The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-07
limitations Made that Time Is Ripe
Dismemberment Programme.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY
NO INTERFERENCE IN CHINESE AF-
FAIRS UNTIL DOORS ARE SHUT.
American Commerce Will Not he Al
lowed to Suffer-The Italian Minis
ter at PeLing i'm a HUFF.

WASHINGTON, March 6-The United
States government has remained absolutely
passive throughout the execution of the
Italian project to secure an ''open door ON
the Chinese coast through the acquisition of
! San-Mun bay and outlying islands. Some
days ago United States Minister Conger at
Peking, acquainted the State Department
with the fact that Italy had preferred re-
quest on China for lease of the spot Sc
lected, but he has made no report since,
and 1t is not known officially whether or
not the Italian forces have been landed at
San-Mun.
One of the highest authorities to-day said:
THE government of the United States will
not take any steps in regard to the Italian
demand for the cesson of Chinese terri
| tory In other words, our government re-
| sisting, from motives of broad policy, allur-
| ing intimations from other powers to the
| effect that the time is ripe for "a raid by
| the United States on some part of the Chi
| nese coast line, has determined definitely to
| keep hands off. But one motive could induce
| the government to change this policy, and
| that would be a desire to protect our enor-
mousy valuable commerce with China from
| the danger of being completely cut off
| through the gradual extension of the lease
| holds of European nations over the whole
| Chinese seacoast So long as our trade is let
alone or is at least allowed fair opportunity
| for development and is not made the sub
| ject Of discrimination. so long will the
United States government refrain fropi-apy
| interference In Chinese affairs.
Mr.. Conger has reported that Picking has
! been unusually quiet during the past winter.
| He does not undertake TO say whether or
not he Of
| United States legation and at other en-
| bassies and legations in Peking had any
thing to do with repressng disorder, but his
| statements bear the affirmative interpreta-
tion. The Chinese minister called at the
State Department to-day and had confer
ence with Secretary Hay.
| There is mass of information on hand in
both the Navy and State Departments rela-
| tive to the encroachment of foreign powers
on the Chinese coast, but it is in such shape
| that concise statement of the situation is
| difficult to obtain The fact is, however, that
| the occupation of available ports along the
| coast has gone to such lengths that the ma
| Jority of the desirable harbors both in value
| as roadstead and for communica ton with
| the interior, are in the hands of foreign
| governments With England in possession OF
| Wei-Hai-Wei, the Russians at Port Arthur
| the French at Anam and Tonquin. the Ger
| mans holding Kaio-Chau and with the adj
| ditional ports of HOng-Kong and Singapore
| in the hands of the English, there is very
| little left in the way of desirable ports on
| the Chinese coast. Shanghai is nominaly i'm
| control of the Chinese government but
| really is controlled by the various treaty
| nations all of whom have advantages in
| their occupation over the Chinese govern
| ment Itself. At Shanghai the United States
| has its only direct interest in a Chinese
| holding being one of the treaty powers and
| having distinctively American concession
| OF the larger ports remaining there are only
| Swato. Foo-Chow and Ning-Po which are
| really in control of the Chinese government
| There is a large and desirable area in the
| Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li on the northern coast in
| which recent Asiatic dispatches intimate
| that the United States may have an inter-
| est If the dismemberment of China is ulti-
| mately effected. This is very landlocked
| however, ard its narrow entrance is wholly
| commanded by Port Arthur on one side and
| by Wei-HaiWei on the other. The author
| lied disclaimer given out to-day, however
| of any purpose on the part of the United
| States TO acquire any territory in that or
| any other portion of China, makes this con-
| sideration of little moment.