St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-10-24
The Anglo German Alliance.

The announcement of an Anglo German
agreement in regard to China is the
most important diplomatic event in
almost generation. 1t applies far more
than it's application to the Far Eastern
problem. 1t means nothing less than the
readjustment of the balance of power in
Europe and the world. This is the
agreement which was reached Oct. 16:
The German Government and the Gov
eminent of Great Britain, being DESTROYS
to maintain their interests in China and
their rights under existing treaties, have
agreed to observe the following princ-
pies regarding mutual policy: First
ly-The two governments agree to up
hold for all of China, so tar as they can
exercise their influence, that the rivers
and littoral shall remain open and free to
trade and to every other form of econ
omic activity for the peoples of all
countries without distinction. Second.
ly-Both governments will not on their
part make use of the present complica-
ton to obtain for themselves any terri
torial advantage in Chinese dominion,
and will direct their policy toward main
tanning undiminished the territorial con-
dition of the Chinese Empire. Thirdly
In case of another power making use of
the complications in China in order to
obtain under any form whatever, such
territorial advantages, the two contract
ing parties reserve to themselves the
right to come to preliminary under
standing regarding the eventual step to
be taken for the protection of their own
interests in China. Fourthly-The two
governments will communicate this
agreement to the other Powers interest
| ed, especially Austria II ungary, France,
Italy, Japan, Russia and the United
States of America, and invite them to
accept the principals recorded in it.
This at first, perhaps, would seem to be
a sacrifice OF German to British interests
in China, but such is not the case.
Germany has learned within the year
what America discovered little earlier,
namely, that British trade in the great
markets of the East and elsewhere was
so vulnerable to energetic competition
that the maintenance of the open door
was all that was necessary to successful
rivalry Thus Germany plans Great
Britaln's undoing in trade, while sup
porting the British policy in politics.
The announcement of the alliance is a
veritable thunderbolt to France and
| Russia. 1t has been believed both in
Paris and st. Petersburg that Germany
| secretly desired to use special grievance,
based on the murder of Baron Won Ket-
teller, to exact territorial indemnity from
China, and Russia and France were not
unwilling to see this ambition grati6ed,
chiefly because it would offend Great
Britain. The new agreement not only
dispels this illusion, but proclaims an
Anglo-German alliance in Far Eastern
affairs strictly on the lines of British
policy. AS far as the immediate effect
on the Chinese question is concerned,
there is much to be hoped for. Englands
splendid isolation disappears, and so do
any hopes OF great Russian or other
ggrandizement. 1t is almost incon.
ceivable in the present situation that
Russia alone or in combination with
France would undertake to execute any
designs actively or passively opposed by
all the other Powers. Thus disappear,
therefore, China's hopes of escaping the
just consequence of her crimes by reason
OF quarrels among the nations. Taken
altogether, the official view in the United
States although protessedly based on
limited consideration, is that the agree
ment will serve to bring the Chinese
troubles to a satisfactory conclusion.
1t is regarded as a strengthing OF the
position of the United States in that the
two main points involved-the integrity
of China and the maintenance of the
open.door policy-were laid down in
the Secretary of States note of July to
the Powers.