Evening star., 1900-08-18
FIELD OF DIPLOMACY
Settlement of Future Questions as to
China.
THIS GOVERNMENTS STRONG POSITION
Advantage Of Open-Door Agree
ment Secured.
A G. A / n ST PARTITION p A

The official confirmation of the relief of
the foreigners at Pekin is full and COM
plete. In addition to the dispatches re-
ceived last night, dispatches from Barry al
Taku and from Consul Goodnow at Shang
hal announce the fact. Further informa
tion, giving details of the entry into Pekin
and statement of the conditions there. is
awaited with the keenest interest. Upon
this informa tion must be based the further
action of this government. The universal
opinion in official circles, however, is that
the question lies now in the field of diplo-
macy. and ii Is matter of intense gratifi-
cation that this government. by reason OF
its reserve and its cautious though f1rm
diplomacy. is in most satisfactory posi-
tion to deal with the problem How long
1t will be necessary for our troops to re-
main there depends upon Information not
yet in the possession Of the President But
the hope is entertained that further hos
tilities will be unnecessary. 1t is recog-
nized that the question still presents many
difficulties. but 1t is felt that all these diff
culties are made lighter by the course this
government has pursued from the hrst.
and confidence Is felt that the whole matter
may be adjusted without any detr1ment 10
the interests of the United States and
without our becoming involved in war with
China or in serious entanglements with any
Of the foreign powers.
Representative MOndelrs Views.
Representative Mondell of Wyoming,
member of the military affairs committee.
who has been an interested student OF Chi
nese affairs was at the War Department
today In speaking of the situation he
said that he thought it was subject OF
congratulation that the course of this ad-
ministration had been wise and conserva-
tive The conduct OF both the state Deo
partment and the War Department. he
said had been all that could be desired.
and the wisdom of our diplomacy would De
proven in the settlement of the delicate
questions which must now arise with refer
ence to the future policy in China
II have no doubt" he said that the
American forces will be withdrawn as soon
as circumstances will admit OF 1t. and that
the settlement with China will be through
diplomacy. OF course. full and complete
indemnity must be given by China. but l do
not believe that there will be any occasion
for the United States to join with foreign
powers in a war against China.
The Open Door Agreement.
1.-The great value of the agreement with
the powers to maintain the open door in
China which was secured by Secretary Hay
some time ago. must now be apparent, as
is also the wisdom of the declaration OF
policy by this government at the very out
break of the present trouble. Whatever
may be the SpoSltlon OF the other foreign
powers with reference to the partition of
China they are under moral obligation by
reason Of the open door agreement to main
dom of commerce. and the fact that they
are thus barred from commercial advantage
through the possession of territory must
take away the principal temptation through
the partition OF China. The possession OF
territory which does not carry with 1t COM
mercial advantages which are not enjoyed
alike by all the powers would be of no
great value to any nation. and all the pow
ers are confronted with the fact that any
scheme for the partition of China must
involve the strongest dfsapproval of the
United States.
THE declaration by Secretary Hay at the
outset of the present trouble that it Is the
policy of this government to preserve
Chinas territorial and administrative in
tegrity is a notice to all the powers and If
have read the newspapers correctly. the
powers have generally tacitly concurred in
this.
If Partition is Attempted.
"If the partition of China is attempted
while l DO not believe the United States
would attempt to enforce its policy by any
show of force. a firm and earnest protest
would undoubtedly be made. In this pro-
test l believe that some of the powers
would join. and if Japan and England
should unite with the United States in the
policy TO maintain the integrity of China
| dc not believe that a plan of partition
would be persisted in. especially in view
of the obligation of all the powers to main
tain the open door. even If they did take
possession of Chinese territory. Certainly
the open door agreement should be potent
as an influence to sustain our present
policy in China.
I'm dealing with China herself the
United States Is in an excellent position
The open door agreement lends an element
of security to China in her territorial in
tegrity: the declaration of policy by the
State Department is in China's best in
terests, well our own, and we were
peculiarly fortunate in the wisdom of our
naval commander In declining to partici-
pate In the attack upon the Taku forts
and in fact, both our naval and our mill
tary commanders have refrained from any
act Of wanton aggression against China
their course being merely what was de-
manded for the protection of American in
terests and American lives, the rescue Of
our legation and self-preservation"