The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-04
Our Position in Chinn.

If q high order of craftsmanship and
not the practice OF goober politics had
marked the general policy and course of
the Democratic party in the Fifty-sixt ,,
{ Congress. before now questions would
have been asked regarding the connection
/ of the Administration with the Chinese
war and its consequences, which it might
DE officially embarrassing to answer.
/ The undoubted something behind the
I sudden rapprochemrnt between this
! country and Russia last year. and the
sudden springing Of the cut and scuttle
I policy, remain TO be explained Especial
! ~ would the people of the United States
like TO know what we have gained by
helping to disrupt the concert at Pekin;
a step which could be useful only to Rus
STA, if to anyone. Where are we now?
Our single ally in China, while openly ne
gotiating IN con Imon and in harmony
with the other 5 ates represented at Pc
kin, has been detected in carrying on
coincident negotiations of d secret char
acter with China at St Petersburg. Al
though the Cars Government has re-
peatedly declared that it does not want
and would not take Manchuria as a free
gift, circumstances point very strongly to
the conclusion that, unless the allies
make common cause and veto the ar
rangement. the province will bs as Rus
sian Sebastopol from row until the
crack of doom
As the Ministers in Pekin are informed
the proposed understanding between Rus
STA and China is II the effect that the
Chinese generals commanding in Man
churia provinces are to be under the or
ders of Russian agents; the Chinese po-
lice and railways are to lie exclusively
o.,
the sole right to construct Railways no
concessions or commercial privileges in
Manchuria are to be granted to any
power but Russia; the Manchurian Gus
toms are to be administered by Russia,
and Russian goods are to enjoy approx
mately free trade, while the commodities
OF ether States are to be well taxed
The Car is 50 firmly intrenched in
Manchuria that it is highly doubtful if
any two or more of the rival nations
among the allies would care to risk the
consequences OF disturbing his occupa-
ton. Where does the United States stand
in comparison with Russia? One of the
greatest-porhaps the greatest-market in
China is closed to US, If the Chino-Rus-
sian separate treaty shall be permitted
to stand: and this. too, at the hands Of a
Government which our amateur dipIomat-
lists went out of their way 10 obige. and
in so doing forfeited the friendship of
our other allies, and whatever Of prestige
our arms had won for US from Taku to |
Pekiu. What guarantees has the I-aited
States that its commercial interests will |
be protected in any international settle |
meut now likely to be made? The order |
Withdrawing our remaining troops from |
the Empire, looks very much like filing |
Il nolo contendere and walking out or |
court Everybody knows that China will |
-ther behave nor pay indcmaitles save
in the immediate presence OF Il force
najeure Where is our part of the force |
to come from. to safeguard our possible
but rapidly fading interest in the cues
ton Of damages? What is our Chinese
policy. anyway, if the Administration is
Of having one?