The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-29
THE POWERS COMRARED TO ROB-
BEERS.


The Chinese minister at Washington
thinks the Powers of Europe, it, as re-
ported, they are engaged in drawing W
treaty defining their respective spheres
Of influence in China, without consulting
the Chinese government about the matter
/ are no better than robbers. He pretends
not 10 believe that they will insist upon
doing what they please in China without
asking permission Of the Chinese govern
ment, and he does not hesitate to say that
he is Of the opinion that the United States
would not permit Them TO do it.
1t is probable that he knows that the
| Powers of Europe which have obtained a
| foothold in China have not the least bit
| Of respect for the Chinese government.
| and viii not hesitate 10 adopt any policy
ia respect 10 China which they may think
is for their interest China is too weak to
command respect, and il is probable that
if this country were to join them in a
treaty they would willingly overthrow the
Chinese government and divide the empire
among the parties to IL.
There are no indications, however, that
The United States have any intention Of
claiming OF accepting a share of the en-
pre. All they want is what is known as
the open door" policy. and that they viii
insist upon. When It was announced that
the Powers of Europe which are inter
ested in China had determined to negotiate
a treaty in which their respective spheres
of influence should be clearly defined, our
government addressed them a note in
which a frank answer as to their purpose
was demanded. 1t seems that Russia.
Germany and England has distinctly said
that they favor the open door policy.
and it is known that Japan does. AS that
is the policy that the United States want
there are no further steps for our govern
ment to take in the matter.
II is hardly probable that the European
Powers which have obtained foothold
in China will undertake al this time to die
tate the foreign policy of China, but their
encroachments on Chinese territory Will
go on steadily, and the time will come
eventually when they will divide, or at
tempt to divide, the empire among them
selves 1t is not improbable that they
would attempt to do that now if the Unit
ed States would join them. The United
States, however, are not at present seek
ing more territory, and they will moi con-
sent to any policy in respect to China that
would deprive them of the chance of get
ting a fair share of China's trade. Their
trade with that country is now growing
rapidly, and If they are given an equal
chance with other nations they will have
the largest share of it within a compar-
itvely few years
The condition of China is pitiable Not
withstanding the fact that she has pop
ulation of something like 400, 600 900. she
isn't capable of successfully resisting the
encroachments of the weakest of the ma =
tons which are discussing the question Of
defining their respective spheres of in
fiuence within her limits. 1t is hardly
probable that the time has yet come for
the Acknowledgement of the Chinese en-
pire, but until it does come, and it will
not be delayed so very many years, China
will be subjected to just such humiHations
as that from which she is now suffering.
Her ministers abroad and at home may
be indignant. but their Indignation will not
save her from ACKNOWLEDGMENT