The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-26
NEW BOOKS.

AMERICAN DIPLOMACY IN THE ORIENT. BY
John w. Foster, author of "A Century Of
aptUmacy' aies;l l"e-isIt Boston: Houghton,
Price - net. nj :.
Mr.. Foster has distinguished himself in
the diplomatic service Of his country, as
We'll as in the military service in which
he distinguished himself in the civil war.
He has been our minister to Mexico, Rus
sias' and Spain s negotiated. several reci-
precity treaties under President Harrison;
represented the United States I'M the
Bering sea arbitration with Great Britain:
assisted in the Japan China negotiations
for peace, after the war of 1894-95, and is
now a member of the Anglo American
joint high commission to settle Canadian
questions. &N
This work is of special interest since the
United States has become an Asiatic
power and has increasing trade relations
with oriental countries. The author in
terestlngly describes the beginning of
European trade relations with the orient
IN the sixteenth century, the Dutch and
portuguese being first in the field, the
British arriving at Canton in 1886 and
committing the @barbarity Of wantonly dis
regarding: Chinese port regulations and
smelling the forts. The first American
.shipzinss Chinese waters arrived at Can
ton IN 1854: The breaking Of the policy
OF exclusion .inaChina and Japan was ac-
complished chiefly by force on the part
OF England and France, the former dis
grac1ng herself by forcing the opium trade
on Ch1na, who resisted the evil until over
come by force. Our government made q
treaty with China in 1874, which yielded
trade advantages. The opening of ia
pan TO commerce was chiefly accomplished
Dy our government which committed only
the blunder of assisting in the Shimon-
eseka bombardment and demanding a big
indemnity with the other powers from ia
pan whose treasury was depleted by the
war With the fuedal lords This money.
however, was honorably returned to ia
pan. The other powers kept theirs. The
author gives an interesting account of the
transforma tion of Japan since 1858, when
the mlkado came out of secusion and
Japan began the adoption of the methods
OF western civilization. The account of
the decay Of China is likewise of inter-
est and the author gives large attention
TO chinese immigration and exclusion and
the treaties OF exclusion up to date. There
Is also valuable account of the Samoan
dlff1culty due to the mistake of our gov
ernment trying to conduct the affairs of
remote islands Jointly with two other
powers: Our intercourse and treaties with
horea are given due attention and the
last chapter is devoted to the Spanish war
and it's results. In closing, the author
says:
Mr. Stewards prophecy of the growing.
Importance Of the Pacific and of Ameri-
cas- expansion to these distant regions
mas become history much sooner than he
or any American statesman foresaw, It
fllas prought With it much governmental
embarrassment and great responsibilities
But the hopeful citizen must believe that
the system of government and the wis
dom OF IT'S public men will be equal to the
emergency and the responsibilities. It is
a matter or pride and of confidence for
the future to be assured that the conduct
ana pollcy OF the government from the
beginning of its history, in it's relations
With the orient, have been marked by 2
spirit of justice, forbearance and magma
n1mlty. Its early and it's later intercourse
with China, Japan and Korea has been
that of friend interested for their well
fare, ready to aid them in their efforts
10 attaln an honorable place among the
nations and willing to recognize the en-
barrassments which attended their ef-
forts" ..
lhere IS an appendix containing treaty
texts. The hood is Of great value to every
student of national policy.
DOWN THE oR1NoCo IN A CANOE, By s.
Perez Triana. Introduction by r. B. Cunning
ham Graham. New York: Thomas Y Crow.
ell Il Co. Price $1.25.
The author, son of an ex-president of
Colombia, had to flee from Bogota after
one Of the frequent revolutions and found
1T easier to escape down the Orinoco in a
canoe, and, having had many adventures
he concluded to write and print them
Bogota is $500 feet above sea level. Afflu-
! 'ents Of the Orinoco are within easy reach
and the three travellers embarked on the
Yua river which flows into the Meta.
which flows into the great Orinoco. Down
these waterways between vast and
gloomy forests and swamps and jungles,
Ifiana and his companions f1oated to the
Atlantic. Triana writes we'll. He gives
interesting descriptions Of the vast region
through Which they passed., and is at
| times, humorous. The Orinoco, with it's
| Guaviari aff1uent' is over 1000 miles long.