The evening times., 1901-05-21
The British Game.

We have heard so long and vo.umi-
nously of the depth and dapravity Of
Russian diplomacy that perhaps we
have not paid the attention we ought
to the diplomacy of England By way
of parenthesis let Us say that on
careful comparison Of the two it would
be found that the villainy Of Russia
largely consisted in blocking EngIaud's
desire to steal something which ap-
peared to be left loose without a guard
on the whole, it is rather humtIiat-
ing to look back through our diplomatic
history and thereby to realize how
often England has taken advantage Of
US in the course of our relations The
peace of 1872 and the yton-Bulwer
Treaty are sufficient to illustrate this
point Yet we seem to go on follow
ing IN the English wake. almost like the
personal asset that the London
Spectator talks about And England IS
at her old tricks. We are not informed
as to the reasons why the United States
should oppose the Continental European
plan of a Chinese indemnity to be
guaranteed en- bloc by the Powers #
our idea is to preserve the territorial
integrity Of China and TO conserve the
open door. the general guarantee would
seem to be the best means to those
ends. But it happens that our auth0ri-
Ties are favorlng the English scheme Of
q segregated loan. each nation taking
its share Of and guaranteeing it if it
chooses. We have commented on the
dangers of that course too frequently
10 need now 20 repeat the arguments.
Il viii occur to any reader that, under
such an arrangement. in the case of
default there might. and in fact GER
tainly- would, be a demand for
territorial security, and It is exactly
that sort of thing that we should wish
10 alveI {, because once the idea is start
ed, away goes China and the open door.
Why we should Play second fiddle 10
England in sucn q matter IS incOnceIv-
abIe, except perhaps on the theory Of
Nr. Hays constitutional and chronic
Anglicisn. Why England should act
in the premises as she does is much
more easily understood What Lords
Salisbury and Lausdownc are playing
for is time. In principle we appreEend
that neither OF the statesmen named IS
particularly concerned whether the
Chinese loan Is consolidated or segre-
gated: but objection to the form OF in
te-nationaI guarantee affords them an
opportunity 10 make enquiries and rep
resentations. and indulge in the pro-
crastinating vice Of protocols and such
things. always under the idea that with
delay the preoccupation in South Africa
might come TO an end, in which case
England would, or thinks she would,
elevate Gehenna, and once more take
the leading role in the Far Eastern
play which once she held Now, that
Is all right from the English point Of
view but il is questionable if we ought
10 adopt the same policy Russia wants
and would Join with Us in a scheme of
international control Of the Chinese
debt Russia, to be sure, has Nanchu-
ria and can close that part Of the open
door to Us if she likes On the other
hand, it Is probable that she might
compose her economic differences with
Us and give US all the advantages we
formerly enjoyed in Northern China,
were we to join hands with her in the
matter OF the loan We made a serious
blUnder in China in following the Rus
sian lead, the foundation policy of
which was correct for Russia. but not
for Us The Russ0-AmeTican cut and
scuttle was a griev0us mistake as far
as We were or are concerned; but that
IS no reason why now we should not
agree with her IN promoting a plan
which appears 10 be conformabIe 10
sound financial and political concep-
tiOus and experience