent force sufficient to survive any pO-
litical change however radical. Our Sec
retary Of State is reported in the press as
holding the quaint and dangerous view
that the interests of the citizens of the
United States are not threatened by
possible partition of China. and that, even
if that empire were divided between Rus
sia and Germany, the opening there for
our goods would still remain unrestricted.
Whether or not such business interests
of our 70.0000e0 Of people are in this in
stance misunderstood or neglected by the
Government. they may perhaps be meas
urably safeguarded by force of circum-
stances. The British stand on the ques-
iion of foreign interference with Chna's
trade must incidentally protect us. al
though only by lucky chance: and, in
the changing circumstances of their nego-
tiations. their present policy may not be
adhered to. Happily. some of our mer-
chants and traders whose important af-
fairs are thus seriously menaced, being
men of energy and foresight, and used to
fend for themselves, have now sought TO
instigate some action at Washington.
without longer waiting upon the somno-
lent policy of merely trusting to luck
The appeal of many of the most impor-
tant firms and corporations of New York
and some of those of Philadelphia-con
cerned in the American export trade to
China, recently laid before the New York
Chamber of Commerce. has resulted in
the prompt dispatch by that influential
body TO President Mcinley of a memorial
which concludes as follows:
That. in view of the danger threaten
ing future trade development of the Unit
ed States in China, the Chamber of Com
merce of the State of New York respect
fully and earnestly urge that such prop
er steps be taken as will commend them
selves to your wisdom for the prompt
and energetic defense of the existing
treaty rights of our citizens in China. and
for the preservation and protection of
their important commercial interests in
that empire
1t will be of interest to see what atti-
tude the Administration takes on these
important representations.