Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-06-05

ing principle. Through the occupation
of Picking by the allied troops and the
long negotiations which followed the
fate of China and of the American
policy trembled in the balance. But
firmness on the part of the United
States government and the support of
Great Britain and Japan found a wa
through that crisis.
Early in the present year a second
crisis was reached. Russia was seek
ing a firmer hold on Mancburia. indie
ative of a more aggressive policy as
to b whole problem. A new treaty
with China was under consideration, a
treaty which if concluded would place
in Russian and absolute control of
all railway, mining and commercial
privileges of the province. At this
juncture Secretary Hay came forward
with his memorable note of Feb. /.
He defined the attitude of the United
States with almost startling diplomatic
frankness. He declared tina an agree
ment whereby China gave any cor
poration or company, a Russian device.
the exclusive privilege Of opening
mines, establishing railroads or in any
other way industrially developing Man
Shu1Id SdA Oul DS-N1SN Sd VIII llIt
gravest concern by the government of
the United States."
He added hat such an agreement
constituted a monopoly, which is a
distinct breach of the stipulation of
the treaties between China and the for
eign powers" He called the attention
of the Russian government to the re-
peated pledges which it lad given and
closed with an expression of the hope
that the governments of China and
Russia would tax such measures rs
would relieve the just and natural
anxiety of the United States"
This note produced a profound i'm
preston throughout the world. 1t was
an application of the principle of equal
rights and equal opportunity in a W.
SO clear and unmistakable that ii com
PEELED attention..
Soon there followed a third crisis.
The United States had supplied the
principle. Now Great Britain and Ja-
pan concluded an alliance which ple0g-
ed to this principle a support almost
threatening in its aspect. In plain IAN
guage the allies threatened wal if Rus
STA did not give up her p~retensfons to
Korea. Still Russia did not yield She
turned to the other powers to ascertain
their attitude in case Of h0StIhtieS.
France, as usual, was plant. Germany
was looking out for German interests
and stood ready to profit by any up
heaval, to demand a price for any in
action that might be requested Of her.
But what would the United States do?
Would the United States take any part
in the struggle? 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 euphemisIns, he pressed his in
quiries. 1t is quite probable that the
issue of peace or war hung upon the
answer. IL the United States was Will
ing to declare it's 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 anita onistic alliance.
But the answer of the United States
was that it could give no pledges Fol
lowing it's usual policy, this govern
ment declined to say what it would or
would not do in a given emergency. 1t
would be guided by self interest. 1t
would watch events with great eager
ness. When emergencies arose, it
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
a conservative course. She could not
defy the world. The new treaty with
China, which amounts to a 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 to the credit
of it. Appearances indicate hat Rus
sia's change of policy is sincere and
permanent. The new Russian policy
is commercial rather than political and
military.
Incredulousness as to Russia's sin
cerity in her agreement to surrender
political control of Manchuria is rife,
it must be admitted. Many diploma
lists are utterly unable to believe the
treaty will be honored in anything
more than a 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 at 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 policy of selfshness. The
European powers are not only standing
on the platform of Secretary Hay, but
they are using his language in the ex-
preston of their purposes and in the
declaration of their adhesion to the