Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-13
United States Need Not Be Involved
in Their Difficulty.
OUR INTERESTS COMM MERClAL
Dispute as to Territory Not This
Country's Concern.
REEMENT PROPOSED

| The harmony of inteSests between the
United States, Great Britain and Japan in
the far east and the cooperation between
Great Britain and the United States Will
not necessarily involve this country with
Russia should there be a Japanese Russian
war. The threatened encroachments of
Russia, while jeopardzing the interests of
Great Britain and Japan, under whatever
conditions they may be made, might be so
conducted not to demand any protest or
resistance on the part Of the United States
Whether or not the United States would
become involved would depend upon the at
titude of Russia herself. The State De-
partment takes a practical, not a senti-
mental, view of the eastern complications
1t is held that our interests In the orient
are commercial not territorial, and that if
all our commercial privileges are secured
we will not be concerned in any contro-
VerSy over territory. This may be the point
at which both Great Britain and Japan will
be disappointed in this government, but it
Is not the intention to extend our co-opera-
tiOn beyond where the mutual interests CO.
| incide. The permanent establishment of an
open door in China no matter what power
may exercise influence or control over the
territory, is the alpha and omega of the
American Chinese policy.
Encroachmcnt by Russia
sia made in defiance OF and to the injury
of this policy the United States may be
come involved, together with Great Britain
and Japan, in resisting such encroach-
mentS. On the other hand, if the agree
ment proposed by the United States for a
permanent open door to China, under what
ever territorial adjustment there may be, is
signed by the powers, including Russia, it
is not anticipated that we would feel any
concern about the establishment of spheres
of influence by any of the powers, and if
the other powers had to fight over the mat
ter 1t would be a fight among themselves
Sentiment might incline This government
toward Great Britain in any trc&be she
might have with any power, and our inter
est in Japan would hardly admit of its
subjugation by any power Corporation
with these nations to a certain extent to
preserve common interests might present
temptation to be sentimental and to car
ry the friendship welded by such associa-
ton to the greatest extreme But the ex-
ample set by Washington In dealing with
France has not been forgotten in the State
Department, nor is it there disapproved of
The Chinese question is held to be a com
mercial question, the interest qT each ma
ton being to look out for its own com
mercial interests, those acting together be-
ing Influenced by harmony interest, rather
thnn tnn from natqkg afiiati9n and co-opefa-
terests. In all things, however, that bear
directly or indirectly upon these common
interests the cooperation may extend
The Proposition Made
The proposition made to the powers
through our ambassadors, was to put into
permanent binding form the agreements
readily made verbally that any establish
ment of authority by a foreign power over
Chinese territory must be with the reserva-
ton that the open door must still be re-
talned without any power on the part of
the government assuming control to in
crease duties and place any sort Of burdens
upon trade and commerce within the ter
ritOry.
If Russia and the other powers sign such
an agreement, it is not Anticipated that
there VIII be any occasion for this govern
ment to become involved in disputes over
Chinese territory. or course such an
agreement might be made and afterWard
broken, but confidence is felt in the ability
OF the United States to enforce observance
Of treaty obligations.
Such is described as the attitude of this
government toward territorial encroach-
mentS In China. 1t does not mean, how
ever, that we would say to Russia or any
other power, that it might do absolutely as
II pleased with all our friends so long as
IL d1d not hit US directly. The advantage
We desire to have secured is universal
among the powers and not limited to our
selves.