The record-union., 1898-07-02
OUR INTERESTS IN CUBA


terests in China That we are not
fully awake to these interests, which
take the form of rights, is pretty gen
orally confessed now. China is under
going Aew birth. She is passing
through q new experience, and Amer
lea alone of all the great Powers is
not profiting by it. That is the burden
of Mr.. F'oords song, and that he has
atuned it correctly may be safely con-
fessed.
pie and having the Oldest of civiliza-
tfons, but living under conditions more
primitive than those of Europe 400
years ago. Upon that people the na-
tions of the world are bringing to bear
influences which must result in a re-
generation. We alone are taking no
part in it, and neglecting profits to
How from it which are as rightfully
ours as those to be secured by any
other State
China gives signs Of a huge outburst
Of constructive and productive enter
prise, and in its, conduct, says the es-
sayist, the United States has the best
OF rights to share. By treaty we. are
TO have the same commercial rights as
those accorded any other nation. and
1t is. added in the compact:
IF additional advantages and privi-
leges of whatever description be con-
ceded hereafter by China to any other
nation, the United States and the citi-
zens thereof shall be entitled there
upon to a complete, equal, and impair
tfal participation in the same." Under
the treaty. of Tientsin, concluded in
1858, it is declared that should China
at any time grant to any nation or
the merchants or citizens of any nation
any right. privilege, or favor: connected
With either navigation, commerce, DO
litical,s or other intercourse, which is
not conferred BY this treaty. such
right, privilege, and favor shall at once
freely inure to the benefit of the United
States, its. public officers, merchants,
and citizens"
Subsequent treaties amplify these
compacts. But what part has the
United States in the new DEVELOPMENT
OF. China? AS great iron and steel pro-
ducers we should, by the flaws of his
tory, be dominant in the new era in
China. First, as builders Of locomo-
tiVes, and for the matter of that, of
other machinery. We failed to secure
a show, in the railroad building going
on because we were not permitted an
equal opportunity with other nations
eign syndieates impossible for Amer
leans to accept. Clarence Carey is
quoted as saying in a paper on the
subject in the January Forum that
we were cheated and deceived and
swindled out of our right to equal op-
portunities with other nations"
Through Russian advances of money
Russians were given advantages from
which we were excluded Yet strictly
We think the complaint OF Mr.. Foord
will not hold. since it is not shown that
there was such violation of treaty COM
pacts as would justify protest from
Washington in the interest of individ-
ual enterprise. Morally, however. Rus
sian shrewdness so outwitted our bid
ders that under Chinese connivance
and fear that was accomplished which
was adverse to the spirit of the agree
ments between China and the United
States
In the construction of a great rail
line now under way under the Pms
slams and French. who work together
IN these matters, China consented to
an agreement that as little material as
possible is to come in from abroad. but
even that little. 1t is stipulated, must
come from Russia. or France. and this
line is being constructed outside of the
sphere of Russian or French influence
In the lease Of Port Arthur to Rus
STA 1t is stipulated that the ships of
no nation save those of Russia shall
have access to the port, either naval
ships or merchantmen. The same is
true Of the occupation OF Talien Bay.
one part Of which is to be exclusively
Russian and Chinese. In the Shang-
tung province grant to Germany. Mr..
boord thinks American rights were
trespassed upon. But in this he Is IN
error. since we have not as yet claimed
the rights guaranteed to us. When we
do so. there will arise very serious
and delicate question as to our right to
enter these exclusive ports, which the
French, Germans and Russians with
grim humor declare are open ports"
Unquestionably the Powers are gain
Ing advantages in the Chinese Empire
which are detrimental to our CONNER
ella interests, but whether these have
been secured under conditions justify
ing protest on our part because of our
treaties with China we are not as
sured can be maintained AT least il
Is question fraught with much con-
Germ and doubt, but ii is one we'll Ssorth
looking into. If channels of trade that
OF right should be open to US in China
are being purposefully obstructed
against US, then we have interests at
stake which demand our attention But
until the present war is over that att
tention cannot be given to them. Any
hint that we intend to look into the
matter might. likewise. turn Russian