New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02
ORR INTERESTS IN CHINA.

rhs Chamber OF Commerce heard yesterday
some sound and pertinent talk IL was oon-
,a,ned In the address on American lh'eieo'' ~
tho Far East" made by Mr.. Barrett. forrner'!
our Minister to Siam. an abstract Oh "ihcn VIC
rub,jsb elsewhere in this mornings paper. lno
sneaker devoted his attention chieny 10 Onina
r,hat was proper. because while commerciai III
terosts elsewhere are great. those IN Chiha arc
,ncomparabiy greatest; and, moreover cuire".
nroceed,nps in China are making the question: vi
.ho, ,ond's commercial as well as politicai iu'-
ure most pressing one. 1t is not TOO much "
COW that rho most important question connec'eu
,,,;,, or. Eastern commerce u.s. What are we go
inc IN do about the partition Of China Not
NAV II be extravagant to say. as MT oa,ie"
aoes that the most interesting question to emma
and the partitioning Powers Is "ha' 10
United States going TO do about II!
Now this is the situation: We have vast coiii'
mercial interests in China ana sure pio'p
of their enormous increase. But 'hey eA''' 90.
nv virtue of our own treaties WIN Ch'ha
ous European Powers are now ehsaeeu !"
work Of partitioning China among 'hen'se.'e''
under the transparent guse or spheres VI -,
Nuence" What is to become OF our conii'e
interests there? Will the open door VII"
China has granted 10 us be kept open' ine,e
seoms little hope of It, unless some ac.on
talen "a insure it. Russia, for example loio''"
Creot Britain to build railroads-saVe 'he o"o
already I'm construction-in the RUSSIAN spnei0
NJ influence. Would she permit Americans "
hr,ld one? Certainly not. That part OF China
,s for Russian exploitation alone. suppose al
,ho othor Powers should do the same IN their
snhorcs of influence. Why, then the uni'eo
go. would no shut out of China 1t would not
be permitted to build railroads or open MINES
ond there would be a discriminating DUTY asa'ne,
American goods at all ports and our coiinie'0'"'
interests in China would be ruined
Mr. Barrett proposes to deal Win 'nls s''ua
t,on IN this fashion: First, of course 10 push
orr commerce and our political ihhuehce III
China MS vigorously as possible; ana he ea'e
some eminently practical hints as 10 the oes'
way Of doing II. Next, TO stand ior 'he ih'ee
r,tv Of China, and especially IN the nor'h' "neio
| ,,,. chief interests now lie But II that cannot
Ina maintained. and Mr.. Barrett seems u NC
| horo,ess of maintaining it, since indeed the III
,ocr,tv Of China is already thing OF the past
then American diplomacy must under'ahe 'ne
task Of securing from the partitioning na''one
the same rights which we now enjoy uhuer our
| ,.ooty with China This. he admits, wouid pe
,rsodno on doubtful ground. Yet the aiterna
.;o ,,.ould he the exclusion Of this country Iroi
China. Finally, if all else fails, MI barle''
would have this country acquire port III Ohina
&c nava, and commercial base. That Deyohu
doubt would be rank "imperialism' and would
col the believers in a Little America WHO W''n
rage and CONSERVATION. Well, the proposal neeu
NOT he debated now, because 1t does DOT appear
that II will be necessary to resort to such step
II ought. by means Of vigorous work at fekihe
and nj other capitals. to be possible 10 secure
for This country permanent open door in emma
osneciollv II such work be supplemented by the
oors,rnct,on Of n United States canal across the
Nicaragua istbmus the laying or ohlteo
s,otes "a ble across the Pacific and the establlsh
ment OF United States steamship lines De'Weel
,hs country and China, things wncn we di'
Glad 70 see Mr.. Barrett earnestly advocates
But II these things are TO be done there mus
no no dilly-dallying. Events are moving VIII
; startling rapdty in the Far East Inc changes
. of q century are effected In a day. The Powers
Of Europe are busy, with all their trained ski
and influence working for our exclusion and 10
gaining the monopoly Of Chinese commerce 10
themselves. The time to secure an open door Il
while the door is still open. 1t will be immeas
urahly harder to get the door reopened AFTER !
has once been closed. And it may now be close'
|, IN our foces. with slam, any day.