The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-02
OUR sPHERE Oh INrLuENcE.

Mr.. Demetrius c.. BouIger is described
as an author and publicists who has paid
much attention to the foreign interests
of Great Britain, as these come into RI
valry with the political or commercial
plans of other peoples: Much of his writ
ing is devoted to questions relating to
China and to Asia generally. In the
North American Review he gives the
world the benefit of his knowledge and
ability as a puhlicist and writer. and
seriously discusses what he is pleased
to call Americas Share In the Partition
of China" - r.7' 'f-@'
Americans have not yet seriously con-
sidered the prospect Of establishing a
special sphere" Their government has
not given any indication of any such
purpose. But, according to Mr.. BouI-
gers view of the situation, we cannot
'henorably'' leave the other powers to
assume at once all the responsibility and
all the gain. Committed to the task of
ending Spanish misrule in the Pacific"
says Mr.. Boulger, neither the timidity
arising from ineXperience in colonial adj
mlnistration, nor the engrossing pursuit
of material prosperity under conditions
Which make the United States the spoilt
child of fortune among the nations, will
allow them to take their hand from the
plow till their work is done. Nor can
1t for moment be supposed that the
people Of America will voluntarily de-
cline to take a share in the arrangement
Of the affairs of China because it presents
difficulties and must entail responsible
ties. The notifications introduced into
the Monroe doctrine for the comparative
ly small local question of the Philippines
will have to be enlarged or extended so
far as to embrace the vast, complicated
and pregnant problem of China"
The reasons which the writer sets forth
to sustain his view that we should snect-
~ our chosen sphere of influence have a.
good deal of weight If we are to regard
the situation from his standpoint. He
estimates the value the ''open door,
-
the powers have taken complete possess
sion OF their respective Spheres" and
the Chinese empire has become defunct.
lie points out that Russia looks forward
ultimately to the complete absorption Of
China and a complete preponderance Of
power in Asia. The nation, he reasons.
which has no territorial Jurisdiction, or,
rather. sphere of influence, in the future
partition of China, cannot be expected
when the time comes to have much to
say as to what the internal or foreign
policy Of dismemhered China will be.
Having pointed out the territorial d.
visions of the Chinese empire which are
yet available, but which are certain to
be claimed by some power or other I'M
less We act promptly, he gets down to
the mcdus by which we are to possess
ourselves of territorial rights or claims
in China, in the following terms:
'An Anglo-American sphere would be
an ideal arrangement; but, unfortunate
ly, American opinion is not sufficiently
pronounced to render it practicable We
must therefore fall back on the separate
sphere for America, which, practically
speaking, can only be established In two
quarters. The first step in the claim of
a sphere is easy and surprisingly small.
The United States government, like the
German. the Japanese, the French and
the English governments before it, makes
the announcement that 1t regards, let me
say. the province of Che-keang as its
sphere. The statement is fully noted.