New-York tribune., 1899-07-28
AMERICA IN THE PACIFIC,
JOHN BARRETT DISCUSSES ITS INTER
ESTS IN CHINA
DANGER IN "sPHEREs OF INFLUENcE'-NEEp
OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL AND PA
cIFIc CABLE-oPPoRTUNITIEs
FOR TRADE.
FOR TRADE

FOR TRADE.
The North American Review" to be issued TO-
day will contain an important article on Ihe
Paramount Power Of the Pacific" by John Barrett
formerly United States Minister to Siam. He says
in part
The most remarkable result OF the late war with
Spain is never anticipated II mas mace ,a ths
United States the paramount Power OF the Paclhc.
We Unexpectedly assumed this responsibility on
May l. 1895 When Admiral Dewey des'roye1 e0 me ,ne
brief day the influence and prestige OF the o United
pIished in a few hours what otherwise might not
have been realized in half oentury-or possibly
The effect Of the war was magical Only those
residing in the orient could appreciate IT, Inc
first signs of this renaissance of American iniu-
ence were seen when Dewey made Hong h0ng
the rendezvous Of his squadron In March, IeSo
Then the battle was fought IL was follower o| ID d
rising wave OF American prestige that swept up
and down the coast like the rush of a tidal cur
but leaSinS everywhere its distinct impression
After Manila fell and the long sad period OF OF IN
activity followed, there was reaction DOUBT eA-
listed as to whether America would realize her
but throughout the entire East Then, finally.
came the unfortunate delay in treaty conhrIna-
fiict and bloodshed. But when ratification III
umphed diplomstists and business men immedi- n
OF action on the basis of Americas becoming the
paramount Power Of the Pacihc l.. .ho o,.ar,,or
we are giving the Philippine question: we VIII LOT.
get growing interests In china IN Inc forme aoeI
be overlooked i indulge in no exaggeraton when zen
] say there is a grave peril confronting our m
terests in the Middle kingdom 1t is most difficult
J admit. to name SPECIFIC act thar Is Ton,t1;
but those OF us who have travelled thr9ugh @ Mall
churia and Shantung on the north ana hwaiiss hs,tis
and Yunnan on the south. have seen conditions
and Influences that are having the same moral
effect actual closure.
-oPEN DOOR" AND SPHERES OF INFLU-
ENCE."
There are certain terms employed In reference
10 China which are OF sufficient importance tS
the main subject. The open door," as the phrase
Is commonly used. means nothing more than me
maintenance without limitations Of the treaty
rights OF trade throughout the empire. with an
nations on an equal footing: II does not ii1pix
that there is duty or tarin. but simply that az
lands must pay the same duty or tariff as agreed
upon in the original Tien-Tsn treaties spheres n
lions OF country where the nation exercising the
influence contends that no oiheI nauoa Shaa s esI
acquire sovereignty or secure PIIVueee9 GonIeS Io W
sions. but far as China is concerned, IL Is a
sugar coated diplomatic phrase wnlcn rs end
ly equal to areas OF absolute sovereignty. a., anu
that is the condition into which they VIII n5 M
evitably evolve unless some great change shouIu
be wrought in Chna's government IN the very near
future. . su. .,d
"spheres of influence at one and the same time
and that is the policy which the th'ed Sa1s Is
not preserved. otherwise our great and growing
markets will be entirely lost TO us. While We
should do everything in our power TO prevent the
disintegraton OF China. at the same time. in rea-
zation of the fact that we cannot go 10 war AL IN
up Is inevitable. we must leave no stone unturned
our % Sd s hs m n oGM
1t may come to pass that our trade and commerce
than me ever S9 Otherwise possible doubt however
as do most authorities on China. If such fortu-
must take every eventuality into consideration and
DE prepared for any turn whatsoever in the tide.
ALL SECTIONS INTERESTED.
Tho Far East. particularly China, affords mar
tets which should arouse the interest oI t a Sec
stand 5 Nrb tGT @ ana g0fS are ne euva
concerned in maintaining the freedom of trade
and preserving our treaty rights throughout China.
grave question as to the adyisabilty Of taking a
strong position as to the future OF tne empire IRE
fiour and timber and a goody portion Of other
kinds of food and raw products. which California
states can supply: they want the manufactured
cotton and raw cotton Of the South in increasing IN
cihc-Asiatc demand Will take up the surplus sup
ply Of the Souths great stape; tHeX wn1 ee
products Of the North and East, together with un-
spnnSneq ma1ufactured products OF the Central
West and there is no reason why there should not
for the Central Vests great staple, maize COR
Indian meaD, such there has been created for
En T honest eta% opoh hG ae FIVE years Careful Study
hof the field which l am discussing.
LAND OF GREAT POTENTIAL1TIEs.
China is a nation Of incalculabe possibilities
or investigates her resources. the is con-
vnoed that she has only begun her r. material nat ad
River, travelled overland or visited the coast ports
more with the future before her If she shall ever
be well governed and not divided up among Foreign
Manchuria affords of the best object lessons
of American opportunity; The growth OF the De
goods has been phenomenal 1t was not many
years ago that the market was very limited There
are record reports Of consus and Of specia
agents OF cotton firms which said that there was
no field for the expansion Of American trade. To
China is the development OF the market for Amer
lean cotton goods in Manchuria. When / FRS mrs
visited New-Chwang, the gateway to Manchuria
American imports were not over 10 per cent OF tht
per cent with the proportion increasing every day
Notwithstanding this marked growth. only smal
reached II the great northern provinces Of China
now require 100000 worth OF our cottons, there i
from aiio now Consume 10000 worth. few year.
ago 100000 represented the value Of the trade
England and the South are supplying this demanc
an Manchura, and that they have even been kep
running when other mills have been closed, ther'
Is every why those two sections SHOULD joiI
1VsSsnep WsSs spplH iH To n,s Manehura. s. '"'
American exports TO the Far East to-day approx
innate 100000 il the actual value Of everything
which leaves orr shores is counted but basng ou
estimates on reasonable grounds there is no reason
$1,000 CS. and our total exchange reach 100000
Few people appreciate the enormous business ina
represents Noco0!0O0 people or this the import
are over half Certainly It is logical 10 hold tina
the United States should be able 10 supply at leas
"a third Of the products now imported from foreig
lands. Chinas trade amounts 10 $25OOOOo with
population OF 3500o0OoO people. II her wants eve
expand in any such degree as those OF Japan an
other countries which have awakened from thei
Asatic lethargy, her foreign trade should reaGf
on a conservative estimate. $5c,CUOO. We're IN
game ratio OF population to trade, or one 10 two
which exists in all other countries OF ASA, PFC
gressive and retrogressive. applied to China, he
future foreign exchange could be estimated a
800 10000 / do not mean that II can or Will attai
within this generation. but II Is
logical possibility. provided always that the gov
-ernment is reformed and the door OF trade Is no
closed. -
Our material interests in Japan are great. an
they are growing. The resources. possibilities an
opportunities of Indo-Chna, the Straits Settle
rnents Java and Borneo on the south OF Formos
in the central section and of Korea and Siberi
on the north. aside from Japan, Siam and IN
Philippines, sufficient each In itself TO De IN
subject OF an article