The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-13
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THE OLD TROUBLE

THE OLD TROUBLE
Our friend the German kaiser does not
see the way clear for him to rellnqu1sh
his gains in China. The car Is likewise
inclined to hold on to Manchuria under
the concessions extracted from China.
Germany Is practically master OF Shan
tung province, with the exception or the
i-Hai-Wei dist riot, which still belongs
to England, as she has not reltnqu1shed
1t. but has abandoned her purpose OF
making a military and naval post there.
Germany has obtained valuable railway
and mining concessions from China, and,
like Russia, who has an eighty years
concession of railway privileges In Man
churia, proposes to keep Them Both
powers have replied to Secretary Hays
note that they have no intention of OBJ
structing trade Of other nations In these
spheres. This Is all right. We cannot
undertake to force either Russia or Ger
many to relinquish the concessions they
hold, We can insist, however, upon the
free working of the open door upon Its
hinges, because that is an international
pledge. But when it comes to maintain
ing the territorial integrity of China
there is some difficulty.
Our government has committed itself to
that maintenance, along with the other
powers, but none of those who have &C
quired by diplomatic tricks or by con-
quest or by stealing outright any Chinese
oil yryi11i inc RI ora
any of it, Germany has not even con-
scented to the evacuation Of Tientsin,
which is yet occupied by troops of the al
lies of 1900 Even the Anglo-Japanese
alliance Of which so much has been said
and which was int ended to protect China
and Korea from the rapacity of Russia,
is now utilized by Japan for making good
her hold upon Korea which she wrested
from Chinese suzerainty in 1894 and was
prevented by Russia, Germany and France
from annexing it to the empire of Japan.
That enterprising country will not rest
empire and such acquisition really means
the cutting off of another slice of Chinese
territory, for China always claimed it as
a portion. of her tributary domain. The
Anglo Japanese alliance is only a cover
ing, under which Japan is contributing to
the disintegration of the Chinese empire.
The fact should also be recalled that it
was the naval forces of France and Ger
many which backed Russia in her preda-
tary movements in maritime Manchuria
after the China-Japan war Of 1894 49,
The EAnglo-J Japanese alliance is aimed
chiefly at Russia and the text of the
treaty would seem to indicate that these
pushing their demands for. Chinese terri
torial integrity to the extent of war. If
necessary, and yet the activity of Japan
in Korea, extending her commercial in
terests, points to the ultimate carrying
out of her old policy for which she fought
China in 1S94-the suzerainty over Korea,
Russia is duly notified through this al
liance that her designs in Manchuria are
vetoed by England and Japan, at least on
paper-and the threat is made that any
power assailing the territorial integrity
Of China or Korea must expect the united
opposition of Japan and England If this
threat is retroactive, it applies not only
to Russia, but to England, Japan, France
and Germany. But there is no doubt no
real intention to disturb any power in its
possession Of Chinese territory heretofore
acquired. Russia virtually controls all
Manchuria and keeps up her military oc-
cupation of the port Of Newchwang
through which our heaviest business in
cottons and other goods has been done
with China. Our government has repeat
edly reminded Russia of her open door
pledges and profuse assurances have been
given by her that she would be faithful
to her pledges. To these pledges Russia
should be held. It is business necessity
for this country to keep the open door of
trade always open as per the terms of
our treaties with China. We shall not
undertake to defend by force of arms
China's possession of Manchuria, but our
diplomacy may be made more formidable
than our guns in the maintenance of our
treaty rights with China Great Britain
and Japan have pledged themselves to
take to their guns in defense of China's
territorial integrity and pull our chest.
nuts out of the fire. 1t is well.