The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-22
ARBITRATION. THE REMEDY.

ARBITRATION, THE REMEDY.
For a considerable time past the prog
ress of events in China has been OBJ
scured by a variety Of circumstances
1t has been evident among other things
that diplomatic considerations have pre-
vented as full account of the real state
Of affairs being made public as the read
ing public might desire. Conflicting state
ments have followed each other with
such regularity as to create the belief
that there is a settled purpo-e some-
where to confuse the pubic understands
ing as TO the real state of affairs.
The only one circumstance which
stands out in clear relief amidst the
smoke of contradictory statements is the
fact that the joint note has been signed
by the Chinese plenipotentiaries as we'll
as by the representatives of the powers.
How much nearer this circums .ance will
bring events to a conclusion remains
yet to be seen. He would have to be a
very sanguine man who, watching In
telligently the progress CT events in Chi
ma through the medium of published
recitals, would accept a prompt and
peaceable adjustment of affairs as among
'he immediate prospects.
ut any moment any kind of an embar-
rg9sment or complication is likely to arise
or to be created by any enc or more
of the interested powers which will
throw events back practically where
they have been at any time since the
entry of the powers into Pekin. There
IS no way of avoiding the consequences
Of any demand, however reasonable
that may be advanced No concert Of
action yet decided on binds any one ma
ton to forego any demand which it's
interests may seem to require. Eng
land and Germany and England and
Russia have their agreements as to
spheres &c influence CrlIu as 70 cel tain
demands which may be made by other
powers in certain contingencies, and
there is what appears to be plain I'M
deEstandins as to the operation CT the
open door; but everything outside of
that is indecisive and any nation NAV
put forward at any time, if that nation
thinks it advisable, any claim whatev-
er for territorial or other rights, with
out the other nations being abe to do
more than withhold their approval or
concurrence.
There is but enc course to be taken
which will bring matters to an amfcable
humane and entirely satisfactory ending
In China. That course is for the sey-
eral nations to agree to place the entire
subject before The Hague court of In
ternational arbitration. Once such a
course is taken the end will be in sight.
Inc demand Of the civilized world that
the interior of China should be opened
up to the trade and commerce OF the
world could through that agency be en-
forced. The future of China would be
made secure, and its entrance into the
serious undertakings of international life
would soon be as complete as that Of
Japan. Whatever plans any nation might
contemplate looking to the further dis
memberment of the empire would soon
come to a close once submission of exist
ms differences and entanglements was
made to The Hague tribunal
Events in China have reached such n
point that the general public of no ma
ton has longer any enduring interest In
the published accounts. All faith In the
coed intentions Of the powers has prac-
tically come to an end. The good in
fiuence of the United States has been
reduced to a minimum by the unwilling
ness or inability of cur diplomats to take
and keep decisive position throughout
The means is yet left to them Of max
ing that influence felt by insisting upon
the matters still in dispute being re-
ferred to the international board Of ar
bitratien. The only absolute guaranty
of good faith toward China which the
world can now have offered to it is by an
agreement among the powers to submit
their differences to that body