Evening star., 1901-03-12

There are two points of view from which
the United States, of necessity, must con-
slider the reported Russian program with
regard to Manchuria
"a The powers invaded China for spe-
cific purpose and with a distinct under
standing among themselves. The foreign
legations at Pekin were all under Chinese
fire, and while it was pretended by the
willy celeStialS that the outbreak was the
work of a fanaticaI society known as Box
crs, everything pointed to the probability
that the Chinese government itself was to
blame Such proved upon investigation to
be the case. Then the question arose as
to the proper redress, and it was agreed
that this should not go beyond the restora-
tion of order under a recognized Chinese
government and suitable personal punish
ments for offenses. The integrity of the
empire must be respected. 1t was to the
interest of all, China of course included
that no land-grabbing take place. The
United States took the lead in bringing
about this understanding. Russia sub
scribed as promptly as did the other pow
ers, and has since several occasions re-
newed her assurances of fair play with her
associates in the Chinese campaign. So
far as the United States is officially ad-
(2) The United States has a large and
growing trade with Manchuria, and it de-
sires that trade to be continued under the
Chinese flag. In fact it's only hope of
preserving that trade and it's assured
growth if preserved lies in an undivided
China. Russian control, we have every
reason to know, would mean at least Sc
rious embarrassments for American COM
merce, and probably it's exclusion. We
have just had taste of her policy in the
matter of the countervailing duty on her
sugar. In an effort to bring us to terms
where only few thousand dollars of her
exports are involved, she raises tariff du-
ties against our exports to her shores of
millions of dollars. And of course wher-
ever her flag flies and her authority extends
this anti-American policy will extend. And
even if the present difficulty should be
composed, our future commercial relations
with her will have to be most carefully
guarded. So that as our interests in China
are commercial, and our object in declar-
ing for an undivided China is based largely
upon our enlightened selfshness," we
could not afford to countenance any scheme
on Russia's part which would put us at a
material disadvantage there.
1t is still insisted In certain quarters
that Russia's intentions are straightfor-
ward; that any special arrangements en-
tered into with China respecting Manchu-
ria would be only temporary. The proper
reply to this is that no special arrange
ments, either on her part, or on the part
of any of the other powers, are in order
We are all on the ground under one provo
cation, and all with a declared object in
view. We are in measure under bonds
to one another. The United States is on
record, and it has put everybody else on
record. The powers are in China not to
partition the empire among themselves
but to help restore order and make the fu-
ture of the kingdom brighter and better in
the way of increased communication with
the civilized nations
Russian control over Manchuria therefore
would be violation of virtual interna-
tional compact. The talk about a tempo
rary arrangement should not for moment
be accepted. Russia has record for hold
ing on once she plants her standard Be
sides, the era Is one of changes and sur
prises, and a temporary arrangement
would throw open thousand tempta-
tions, to any one of which she might read
fly find excuse for surrendering. Let Rus
STA and everybody else keep in the mid
die of the road. and be ready to retire
from China, as they entered it, together.