New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17
AMERICA REGARDED AS THE SPECIAL
GUARDIAN OF THE OPEN DOOR.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE DEVELOPMENT
IN INA-POSTPONEMENTO OF A KHAKI
CAMPAIGN-LADY RANDOLPH
CHURCHILL
CHURCHILL.
copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tri6une.l
[BY CABLE To THE TRIBUNE-l

here because the fOrcesS Of marines sent 20
Peking are small: but 1t is keenly watched in
diplomatic circles.
That action is independent, IL not isolated;
American marines may be marching with Euro
pean and Japanese marines but they are going
10 Peking for a specific purpose. the protection
of American missionaries and property and
not instruments Of any European concert This
fact is clearly understood among diplOmatists
here, and certain differences are drawn from II.
One is that the United States Government does
not intend to be ent-apped into any European
coalition for the protection or dismemberment
of China \ concert may be formed, but Amer
lea will not be in it. The Washington Govern
ment viii look after the interests of its
citizens in China as II is doing in COnstanti-
nople.
Another inference is that this independent
course will strengthen the resources OF the
Washington Government for holding the Euro
pean Powers to their guarantees on the open
door question. L viii not act jointly with Eng
land Germany and viii remain outside the
concert and be in a better position for dealing
with all the Powers and insisting that whatever
changes there may be in spheres of influence
and territorial holdings. the principle OF equality
in commercial advantage shall be maintained
Lord Salisbury began several years ago with
ringing the changes upon the open door policy
and ended by leasing Wei-Hai-Wei on the same
quired ports and naval stations. This was
practical evidence that England. whenever an
emergency arose. would join the European con-
cert for controlling action in China and regulat-
ing scheme OF partition il there should be a
breakup Of the Empire. It is already clear that
the Powers are acting together in sending ma
rines to Peking and that at the risk of instigat-
ing civil war they may be called upon 10 depOse
the Empress and grant Russia mandate for
OcCupa OF Northern China
The Boxers movement is widespread and has
been in progress for a long time. and the En-
press has been forced TO support il in order to
protect the dynasty and the throne. The Euro
pean concert will be compelled to adopt strenu-
Gus measures for crushing this anti-fOreign
movement and 1t may be iupracticable to defer
the dissolution of the Chinese Empire In this
event the American Government viii he IN
unique position if the worst comes to the worst
for holding the European Powers to their
pledges to respect the open door principle II
may be enabled 10 play important part
peacemaker and the champion OF the COM
merciaI interests of the world and this il do
with greater efficacy and grace if it remains
outside European concert.
Mining and railway engineers who are IA
miIiar with China assert that an enormous
expansion of the worlds trade will be the re-
suit Of opening the Empire under scientific con-
dtions Of modern enterprise. Millions now
living there in primitive surroundings, but with
the extension of railways. the development OF
coal measures and other mineral resources the
introduction of electric machinery and the build
ing of factories, the market for foreign goods
could be quadruped. One Of the most i'm
pOrtant interests of modern commerce is the
opening of China conditions OF commercial
equality to industrial competition by all nations.
and the United States has become the special
guardian of that principle. The Washington
Government should hold it's resources in re-
serve especially as the British Government has
been caught unprepared and is stumbling from
feeble expedient TO another, with a vague
possibility that everything will come out right.
but strong probability that there will be some
horrible catastrophe, such as a general mas
sacre Of white men or the dissolution Of the
Empire into cluster Of anarchicaI provinces.
Momentarily the European Powers are held
together by the common menace Of the slaughter
OF foreigners. but the concert is not likely to
prove more efficient in China than at Constan-
tinople in the past. Russia and France are
deeply distrusted. only by Japan but by
England and Germany, and it is by no means
clear that the concert can be induced 10 sane
tiOn the deposition or the Empress when the
rightfu Emperor is at her mercy and the am
bassadors virtually imprisoned in tbsfr
embassies with the relief force cut off and
hung up half way between the coast and the
capital
The China crisis and the unexpected prolonga-
ton OF the South African war through the
difficulty OF transport and the desperate re-
sistance of the Beers. have choked Off all talk
about a general election in July. The Liberals
will put out a strong feeIer on Monday in ques-
tcning the Ministers upon the state Of the reg
istry, but there is not likely TO be a definite
answer Lord Salisbury has not made up his
mind respecting the date of the elections. his
continuance in the Foreign office or the Cabinet
changes which are required. The Ministers
themselves are divided respecting the expe-
diency Of forcing an appeal TO the country There
is endless chatter in the smoking rooms OF the
Commons and in political clubs but the shrewd-
est surmises defer the elections until October
and displace Lord Salisbury at the Foreign
once as soon as the present session is wound
up and Mr.. Balfour is liberty 10 devote all
his energies 10 the Chinese question
Mr.. Chamberlain is not likely 10 remain In
the Colonial Office. ana his future is the most
difficult problem which Lord Salisbury Is called
upon to solve He is favorite with the Queen.
and the relations of Lord Salisbury and Mr.
Balfour with him are most cordial The leader
ship OF the Commons. the First Lordship Of the
Treasury and the Chanceuorship OF the Ex-
chequer are posts for which he is pre-eninentIy
fitted. but Sir Michael Hicks Beach ike Sir
William Harcourt. has idea Of retiring from
Parliament, and there are scores OF old Tories
who cannot tolerate the thought OF serving nm
der Mr.. Chamberlain.
All these political changes are dependent uDon
Lord Roherts's success In bringing the war 10 a
speedy close. The main obstacle to peace is the