New-York tribune., 1901-04-07
RUSSIA AND OTHER POWERS.

RUSSIA AND OTHER POWERS.
Russia's assurances concerning Manchuria are
yariously received. In Washington, as we have
said, they are regarded with degree of favor.
The same Is doubtless to be said of Paris.
In Berlin they are accepted as satisfactory and
conclusive which was TO be expected after the
German Chanccllors frank declaration that
there was nothing which his government re-
garded with more indifference than the fate
of Manchura. In London. was also to be
expected, they received with doubt, sus-
picion and Scepticism. Japan is yet to be heard
from, though IL may he that her judgment is
the most important of all. For each of the at
titudes thus assumed toward the Russian note
there are grounds in sense and reason. Each
of them is partly right; perhaps not one alto
gether right. What seems to be certain is, as
we said yesterday. that the tension of the
situation is for the present somewhat relieved,
and also that Russia has so put herself upon
record recognizing the equal rights of other
powers in China that her future course in that
country must be materially modified from what
IL has been Of late. 1t would have been one
thing 10 seize Manchura, ON the ground Of eX-
elusive and unqueStiOned right. 1t will he an
other and quite different thing to seize it while
recognizing the rights there of other powers,
and while recognizing, too. the need of making
some pretext for the seizure. In the one case
Russia might have grabbed Manchuria. and at
the time have protested against any
further parttioning of the empire In the
other, she will have ground for objecting
to Japan's acquisition of Fu-Kien or Germany's
of Shan -Tung or Engands of the Iangtse
Valley. Moreover, in the former she might have
overridden and ignored all demands for main
tenance of or compensation for treaty rights in
find it difficult TO pass over the rights which
she has conceded the United States and other
nations possess in Manchuria.
While thus regarding Russias assurances
with a certain degree of satisfaction such
grounds there is no occasion TO cherish any
illusions concerning her ultimate aim. 1t is
quite true that. as they are saying in London.
she repeats MacMahon's message from the
Malakoff: Here / am, and here ! stay" And
in that maSterful position she has been en-
couraged by other powers; if not by Great
Britain herself. at least by her ally. In Octo-
Der last heard mich about the Anglo-Ger-
man alliance which TO save China from
spoliation. 1t is interesting TO recall some of
its terms: 1t is a matter of joint permanent
international interest that the ports Of China
should remain free and open TO every leGiti-
mate form of economic activity for the people
two governments agree 10 uphold the same
for all Chinese territory as far as they can
exercise influence and will direct their
policy toward maintaining undiminished the
territorial condition of the Chinese Empire"
That was tie Anglo-German agreement. And
vet when Russia proposed to violate those prin
ciples to close some of the chief ports Of China
against all the world and TO seize for herself
some of the richest provinces of China, and
10 eXpel and exclude from them all foreigners
save her own people, the German reply was
that it none of Germany's business. for
the Anglo-German agreement did not apply to
Manchura. Really, one would think Manchuria
was included in the phrase "all Chinese ter
ritory." If not what is:
The United States has entered into no such
compacts or alliances. Nevertheless, its in1u
ence in the direction and settlement Of Chinese
problems may have been no less potent than
that of any other power. 1t was this country,
a year or more ago, that gained the formal as
sent Of all the powers 10 the 'open door" policy
a matter of record of which the last may not
vet have been heard. Certainly there was no
execution of Manchuria from that agreement
IT was the United States. again. that defined
the policy of the powers in dealing with the
Boxer troubles of last year. a third time, 1t
was the United States that few weeks ago
enunciated the principle that no private or Sc
cret conventions should he made between China
and any power while the general international
negotiations were pending, and 1t is that decla-
ration of policy which appears TO have caused
Russia at least ostensihly 10 withdraw from
her objectionable attitude in Manchuria, and it
is that American declaration to which Russia
NOW professes to subscribe. We shall see 10
what extent such subscription is observed as
binding. with hopes that it will be full and
complete degree, but with confident reliance
upon n certainly complete degree of prepara-
lion for whatever further contingency may
arise Russia announces herself TO he firmly
established in Manchuria. and there to be await
ing the further course of events. The United
States and other powers are similarly awaiting
further events. and they will do so with the
more confidence now that Russia has formally
committed herself to declaration of what, so
far as she is concerned those events shall be.