The sun., 1900-07-25
A Dismcmbcrment OF China Inn
probable.

From one point Of view. 1t does not matter
whether the request that our Government
should mediate between China and the
treaty Powers comes directly from the
Emperor KwANG-Sor. the lawful repre-
sentative of the NIanchn dynasty, or from
the Empress Dowager. whom the Powers
had for some time previously to June ~
recognized as Regent or from Prince TuAN,
! who. II We may trust report was appointed
head of the Tsung-h- Yamen shortly after
the outbreak of the Boxers. and who accord
ing to one hypothesis has usurped supreme
| authority az Pekin. From whatever source
the appeal for mediation may be thought
| TO emanare. II bears witness 10 the authors
perception that Of all the treaty Powers
the United States are the most disnter-
ested and are most likely to wish TO uphold
| Chna's territorial integrity.
| The dislike and suspicion with which
foreigners are regarded by China have
been but too well justified by acts of aggres-
sion from the date OF the sO-called opium
war to the seizure OF Kiao-Chou by Ger
many Of Port Arthur and Talienwan by
Russia and of We-hai-Wei by England.
| Ii was not Japan's fault that she also did
not figure as a territorial despoiler at the
close OF the late war Even France. which
| has in lndo-rhina quite as much land a.
she can manage, has gained rights in the
southwestern provinces of the Celestial
/ Empire rreconcilable with the practical
exercise of authority therein by the Pekin
I mir oil "a,
| other hand although our commercial
! interests in China are second to those of
England alone, have never acquired, or
sought to acquire, a foot OF Chinese soil.
Even since the present troubles began We
have disavowed any intention of seeking
, territorial indemnity for wrongs expert
enced by our citizens at the hands Of Chi
ncSe. and thus, by implication, il not in
positive terms. We have proposed to other
Powers the adoption Of general self
denying ordinance.
Among the countries interested in China
there ar" several likely to cooperate with
the United States. England's hands are
no' clean as regards the mutilation of Chi
ne>t territory, because she possesses in
n
promontory on the neighboring mainland
while on the northeast coast OF Shan
tung she holds the fortified harbor of
Wei-hai-Wei Nevertheless. the British
Government il alive TO the stupendous
gravity Of the problems involved in an
attempt TO effect complete dismember-
ment Of China and would be glad to see the
Nf nj Al.
which it has reached Japan, for her part.
il she could secure Corea as an outlet for
her surplus population, would sooner see
China assured Of Independence than dis
membcred, because the Mikados subjects
believe that they would find better market
for their manufactures in an independent
China than they would in Russian or Ger
man or French spheres Of Influence"
There are. then, al least two Powers,
ro-wt, Great Britain and Japan which
NAV be expected Ia combine with the
United States in defence Of Chinas terri
torial integrity. II il possible that We might
also count upon the support Of France.
II NJ. DEI.CAssE were likely to long remain
AT the head of her foreign Office. for he
knows how little profit his country derives
from her possessions in Indo-China and
has no desire to extend the scope Of her
responsibilities in the Far last. We mus,
leave France out of our calculations, how
ever. because when the Exposition IL over
and the French Parliament reasspmbles
VI. DEICAssE will probably be succeeded
b. NJ. HASoTAUx. who may be trusted
on all occasions to say ditto" to the Rus
sian Minister for Foreign Affairs. Admit
ting. however, tNat France Is not unlikely