The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-14
FOREIGN INFuENcE.-


Without specifically going into the
question of the increasing Russian inf1u-
ence In China, Lord Beresford shows in
the reports received by him from differ
ent vieeroys that although some years
ago Americans and Englishmen were re-
spected more than any other foreigners,
today Anglo-Saxon influence has weak
ened materially, and Russian influence
has become all important. The viceroy
of Marking intimated that formerly in
the province under his control the name
of Britain was better respected than that
of any other, but that now the name of
Russia was most feared. When this
Chinese officer heard that 1000 troops
had been put at Lord Beresford's dis
posal for organization according to Et-
ropean methods, with a view to demon
strating, if possible, that the .organiza-
ton of the entire Chinese arTny was
feasible. he said that such proceeding,
if carried out, would lead to the dfsmem-.
berment of China, asl other countries
would insist upon acting similarly in va
rieus parts of the empire. 1t appears
that his excellency took different view
from that of other yfcefoys on the quesa
ton OF China asking Great Britain for
assistance. He said that Russia would.
not allow China to do anything of the
sort.
1T appears that while the percentage of
the foreign trade, carried ON by the
United States in China ana Japan, is at
present less than that of England; that
within recent years the increase of the
proportion carried on by Americans has
been very much larger than that of Great
Britain, showing that our industries and
our products are being introduced Into
the Chinese empire with much greater
vigor. Some of the railroads Of China
are entirely composed, both in laid and
Of n
1.-THE OPEN DOOR"
In the chapter on the United States,
Lord Beresford publishes two letters
from the Massachusetts state board or
trade and from the Philadelphia Com
mercial museum as examples of the vital
interest taken by American business men
in this special mission to China, which
was undertaken by the author, and IN
the question of "The Open Door in
China. The first is as follows:
1.-THE members of the Massachusetts
state board of trade. composed or forty-
two mercantile organic cations represent
ing the commercial and industrial inter-
ests of the state, beg to 5acknoWiedge re-
ceipt of your favor OF Of the q st ultimo.
and also express their regrets that your
limited time in this county would not per-
nit an acceptance of the invitation to
visit our commonwealth:
1.-THE mission in which you nave peen
recently engaged, under the auspices or
the associated chambers of commerce, to
ascertain the best methods for promoting
trade and commerce IN China, Is one of
more than ordinary Importance to the
American people, and the results of your
investigation, as embodied in a report,
will be read with great interest through
out the commercial and industrial world.
1.-THE Massachusetts stae board OF trade
is in hearty sympathy with any plan that
will provide equitable national compet1.
ton for the import and export trade of
the great Chinese empire, and believes
that the earnest support and forceful In
auence of commercial bodies among the
nations Interested should be freely given
in promoting and advancing national
legislation In this direction.
The letter from the director of the
Philadelphia Commercial museum is as
follows:r
ct was a great disappointment to
Philadelphia generally, that you were not
I able to visit our city.ssI was especially
sorry not to have had the opportunity of
showing you I'm deatil the workings. Of the
Philadelphia Commercial. museum, espe..
present making to acduaint our people
with the opportunities existing in the far
east-opportunities which you have so
eloquently set forth as presenting them
selves.
'.Hoping that some time in the future
you may find it possible to visit Phila.
delphia, and that may then be fortunate
enough to explain to- yo4 the efforts be-
ing made by our Institution to foster ex-
port trade, and trusting that our two
countries may always Co operate in, the
Industrial and commercial development or
the far east, believe me.