The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-07
The "Other Official"

last respecting the kishineR petition the
irrelevant declaration Of another Off
cial, who disclaimed any purpose to speak
in his official capacity" that Russia had
sought by methods the reverse Of friendly
to make China join her in breaking
plighted faith as to the open door in
Manchuria?
The situation with regard to the petit
tion was perfectly simple. Our Govern
ment had made no representations, no
remonstrances, to st. Petersburg about
the Bessarabian massacres. It had no
such representation or remonstrance
scheduled for this or any future time. 1t
q isnot cause of offence II ono nation asks
another whether it will receive respect
full petition from large body Of respect
able citizens, when the Government ask
ing the question is not a party to the petit
tion. Even the question had not been
= asked. 1t certainly had not been an
swered in the diplomatic sense. The
publication said to have been procured
by Count CAssIN1 in the American news
papers, attempting to dispose Of the petit
ton in advance, was undoubtedly in
violation Of the etiquette Of international
intercourse; but that unusual and pre-
mature action might with profit and
dignity have been ignored at the State
Department--with profit to the cause OF
the petitioners, and with enhancement Of
the dignity of the United States. Our
Government had only to ask the question
at the proper time, as it had the right to
ask, and take the refusal, II the refusal
came in the regular way, as proceeding
from sovereign power that equally had
the right to refuse.
The methods of Russian diplomacy in
China have nothing to do with the course
of procedure in regard to the KishinefY
petition. Those methods are proper
subject for discussion by our unofficial
press as far and as fast as facts concern
ing them appear in the news of the day.
They are likewise matters to be noted
and studied by the Department Of State,
in the pursuit Of its own well-defined
policy, to DO resisted If need be from the
inner chambers of the Department by
legitimate and honorable counter-meas-
ures, and to be denounced and publicly
characterized only in case the negotia-
tions should ever reach the last chapter
of hopelessness.
For four years such has been the con-
sistent and exceedingly successful course
Of the State Department under the di-
rection Of a mind OF the first order Of
penetration and resourcefulness, tenn
per Of unfailing patience and magma
nimity, and purpose not less resolute
because it is affirmed, when necessary,
in the language of decent moderation.
Persons only half informed about the
diplomatic history of our righteous
demand for the maintenance OF the open
door in Manchuria are only half aware
of the conditions Of difficulty and provo
cation that have been already encoun-
tered and removed by no other solvent
than that which is kept in stock wherever
the Hon. JOHN HAY happens 10 be sta
toned. What person, even thus half
informed, dreamed for an instant that
the final, hopeless stage had been reached
in the Secretary of States Chinese policy?
Who believed last week, or who believes
this week, that Wednesday night marked
7inis on his unceasing efforts to preserve
q good understanding with Russia while
safeguarding the existing rights and Sc
curing the immense future interests Of
the American workingman, the Ameri-
can manufacturer and the American
merchant in Manchurian trade?
Everybody knows now that Secretary
HAY was not in Washington when the
statement of State Department official
respecting the Kishineff petition was
given to the press. Mr.. HAY is sane and
ssse. Who is the other official, who dis
claimed any purpose to speak in his
official capacity but linked Manchuria
to Kishineff in a manner calculated-if
calculated at ALTO make doubly diff
cult or impossible the successful prosecu-
ton OF the Departments policy in both
the major and the minor business, to
render nigh irreparable the breach that
had previously been avoided in friendly
understanding with the Cars Govern
ment, and to put something like war-risk
rates on marine insurance Of American
commerce from the Baltic to the Gulf
of Pechili?
Newspaper reports that attribute this
disquieting performance to the President
of the United States himself should be
received with extreme caution. There
is nothing yet In official statements to