The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-07
WILL NOT INTERFERE
Unless Our Immense Trade With China
Is Menaced.

Unless Our Immense Trade With China
Is Menaced.
Washington, March 6.-The United
States government has remained abso-
lutely passive throughout the execu-
ton of the italian project to secure an
open door, on the chinese coast
| through the ACQUISITION of Sanmun bay
and outlying islands. Some days ago
United States Minister Conger at Pc
| kin acquainted the state department
with the fact that it had preferred a
| request upon China for lease OF the spot
| selected, but has made no report since,
| and 1t is not known oillciaily whether
the Italian forces have been landed at
| Sanmun. One Of the highest authori-
ties to-day said:
The government Of the United States
will not take any steps in regard to
| the Italian demand for Chinese terri
| tory
| In other words our government, re-
| sisting from motives Of broad policy,
all the intimations from other powers
that the time is ripe for raid by the
United States on some port of the Chi
nese coast line, has determined defin-
itely to keep hands off.
But one motive could induce the gov
eminent to change this policy, and that
would be desire to protect our enor-
mously valuable commerce with China
llolI Tue udHSpI u belH5 SplIlplStely
cut off through the gradual extensions
of the lease holders of Europe. So
long as our trade is let alone or is at
least allowed fair opportunity for de-
Velopment and is not made the subject
of Determinations. so long will the
United States government refrain from
any interference in Chinese affairs.
Mr.. Conger has reported that Pekin
has been unusually quiet during the
past winter. He does not undertake
to say whether or not the presence of
marines at the United States legation
and at other embassies in Pekin had
anything to do with REFRESHING disorder,
but his statements bear the affirmative
Interpretation.
The Chinese minister called at the
state department to-day and had con-
ference with Secretary Hay.
There is a mass of information on
hand in both the navy and state de-
partments relative to the encroachment
CT foreign powers on the Chinese coast,
but it is in such shape that concise
statement of the situation is difficult to
attain. The fact is, however. that the
occupation of available ports along the
coast has gone to such lengths that the
majority of the desirable harbors both
in value as roads and for communica-
ton with the interior. are in the hands
of foreign governments. With England
IN possession of Wei Hei Wei, the Rus
sions at Port Arthur the French at
Anam and Tonquin, the Germans hold
ing Kiao Chou, and with the additional
ports of Hong Kong and Singapore in
the hands of the English. there is lit
tie in the way of desrab ports on the
Chinese coast. Shanghai is nominally
in control of the Chinese government,
but really is controlled by the various
treaty nations, all of whom have adj
vantages In their occupation ever the
Chinese government itself. At Shang
hal the United States has it's only di-
rect interest in a Chinese holding, being
one of the treaty powers and having a
distinctiyely American concession. OF
the larger ports remaining there are
only Swallow, Eco Chow and Ningpo,
which are really in control of the Chi
nese government
There is a large and desirable area
in the gulf of Pechili, on the northern
coast, in which recent Asiatic dis
patches intimate that the United States
may have an interest if the dismember-
ment of China is ultimately effected
This is very landlocked. however and
its narrow entrance is wholly com
manded by Port Arthur on one side
and by Wei Hei Wei on the other. The
authorized disclaimer given out to-day,
however, of any purpose on the part
of the United States to acquire any ter
rtory in that or any other portion of
China makes this consideration of lit
tie moment.