The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-28

There does not seem to be any rea-
son for doubling that it is Russia S
purpose to retain possession of Man
churia. 1t will be recalled that at the
close of the Boxer troubles it was
freely predicted that she would never
let go her hold on that province.
Several times since then, however, she
has solemnly promised to withdraw
fromsit. She is there yet, and her pres
ent demands are such that it is prac-
tically certain that her purpose is to
retain possession of it. She sent an
army there at the beginning of the
Boxer troubles for the purpose of pro-
tecting her railroad interests. 1t was
the understanding with the other
Powers that she would withdraw as
soon as those troubles were adjusted.
The United States are now negotiat-
ing treaty with China for the pur-
pose of having other Manchurian ports
opened to commerce. Russia is OPP
posing the opening of any more Man
churian ports. But she does not say
to the United States that she OBJ
jects to the opening of more ports. To
the United States she is saying now,
as she has been all along, that what
ever occurs in Manchuria the interests
of the United States shall not suffer.
But the United States want some
thing more from Russia than promises.
1t seems that they have had assurances,
and these assurances have been re-
newed, that she did not intend to
make any claims in Manchuria that
would be hostile to their interests, and
yet it is well known that she tried in
1901 to negotiate secret treaty with
China by which she would have con-
troll of Manchuria.
Our interest in Manchuria is a big
one. We send vast amount of mer-
chandise there. We cannot afford to
lose this trade, and there is no doubt
that our government is now making
a vigorous protest to Russia against
her Manchurian policy, which threat
ems to deprive us of it.
OF course Japan would like to de-
clare war upon Russia at once, but as
no one of the Powers would back her
up, the probability is that she will con-
tent herself with a vigorous protest.
She would doubtless have the moral
support of this country and Great
Britain, but that would hardly be suf-
ficient to justify her in engaging in such
an unequal contest as a war with Rus
STA would be.
1t seems to be the impression in
Washington that Russia, Germany and
France have an understanding in re-
gard to the policy each is to pursue in
regard to China. In other words, it is
the belief that these three Powers have
decided to divide the greater part of
China among themselves. Russia, it
is said, will take Manchuria now and
additional territory later, Germany
the rich Shantung province and France
the provinces of Kwantung and
Kwangsi. Even Great Britain, it is
thought, will take a share of the
spoils if she finds other Powers are
grabbing territory under the excuse
of extending their respective spheres
of influence.
The United States do not want
China's territory, but they do want the
'open door" policy in China. They
want to extend their trade in that
country If they are to have the privi-
lege of doing so they will have to look
after their interests in that section of
the world sharply. If Russia holds
Manchuria she will not extend to the
United States privileges unless she gets
compeRsating advantages.