The evening times., 1898-05-05
OUR EASTERN POLICY.
The victory At aaAlua Raises Amer.
lean Prestige.

The Victory 1T Man1ua Raises Amer
lean Prestige.
As a result of the conquest of the
Philippine Islands. washington. will here
after be a center of>edhcern for the
great powers of Europe.
Hitherto this GovernTept has not been
considered in connection with the dispO-
sition of questions affeetinE the Far East.
but in the future Europe will first ascer-
tain its views before acting. These OBJ
servations were made by an official who
| is close to the Administration, and who
has just returned from sojourn Of more
than three years on the other side of the
globe.
mot alone will this be true" he con-
| tinued. ''but mark my words. the vaior
displayed by the Americans will have a
wonderful effect on the future behavior
| of Asiatics toward this Government. As
an easy-going nation the United States
has received small consideration, and its
demands have been met by delayed COM
| pliance. 1 remember that. when Rear
Admiral McNair was in command Of the
| Asiatic squadron and missionaries in
China were in danger. he visited the vice.
| roy of one of the provinces and informed
him that he was certain that full pro-
| lection would be provided for all Ameri-
cans within the province Backed as the
| admiral was with a powerful fleet the
| viceroy saw the veiled threat and hasten
| ed to assure him that Americans would
not be troubled.
Upon Japan, too. will the bravery dis
played by the Americans have an excel
| lent effect. Hawaii nearly led to a seri-
GUS strain in the relations between the
new power Of the East and the republic
of the West, and the firm attitude OF this
Government had much to do with the
final abandonment by japan of the po-
sition she had assumed. Knowing that
Americans can do. Japan will probably
| appreciate that II is wise to continue on
| friendly terms with this Government.
aside from the effect upon Asiatics.
the entrance of the United States into
| the council Of nations upon questions af-
| fecting the Far East will undoubtedly
mark the beginning of new era for this
Government.
There have been reports in circulation
that before Commodore Dewey could
hoist the American flag over the islands,
combined Europe would interfere. Com
modorc Dewey will tolerate no such in
| reference. He may permit the foreign
ers to land marines for the protection OF
their own property. but should they at
| tempt to go any further. have no doubt
| that he will tell them to keep hands on.
He will act, doubtless. only In accord
| ance with such instructions as will be
sent to him from Washington. and those
| instructions will require him to hold the
| islands.
Europe cannot bring pressure to bear
upon America having as its object the
| REIMBURSEMENT Of the fruits of the war.
| as was put upon Japan when she was
| compelled to give up Manchuria and
practically all Of the fruits OF her war
with China. Great ,1ritein would un
doubtedly not join in such a movement,
| for the reason that It would be inimicaI
| to her own interests. With America in
terested In the Far East, and Interested
in free ports uhe policy of Great Brit
aim. the two nations will naturally have
practically the same policy. Great
Britain and Japan are in accord on tho
| Eastern question, and the three nations
| may consider 1t necessary to reach an
understanding as toi the disposition of
| matters affecting that portion of the
| globe.
"As indicating the frIendliness of Great
Britain and Japan. and their desire that
| America should participate in the af-
| that had the war with Spain not de-
veloped. Wei-Hai-Wei would have pass
| ed into the possession of America, in
stead of Great Britain. Soon after Rear
| Admiral McNair reached Washington
| from the Asiatic squadron, he conferred
| with President Mckinley and Secretary
| Day In regard 10 the Eastern situation
| and the policy which this Government
| should adopt. He urged that Wei-Hai-
| Wei be obtained from China. which
would undoubtedly have been willing to
| cede it to a nation with which she Is on
| such strong terms of friendship. 1t Is
| well known that Germany's object in
| seizing Kao Chou was Wei-Hai-Wei, and
Great Britain euchred her out of il
| by raising her own flag there. But Great
| Britain and Japan both gave this Gov
ernment to understand that they would
| be willing that IL should take possession
| of the point and / have no doubt it
would have been done had not the war
with Spain broke out"