The times., 1899-11-28
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 2s. 1892.
The American Initiative.

The public in America can hardly vet
realize the fact that from a condition OF
almost complete provincial segregation
from the rest of the world in one short
year the United States has moved to the
foremost rank OF great international pow
ers. Our new position found speedy Illus
trstion in Secretary Hays note to the lead
ing Governments Of Europe requesting
written guarantees that they viii respe {
American treaty rights and privileges in
China. Notwithstanding any territorial ac-
qUisitions they may make in that quarter.
So sudden a departure from our old at
titude Of Indifference 10 world politics in
the Far East or elsewhere appears 10 have
surprised the European chauceJeries, and
may lot have altogether pleased some OF
them. But England, Germany. and Russia
rave treated the matter amiabIy, and vi /
doubtless do what we have asked. The
hesitation shown by other Governments TO
concede our position as TO the open door
in China has apparently given our State
Department an opportunity to present the
world-power status Of the United States
in even more convincing way, and Mr
bay. rs We understand has taken adyau-
tsge Of it il a manner highly characteri tie
Of the decorous but frank and straightfor-
ward diplomacy which marks his conduct
Of our foreign affairs. In short, failing 10
receive satisfactory individual answers 10
his Chinese notes from all OF the States ad-
dressed, according to our information. he
has taken the initiative in proposing a
definite agreement between the European
powers On the subject Of the open door. ="
and viii press the matter TO a solution
That he viii succeed there should be little
doubt. Great Britain and Germany Ger
tainly. and Russia probably. are with him
France could hardly hold aloof. the others
agreeing, and as for the remaining Govern
ments, they would be apt 10 fall in line as
quantities desiring to be not considered
negligible.
II is largely in relation 10 our yitaily i'm
pOrtant interests in the East that the sd-
vantages Of the present amicabIe under
standing between the three Anglo-Saxon
powers become Of signal value 10 the
United States. For the present it IS limited
10 China and the Pacific Ocean as far as
this country is concerned. As between the
Queen and the Kaiser its scope is natur-
ally wider. But, at large, il establishes a
foundation OF mutual good will upon which
10 build the structure Of a common pro-
gramme in matters Of common interest and
purpose, and such relations are ali the
easier Of establishment because the three
parties concerned have happily a common
civilization and are commonly OF the
c0lonizing and world ruling Teutonic stock.
The warm and constant friendships
which sometimes We see among men and
women, the results perhaps Of mutual at
traction, OF common tastes-of the law of
elective affinity, in short-are not less
strong and enduring because not based on
instruments in writing acts Of the LegisIa-
tUre, or charters from the State What is
true OF individuals may be equally so Of
neighborhOods. communities, or empires
There is every basic reason Of blood. mind
history, and the great dominating centrif-
ugaI race coalition tendency Of our gener-
alton, TO bring England, Germany. and
America together on a plane OF mutual am
ity and support, and no just one why they
should be suspicious Of or inimical to one
another.
Thus the Anglo-Saxon dreibund which
seems TO be causing an unnecessary amount
of dismay in certain directions, viii become
I'm fat accompli II 1t has not already. By
The mere operation OF the sociological laws
and forces responsible for its nataIity. Il
does not require formal treaties to give
il life; il viii live because there is neces-
slty for g. Granting its existence, which
IN future may well be assumed as a fact
though not Of record In any blue. green
red, or yellow book Of government. the An.
glo-SaXon dreibund is not to be taken as
necessarily menacing the Governments no
embraced in the understanding. or the va
rious combinations they may have choseI
20 enter. The very close alliance Of Russia
with France is not resented as such by the
AugIo-SaZon States nor does the rap
prochCmcrt between Great Britain, Germa-
by and tho United States. expedited, if not
perhaps UrscipitaJed, By the activity CT
Russia aud her Latin dependencies in Ger.
ta.n directions. mean any threat to the
last named.
We, FL does and VIII mean is that the
three leading Industrial and commercial
peoples e thc earth whose Governments
Iepresrut Tie greatest naval. the greatest
military. aid lhe richest power in Chris