The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-03
Circulation Statement.
The Danger Ahend in China.


TO get from there, that it is impossible TO
treat if currently without risk OF having all
of ones argument and the bases of it over
set by the next batch of reports But the
news OF yesterday is enough by way OF text
TO justify a sermon on the grave instability
of international relations and understand
ings with regard TO China.
1t is always proper to hope that a great
common danger will serve to suppress dy
nastic or political aims and ambitions. and.
in the present case. 1t is not impossible
that all of the powers yariously interested
in meeting the yellow Terror may be
able TO work together in harmony until
order has been restored In China. The
diplomatic movements OF the last few days
however, bring thar matter 10 oruS. They
may lead 10 a general agreement. and TO
pledges that the sctSon o. each o. the in
1ervening States shall be limited by the
purposes and viii os the coalition as q
whole. Otherwise Il is hard 10 see how
further friction and international war can
be avoided.
Under ordinary conditions. the murder of
Baron Won Ketteier would give Germany
the undoubted right OF ii.diyidual initiative,
and. If no other country had an equal cascs
belli, of exacting from China such indem-
nifty in money or territory as she might
reasonably demand. In present circum-
stances, it is probable that the representa-
tives of all the other civilized powers have
been massacred, which would mean that a
state OF war existed between China and
every one of them. There is no doubt that,
for immediate purposes, they could and
Will act together in some sort. But what
Will happen after the proximate emergency
has been encountered and overcome?
That question a numbe: of the worlds
statesmen would be glad If they could an
swer today, and dread the discussion of
protocols or possibly cannons witch it
promises to precipitate. Aside from Rus
STA, the interests OF all parties would seem
to be joint policing of the Pacific littoral
and the disarmament of China. with per-
haps the restoration Of Kwang-Su to the
throne, and the native reform party TO
China. That, under an interna tional scheme
of settlement, might preserve the open
door, which at least the United States
England. and Japan desire to see left Open
The open door" II is to be regretted, does
not appear an attractive proposition to
Russia, Italy, or Austria, nor. as the stu
alton looks, to Germany. France we leave
out of the consideration, since 1t is not
open to much doubt that France will side
with Russia in any course the latter may
take.
Indications have not been wanting of
late that Germany inclines toward Russia,
rather than toward America, England, and
Japan in connection with the Chinese ques-
tion. II, in reality. she does, and continues
to maintain that attitude. there ought to
be little doubt that the weight of the three
great military powers of Europe, re-en-
forced by Italy and Austria. will be thrown
in the scale for partition of China. Then
the remaining States will be forced to the
alternative of submission to that pro-
gramme or war
The territorial question is not the only
one which presents elements of danger.
when the day for settlement arrives. 1t
entail powers may wish to Carve up and
divide the coast and coast provinces of
China, they will for the present favor
perpetuation of the Chinese Empire in the
interior. Granting that this policy were
accepted in principle by the United States.
England, and Japan, the serious question
as to what native influence should be given
control, and under what auspices. would
almost surely cause troubles Yesterdays
dispatches justified the belief that the
Empress Dowager and her puppet En-
peror had been suspended from Office. IL
not put to fight, and that Prince Tuan,
father of the heir designate, had taken the
reins of government. Naturally, if he is
the person responsible for the attack on
the legations. he would be out OF the ques-
ton. The, difficulty would come with an
10 agree upon some one in his
place. AS between foreign elements, the
history Of the past five years would seem
to show that the Empress is favorable to
Russia in opposition to other outland in
Huence. while 1t is equally apparent that
the Chinese reformers. under whose IN
fuence Kwang-Su has been, are inimical
to Russia and friendly to England. The
may be dead and Kwang-Su in
his grave; but the parties and ideas they
represent are alive. and it is between them
that choice must be made if native gov
eminent is to be perpetuated
Japan recognizes the periis of the lnterna-
tional situation and is working diplomati- |
cally TO secure an understanding among the |
powers in advance of collision OF policies |
and purposes which would involve the |
general war. The prospects !
for such an agreement as would satisfy |
the Mkado's Government and the others |
interested. at this writing. do |
net seem to be good. II may be true. as |
diplomatic gossip in Europe suggests. that |
Russia is not ready to undertake the adj |
,ninisiration Of northern China. Never
it Is nc likely that the Car |
would forego the advantages his neigh |
borhood and his strong military force give |
him in that part of the Empire. He may
not want to annex Manchuria and northern |
Pe-ChiLi formally. but We are unable to
Discover any probability that he will not
insist upon making both into a sphere
If Russian influence, which would be tan
amount to annexation. Today the prab-
EN- before us is the crushing of a vast
barbarian riot against civilization, and the
punishment OF its participants for their