Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-02
Powers Looking to America for
Approval of Their Eastern
Policies.
United States Now Practically
Responsible for Keeping the
Worlds Peace.
Foreign Powers Suspect One An.
other OF Evil Designs-Crit-
-ical Situation.

Washington, April 2.--There never
| ton became acute thru the Boxer up
rising of two years ago that the great
powers have been watching one anoth-
er so closely and jealousy as at pres
emit, 1t has been pointed out in these
dispatches that much depends on the
attitude of the United States, and in
dications accumulate that the well-un-
derstood intention of this government
! not to seek any exclusive commercial
or territorial exploitation in the orient
| al empire has given it a strength in the
international concert which makes its
friendship and approval a desirable OBJ
| ject to every nation concerned.
Sharing wholly or partially in the
confidence of all parties to the world
game that is being played in the far
east, the administration in Washington
has probably better means of under
standing the Chinese situation than
any other government, and its infor-
that suspicion and distrust of one an
other are growing among the powerful
countries which make world history
An outward indication of the import
ant position now held in international
affairs by the United States may be
found in the long and frequent inter-
views which the representatives of the
European powers and Japan are having
with Secretary Hay, and the fact that
these interviews relate mainly, and in
some cases exclusively, to the Chinese
situation, is, additional evidence of the
flattering regard in which the opinion
of the American government is held.
The views of the United States are
sought on every suggestion, report, or
surrnise, as, to the intention of this or
that power in the far eastern problem.
1t is hardly likely that Japan would
seek information at st. Petersburg or
Paris as to whether Russia and France,
despite protestatlons to the, contrary,
were preparing to make coup. in Chi
ma. 1t is Just as likely that Russia
would apply to London or Toxic IN re-
gard to a r,lInor that Japan, with Eng
land behind her, contemplated. an un-
expected movement to offset the Greet
of Russias present influence IN chi
nese territory, from which Japan was
obliged to withdraw after the Chinese
Japanese wslr.
Yet reports such as these have reach
ed official ears here, and 1t is reasona-
BILE to suppose that they have been
communicated by persons vitality and
directly interested. The state depart
ment in Washington has become the
great clearing house of international
condolences. Despite opportunity and
temptation, these condolences are not
being betrayed, and to the knowledge
of that as much, probably, as to the
independent and unselfish
attitude of this government, is due the
Willingness of the diplomatic represent
tatives of The powers to pour out the
secrets of their official breasts to those
in charge Of the foreign affairs of the
United States.
The position of this government is
we'll known. 1t wants the territorial
adherence to the agreement between
the powers not toaseek any exclusive
commercial Or other concessions in that
empire the initiation of the open
door, In reality, the withdrawal of Rus
sia from Manchooria. the withdrawal
of German troops from Chill, and q
continuation of peace between all the
nations concerned.
While officially the assurances from
four great nations of their desire for
the maintenance OF peace have been
accepted, Ii can not be denied that they
are. generally speaking. viewed with
suspicion. Germany, however, is the
most uncertain quantity In the Chinese
situation. SHE is recorded on paper as
in accord with the purposes which all
the powers profess to be DESTROYS of
carrying out. but the suspicion is prev
alent that she is actually in sympathy
with the supposed wish of Russia to
dismember China. 1t is confidently be-
lieved here that whatever Germany
may do will find an echo in Italy and
Austria, and the reports of the renewal
firm this belief.
It is thus to be seen that the United
States government occupies solely
among the members of the far eastern
concert a very important and infiuen-
tial position. Its hands are tied, how
ever to certain extent, thru having
pressed the other powers frequently for
a definition of their views and thru
having questioned them directly as to
the truth Of nearly every report as to
their intentions toward China. Further
inquiry might give offense.
Would the United States be willing
to go to war to save China from those
who seek the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of that
empire in violation of solemn pledges to
this government? President Roose-
velt's vigorous way of dealing with
things and Secretary Hays enthusiasts
tic interest In preserving China for the
Chinese have not been lost sight of in
foreign capitals. In them, perhaps,
those who crave slice of Chinese ter
ritory have found an answer to the
question.
The Colombian Revolution.
Panama, Colombia, April "A ma
tional decree of recent date imposed
war tax of 100000 per month on the
liberals in the department Of Panama.
a list of the liberals in this city who
are taxed, with the amounts they have
to pay, was published yesterday. 1t
totals $4,000 By a decree issued yes