New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-17
CHINESE CONCESSIONS.

Some weeks ago we published in these col
umns an account Of the extraordinary colces-
sions granted by the Chinese Government
10 an AngloItalian syndicate for the ue-
velopment OF the mineral and other resources
of the province OF ShanSi. We stated that
there seemed good reason to believe that
there on the banks of the Yellow River ana
only two hundred or three hundred miles from
Picking were some of the largest ana richest
beds of iron ore, Of anthracite and bltumnous
coal and of petroleum 10 be found In all the
world and that these were all in close proX-
Unity TO each other and in snguarly accessible
pIaces Evidently, then, the development OF
them with European capital. skill and enter
prise may well mark an epoch in the INDUSTRIAL
history of the Far East. II not OF the whole
world Further details OF this colossal under
taking are now given by the United states
Consul at Tien-Tsln, as reported In special
dispatch in yesterdays Tribune. The conces-
slons have been fully granted In the most nu-
thorltalve manner. the preliminary surveys
have been made, and apparently nothing now
remains but TO go ahead with the building of
railroads. the opening Of mines, the sinking OF
wells the construction Of mills. FORCES and re-
hneries. and. no doubt. the earning OF profits
that will make the wealth OF the Klondike
seem poor.
Now. this IS all very well. so far as 1t goes.
The success Of the enterprise will be n good
thing for it's promoters. and good thing for
China, and n good thing for all the world.
But the ny in the ointment Is just this that
there is no security In and for Chinese
concession. That Is hard saying. but we
must regard It as justified. There is no assur-
In, uh hole
sion will not be abruptly and arbitrarily re-
pndlatcd For that Is exactly what has hthcr-
TO been done in China. only n few weeks ago
n solemn contract made with one foreign cor
poratIon was broken at the bidding Of another
foreign Power The same may be done In
Shan.Sl Why not? That province les within
tho Russian sphere of influence" II the Rus
sian Government conccvcs It to he contrary to
Russian interests for that province TO be
worked and controlled by British corpora
ton, may II not compel the Chinese Govern
mcnt 10 ahrogate the concession, Just as It did
in tho case of the shan-Hai- kwan Railroad?
II IS not. Of COURSE to he predicted that such
n thing will be done, or that II is even remote
Is thought Of But It Is n matter Of record that
such thing has been done and II Is perfectly
evident that there will he danger OF It's being
done again, Just so long as China IS made the
object the victim and the tool or rival intrigucs.
one Of these days let us hope the various
Powers that arp NOW contending for adyan-
tage there VIII see that Il is 10 their mutual
interest nil around 10 have faith maintained
ana contracts kept In China There Is room
in that vast empire FOR al 10 find profitable
fields In wrangling among themselves and
trying to Jockey and TO balk each other the
rival claimants may impair each others IN
tcrests, but they VIII scarcely promote their
own. Fair dealing all around and open doors
for all will In the end be best for every one
concerned.