The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-02
CHINA'S FATE LIES WITH Us
THE UNITED STAT NEW IMPoR-
LANCE IN THE FAR EAST.

Talks to tho Chamber of Commerce
on Americas Interests in the Orient
Strong Argument for ntional Expansion
John Barrett. formerly United States Minis
ter to Siam. addressed the Chamber Of Com
merce at its regular meeting yesterday on
Americas Interests In the Far Fast Mr.
Barrett said in part:
The most important statement that wish
to make to day is this America Is to-day the
arbiter OF Chnas future. This is a tremen-
dous responsibility. which has suddenly and
Unexpectedly como upon us within the last few
months. or almost at this hour. and II directly
involves the preservation. protection and de-
velopment OF our present considerable and fu-
ture vast trade and commerce with this most
populous and wide reaching empire OF all Asia
The move that England has recently made
upon the chessboard Of Asiatic politics. by
practically agreeing with Russia as to what
shall be respectively Russian and English
spheres Of influence. may be well Judged. but
II has placed her irrev ocnbly In the category OF
nations tina. recognize spheres OF influence
or areas Of development. which are nothing
more than sugar-coated Diplomatic phrases
and synonyms Of areas OF actual sovereignty.
Russia. Germany. France and even Austria and
Italy had long ago indicated their position.
Now that England has Joined them. America
stands alone as the only great power not COM
mitted to such destructive and divisional
policy. In other words. II the United States
tomorrow. in diplomatic note or agreement,
recognize spheres OF influence, all.hops for the
maintenance OF the integrity Of China is gone
that 10. America is at this moment the a-biter
Of China's future"
Going into statistics. M Barrett presented
figures to show that China's foreign trade will
in few years amount to $3.50. 100000 year.
He estimated that the port OF Manila will soon
have total business OF $100.OOO.O0O year
and in tho near future business Of Sl5O0OO.-
600 or S2O0.OO0OOG.
Are not these tho kind OF figures" asked
Mr. Barrett. which should make US think
twice before Sinking our responsibility? Shall
we. in the face Of them, retreat and leave the
prizes to others. or shall we advance and win
our reasonable share? While would cast no
reflections on the honest Opinions OF men who
in possible patriotic Interpretation OF sentI-
ment. oppose our policy of expansion in the
Far East. would beg TO suggest that in this
instance expansion is a synonym for COM
merce-and commerce Is the LIE blood OF ma
lions. - For. after all. in the application
among nations Of the cruel principle OF the
survival OF the fttest the material interests
involved Gre usually the deciding influence.
In my mind there is no question that after the
first few years OF trial and experiment are
passed. we Will ma the fnlllpplnes peEud- !
nent paving investment. not only In them
selves. but in the consequent increased trade
throughout the entire Pacific. where. II we
paramount but where. II we surrender them:
we may come trailing along forever behind |
Great Britain. Russia. japan and even Ger
"A wonderful change. which attracted my
particular attention; has come over our posi- 81.
late war. When. formerly. one travelled up
and down the coast from Singapore and Bans
1-l1- vi gnl,.1 and 1nIi q
Impressed everywhere with the, fact that
Americas Influence in politics and commerce
y censdered Our AM Ministers and ConsHs
were hampered everywhere by the fact that
We we're little power Now qHe IN vlsttlnS
in Diplomatic or commercial circles are what |
America will do. what America wants and will
onnoseE
The business interests Of the Pacific slope.
IN The a aeveon r Of our Eastern trade The
south. too. had much to gain from the Chinese
demand for cotton Once hs E1 Ss S
III we are to hold our present trade. ;, said
and the Philippines. but in all other countries
bordering on the Pacific. there are few but
receive ce ', our attention The Nicaragua canal
should be built without further delay. cable
should be laid agree G The Pacific touching at
branches 10 China. Japan and Australia. Bet
ter. larger and faster steamers should be
placed on the Pacific. and reasonable subsidies
for carrying tho mails should lie given to the
lines making the hest time and providing the
best ships; American banks; oil, connections
OF great American banks. should be imme
diately established in such representative
places. as Yokohama. Shanghai. Hong Kong
and Manila And finally. our manufacturers
and exporters should find out lust what the
Orient wants and make ii. and not EXPECT the
Orient to take what we make but what they do
not want
In conclusion Mr.. Barrett said that II the
United States. was actually unable to prevent
the closing OF the open door. We must obtain
by purchase or treaty a port In northern China
to maintain and protect our interests sum
marizing. he said
Our policy in China to-day should. there
fore. look first. to the integrity Of the empire
by reform OF the Government: second. tbs
open door Of freedom OF trade for all China. as
outlined In the old treaties or third. In the
unavoidable delimitation OF spheres 81 infu
ence. such delimltation "a i'll ever leave the
markets open TO our exporters without dis
elimination In favor OF others"
In:secondlng u motion to thank Mr.. Barrett
for his speech. GeOrg" +. Seward. eN- Minister
to China. said that he wanted 1t distinctly I'M
derstood that the Chamber did not. in thank
"a approvinP the Tiews on expansion therein
set forth. The final disposition OF the Philip-
pine question. he said. was to lie settled on
grounds OF morality. not on grounds o. com
mercial advantage. The vote OF thanks was
then passed unanimously
Charles Stewart Smith presented q com
muncaton from the London Chamber Of
Commerce. inviting the council Of the New
York chamber TO Il dinner with the London
chamber. The dinner il to be Giyan during
the Paris Ex position. 1t was resolved to ac
cept the Invitation.