The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-13

| always looked Forward To the DAY Whei
China may be prosperous and powerful
Unfortunately the Boxer disturbances
broke out last year and all the foreign
powers took advantage of the occasion
to send their hostile armies into China
Though we tried in vain to refrain
from participating in the expedition
| we labored most strenuously to per-
! suade the allied forces TO evacuate
| Pekin as soon as the legations had been
releyed. Subsequently when the Jap
anese attempted to snatch the power
of policing the city of Pelin from the
hands of the Chinese authorities, we
stood obstinately in their way and so
their unreasonable attempt was frus-
| trated.
"When all of the allied powers Joined
| together in debating to China the pun
| ishment of those Chinese officials who
| We're suspected by them of having
| cOuntenanced the Boxers, we eXerted
| every effort to get as many officials
exempted from punishment as, possible
| in order to protect the dignity of your
| country. 1t is needless to say that it
was entirely due to our strong and per-
| sstent opposition that your eXcellency
| was not INCLUDED in the list.
I'VE have tried and done everything
in our power to protect the interests
of China ana it is for this that we have
earned the implacable hatred of all the
other powers. II. f.. the late Ii Hung
Chang, was a very far-sghted and able
statesman who had always been on
friendly terms with us, because he
knew that Russia was the only true
friend of China.
with regard to Manchuria, it is Il
place where the present dynasty has
had it's origin. How can the Chinese
government permit Il number of wolves
and tigers to intrude into this import
ant province of the Chinese empire?
But we knew that, unless we stepped
forward, China would be powerless
against these wolves and tigers.
I'VE, therefore. made haste in des-
patching Il strong army southwark to
protect this province from being in
vaded by the other powers and our
action in this matter has had it's de-
sired effect for by our strenuous and
prompt efforts peace and order have
been gradually restored throughout
Manchuria, and no foreign power dared
touch the province. Thus the SOW
ereignty of China there has been MAIN
tanned.
'As general peace has been restored
and the court is about to return to the
old capital, it appears reasonable that
we should hand back NTanchuria to its
proper owner to quiet the minds Of
those who are inclined to suspect that
Russia is aiming at absorbing and an
neXing this important territory But
after careful consideration, we find that
ii is not al all opportune for us to do so
now.
"-And the reason is obvious; for as
China is newly defeated and is saddled
with the burden of an unprecedented
indemnity, it is not within her power
to raise sufficient funds to organize
and maintain Il strong army in Man.
churil to defend it. But unless Man.
churia is strongly garrsoned, it is inn
possible to prevent the foreign powers
from casting a greedy eye on the PROV
ince.
'It is for this reason that Russia in
ssts on keeping this important terri
tory under her nominal control till
China is strong enough to take it back.
If we disregard the welfare of China
and eVacuate Manchuria at the pres
ent moment, I am sure that no sooner
have our troops left the place than
those of some other of the foreign pow
ers will step in and make u permanent
occupation. This statement, I hope
will be a sufficient explanation why we
refuse to give up Manchuria now.
with reference to the convention as
agreed upon between the late Ii Hung |
Chang and us, it is a satisfactory docu- |
ment in every respect. But, unfortun- |
ately, it has been frustrated by that |
regrettable death. And |
those who have been authorized to |
take up this important work left off |
by him, are ignorant of the true polit-
cal situation, and misunderstood our |
good intentions.
Instead of consolidating the indis- |
pensable relations between China and |
her nearest neighbor Russia, these
men are seeking the friendship and al
lance of such far distant countries as
Japan and England, l need hardly say
that your cXcellency will be at one
with me in condemning their stupidity.
II hope YOU will describe the true
situation to her majesty, the empress
lowager, and persuade her to put the
affair in your hands so
that ] may negotiate with you alone.
This, in my opinion, is the only way to
prevent the province from falling into
the hands of a foreign power"
The United States has q good and
growing trade with Manchuria and is
in Manchuria's future both OH
that account and on general principles.
It is also interested in learning how
much dependence it can place on Rus
sla's word. We trust ii will find that
lut soon.
|