The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
Tho Tension in the Far East.

The Tension in the Far East.
The apprehension of strained relations
between Great Britain and Russia, at
tested by the serious depression of the
London stock market, may well attract
American attention to the situation on the
western coast of Asia. Mex to Great Brit
ain, the United States are most vitality
concerned, both actually and prospec-
lively, in the maintenance Of open mar
kets in China, and it is high time for
US to recognize that our interests are men
aced not only in those sections of the sea-
board occupied by Germany and Russia, or
preempted by France, but even in the
Yang-tse-klang valley. 1t is also obvious
that the new or threatened developments
of a partitioning policy in China have a
direct bearing on the question whether We
should keep the Philippines.
Although our share of China's foreign
trade is, even now, the largest, next to that
of Great Britain, its present dimensions
are Insignificant compared to those which
It ought to attain in the course of the next
quarter of a century. Its expansion ought
to be commensurate with Chinais increas-
ing demand for foreign commodities and
increasing power of paying for these with
her native products. 1t must be remem-
bered that the Chinese trade of the future
Is not to be confined to the exchange
of commodities at the seaports. 1t is to
ipermeate the interior of the country and
to concern itself with the construction
and operation of railways, with steam
navigation on all suitable inland water
Nyaua with tho WORKING IF Yniuarala and
the establishment of various kinds of fac
tories; in a word, with the general ex-
ploitation of the empire.
Now, Americans could never be shut out
from this vast field of enterprise and profit,
provided they could rely upon finding an
open door and the equal opportunity
promised to them by treaties which give
them the rights of the most favored nation.
But the door, once open, is already partly
closed; the opportunity, once equal every
where. Is now limited to . section OF
the Middle Kingdom; the treaties be.
tween the United States and the Pekln
Government, once valid all over China,
have no longer any binding force In the
territories occupied by Russia and Ger.
many, n they may soon cease to be op.
eratlve in theprovlnces adjoining Tonquin.
Tho facts must not be lost sight of that
tho north of China has been avowedly
reserved for the Russian sphere of in,
huence; that the greater part of Shan-tung
can be and will be controlled by Germany
from the port of Kiao Chou, and that
France, having been permitted to assume q
quasi suLerainty over all southern China
hasforbidden the opening of the city of Nan
ming IN the West River. because she wishe.
to divert the traffic to the Tonquin route
where she can tax 1t. These three powers
are vigorously exclusive. and experienc,
has shown that our trade will never gair
. foothold In regions under their jurlsdic
ton.
But, 1t may be said, there still remain
the Yang-tse-Kiang Valley. which, liber
ally defined In respect of boundaries, con
~Btitutes the richest part of China, and con
tains. perhaps, two hundred millions of in
habitants. There IL no doubt that tn,
'Pekin Government has given a pledg
that 1t will never ALLEVIATE any par
of that valley without Great Britain
consent. But the boundaries contenl
plated by the pledge have not beef
fixed, and 1t is known that the Frencl
claim rights in the great Province O
SEe.chuen, through which the upper water
of the Yang-tse. Kiang flow. Then, again
II Russian railways are permitted to ente
the Yang.tse.K iang Valley from tn
North. and French railways to pierc
1t from the South, manifestly, the secur
ity of English and American Interests
even in the region ostensibly reserved TO
freedom Of trade. will be undermined. Tn
junction of the Russo.Chinese and tn
Franco-Chinese railway systems would Sc
up In central China an impossible bar
rier to British and American commerce.
1t IL evident from the declarations @
the st. Petersburg and Paris press tina
there exists an understanding that Franc
and Russia, between them, ought to di
rect the destinies of China. The eros
fire from these formidable powers 10 nov
converRing on the valley of the Yang
tse-Kiang, and, according to the CORE
Spondent of the London Times at PekiI
Russia, acting in conjunction with Franc
and Belgium, has obtained q railwa
contract which will enthrons her 1
tho vital centre of the very territory 1
which Brltish and American interests u0E
suppoasd 10 ba safe, An Incident tpprs