The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-26
THE CHINESE SITUATION
Discussed by an Authority-Russia
and China, He Believes, Will
Cooperate in Mutual


Especial Correspondence Associated Press)
London, Aug. 1S.-John w. Bookwalter
of Ohio. whose recent books on Siberian
quoted in recent English papers. in an in
terview with a representative of the AS
ISOLATED Press, said in part:
There are two chief considerations in
this Asiatic problem. First. the double
relation that Russia occupies towards
China, and that which Russia occupies
toward England. through her dependency .
India, for since the building and opera
ton of the great trans-Siberian and trans
Caspian Railroad systems, Russia has
been brought into direct contact with
China from the Hinterland. 1t is OBJ
vious, therefore, that Russia is the most
potent factor in directing events which
Will determine what the future relations
of the various nations shall be in the
Asiatc continent.
The Importance of these railroad sys-
TENS and their bearing upon the Asiatic
situation, and especially upon China, |
pointed out nearly two years ago in my
book on Siberia and Central Asia. l then
said that this system would have more
far-reaching political, commercial and
even chronological influence than any 9TH
er industrial or economic scheme that had
ever been conceived or executed. 1t
has already thrown England into
state of alarm for the safety
of India and has caused that descent of
other nations upon the Chinese lttoral,
where. in a limited area, there is TO be
much future strife, wrangling and, per-
haps, proftless warfare
You can see how rapidly this predic-
ton has already been fulfilled. 1t is
hardly likely that the contest between
Western civilization, represented wholly
by quantities, against Eastern civiliza-
ton, represented by qualities, which must
inevitably occur, sooner or later would
have developed at thespresent time had il
not been for the building of these great
railroad lines, the effect of which would
be 10 establish a practical dominance OF
Russia in Asas$ic countries and which
might be regarded as a menace to those
nations now holding spheres of influence
there, as well as to those who see in the
possible partition of China opportunities
for territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. AS an in
dicaton of this change. it gay be said
that Russia was, ten years ago the fur
therest nation away from China, sepa-
rated by impossible steppes, and without
navy, while all the others European
Powers could reach the Chinese littoral
by water
THE building of these reailroad sys-
TENS has rapidly changed the entire stu
alton, bringing China, politically and
commercially to the very doors of Rus
STA and making a conterminous border OF
1900 to 5000 miles. In fact, it brings
China in physical contact with the Rus
sian empire alone, her contact with Othel
nations being only through the Deepen
denotes of those nations.
In view of these important facts IL
is easy to see what is to be the proba-
| BILE relation of Russia to China, which
seems to me can only be of the most
friendly character and to that end the
maintenance of the integrity of the Chi
nese Empire, especially the middle part
is of paramount importance. | believe
| that when a general showing of hands i;
made, it will be apparent that if there
| is not an actual alliance between Russia
and China, there will be found to be ar
| intimate cooperation for the mainte
nance of their political and commercial
| interests"