Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-07

The Chinese crisis continues to grow more
serious and to involve the possibilities Of
widespread complications The position of
the United States in this emergency re-
quires careful thought for both the present
and the future. To understand the demand
which the situation makes upon this gov
eminent 1t is necessary to consider the re-
markable growth of American trade with
China. the extension of American SOW
ereignty into the western Pacific and the
part recently played by this country in
seeking to hold open the door Of trade in
China. Each of these items requires that
the United States. without binding itself to
any de1inite policy of either aloofness from
or participation in a program Of political
Intervention at Pekin. should reserve all
rights and stand ready for any step neces-
sary to protect those rights in any adjust
ment
Thus. it is not required that the United
States play into the hands of Russia by
declaring fixed Quaker policy of absolute
non-interference with the partition of
China: or that 1t should play into the hands
of England and Japan by declaring its de-
termined opposition to such partition. and
its readiness to fight to prevent 1t. Its
prime business is to conserve all Its oppor-
market and. having no territorial am
billions. it is in excellent position from a
diplomatic point of view to command re-
spect in its relation to the problem. At the
same time it has now become, in connection
with its recently acquired Asiatic island
holding the third largest military power
as regards combined land and naval forces,
in that part of the world. and thus from
the military as we'll as the commercial
point of view 1t has become factor of i'm
portance. Its Philippine army Is strong
enough to hold the balance of power in Asia
as between Japan and Russia
Americas material interests would be
best promoted under continuation of
Chinese political integrity. 1t stands to
lose much ground in prestige and trade If
the powers proceed to divide the empire
into bits and establish direct sovereignty
over them 1t was to prevent such a loss
that it recently entered the diplomatic field
and. by a bold. shrewd stroke, secured
pledges from the interested powers to re-
frain from shutting the open door. Our at
titude Is to be one of protest against a
closure of that door, whatever the pretext
of Chinese disorders.
Our first business in China today is to
protect the lives and property of Americans
resident there. To this end all necessary
forces will doubtless be available. The
steps already taken are admirably direct
and apparently effective as far as the con-
ditions permit. Our next business is to
prevent, If possible. the development of a
situation requiring the forceful Intervention
at Pekin of a single power regardless Of
protests. Such an act would probably pre-
cipitate war among the states Of Europe,
with Japan as another factor. 1t would not
necessarily involve the United States. The
belief is strong that what was done by us
in the face of a threat to close the open
door may also be done in the face of the
threat to wipe the Chinese government out
of existence and to substitute. after bloody
argument. a series of European dependen-
cies within which the American trader
would have small chance to obtain a fair
deal.
We have a large army near at hand and
a respectable naval force within call. Our
hands are clean. our expectations honor
able. our record good We are entitled
therefore to believe that in this crisis We
may be able to preserve our rights without
either becoming involved in war or suffer
ing any national loss or humiliation.