The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-05-01

Of Pekng by the allied troops ana the
long negotiations which followed the
fate of China and Of the American
policy trcmbled In the balance. But
hrmness on the part Of o." United
States government and the support OF
Great Britain and japan found way
through that crisis.
Early in the present year a second
crisis was reached. Russia was ,eek-
ing a firmer hold on Manchuria, Indie
Gtive OF a more aggressive policy 10
90 the whole problem. A new treaty
with Chlnn was under consideration, a
treaty which II concluded would place
In Russian hands absolute control OF
oil railway, mining and commercial
privileges Of the province. At this
juncture Secretary Hay came forward
with his memorable note OF Feb. I.
He defined the attitude Of the United
States with almost startling diplomatic
frankness He declared that an agree
ment whereby China gave any cor
poration or company. a Russian device,
the exclusive privilege OF opening
mines establishing railroads or I'm any
other way industrially developing Man
churia can but be viewed with the
gravest concern by the government OF
the United States"
He added that such an agreement
constituted q monopoly, (which Is
distinct breach OF the stipulation OF
the treaties between China and the for
eign powers" He called the attention
az .ha Dueofan goyarn,nant 20 tho m
pcated pledges which II had given and
closed with an expression OF the hope
that the governments Of China and
Russia would take such measures as
would relieve the just and natural
anxiety of the United States"
This note produced profound i'm
preston throughout the world. II was
an application OF the principle OF equal
rights and equal opportunity In way
so clear and unmistakable that II com.
PEELED attention.
Soon there followed a third crisis.
The United States had supplied the
principle. Tow Great Britain and ia.
pan concluded an alliance which pledg.
ed 10 this principle a support almost
threatening in its aspect. In plain Ian.
guage the allies threatened war IL Rus
STA did not give up her pretensions to
Korea. Still Russia did not yield. She
turned 10 the other powers TO ascertain
their attitude In case of hostiities.
France, as usual, was plant Germany
wns looking out for German interests
and stood ready to profit by any up
hAa al 20 V.rfn fnr N.
action that might be requested OF her.
But what would the United States dor
Would the United States take any part
in the strugglei Would the American
government give material aid to the
allied powers which stood for the
American principle?
ALMOST every day Count Cassini, the
astute Russian ambassador. was at the
state department Tactfully, with dip
lomatic euphemisms. he pressed his in
quiries. II is quite probable that the
issue of peace or war hung upon the
answer. If the United States was will
ing TO declare its intention to pursue
the traditional American policy and
avoid all entanglements In the other
world, Russia would have felt free to
pursue her way In the far east even at
the risk OF war. With the United
States surely out she could. with her
allies, France and Germany probably,
face the antagonistic alliance.
But the answer of the United States
was that II could give no pledges. Fol.
lowing its usual policy, this govern a
ment declined 20 say what II would or
would not do in a given emergency. II
would be guided by self interest II
would watch events with great eager
ness. When emergencies arose. II
would meet them as In its judgment
seemed best. Unable to reckon upon
the probable course OF the United
States Russia felt constrained TO adopt
conservative course. She could not
defy the world. The new treaty with
China. which amounts to surrender
on the part OF Russia, quickly fol
lowed.
There Is little reason to doubt that,
for the present at least. peace in the
far east has been secured, and the
United States IS entitled 90 the credit
Of t. Appearances indicate that Rus
sia's change of policy is sincere and
permanent The new Russian policy
is commercial rather than political aud
military.
Iucrodulousness rs 10 Russia's sin
cerity In her agreement TO surrender
political control of Manchuria is rife
il must be admitted Many diploma.
lists are utterly unable to believe the
treaty will he honored In anything
more than nominal way. But such is
the treaty. such are the obligations
and such is the situation with which
the Russian government is confronted
All the indications are that SO far as
this decade al least is concerned Rus.
sia's advance has been stopped, and
the moral principle raised by the Unit
ed States has proved stronger than an
old world nOlicy of splRshnoss The