The Washington times., 1903-07-20
Russia in ManChuria.
Commercial Supremacy the Keynote of
Her Far Eastern Policy.

secretary hay has succeeded IN
partly opening the door of Man
chuIla. But will he succeed in keep
ing 1t open2 That's the question.
The notion that Russia is in Man
churia principally for purposes of
territorial aggrandizement is an err
rOneous one. The acquisition of ter
ritory is nothing but the means to an
end. She has territory enough now;
more, in fact, than she can properly
take care of. Much, indeed, of the
territory north of Persia, held by
Russia today, is what Mr.. Morgan
might call an ''undigested security"
What is it, then, which makes Russia
strain every nerve and resort to every
possible expedient to maintain her
hold upon Manchuria2 What is it
that eompels her to exert all the pres
sure she can bring to bear upon
China to induce that tottering mass
of governmental corruption to break
It's solemn agreements with other
powers and to surrender everything,
while giving nothing herself7
The answer is simple-trade. 1t is
trade that Russia is after, must have,
and viii secure at any cost short of
war. She will not fight-not now, at
least-but she will make use Of every
other method to attain her end. That
end Is no more lost sight of In the
Far East than it is on the shores of
the Bosphorus. No matter what she
may say or do, she'll never alter her
purpose. What she may say, offici
ally or through her agents, from day
to day, amounts to little. Not the
Slightest Importance need be attached
to It. 1t may be 'Iyes" one day and
mo" the next She viii even shout
'1yes" and "no" on the same day-in
the same breath, in faet-as she did
not long ago. 1t means just as much
or just as little as suits her purpose
Behind it all is her grim determine
ton not to permit the foreigner to
do business in Manehuria.
1t is easy to see why Russia's
policy is IN the direction of closed
ports. American. English, and Ger
man goods can be shipped at com
paratively small cost by water Rus
sia has IN the way of transportation
rothing but her transcontinental rail
way. What that railway is, and what
the cost of operating its Chinese
branch lines may be, everyone either
knows or suspects. In any event, II
Is clear that Russian goods trans
ported over the Siberian railway
even if entered duty free, cannot
compete with other foreign goods
carried as ocean freights Mr.. Mer-
kulcoff, of the Society for the Pro
motion of Russian Trade and In
dustry, recently stated that the rail
way had already proved Its INSULT
cheney as a protector of Russian com
mercial interests, and declared that
Russia must devise means for pre-
venting the entry Of foreign mer-
chandise into Manchuria. In a re-
cent article in the ''Fortnightly Re
view" a writer shows conclusively
that even a discriminating duty Of
seventy-fve per cent in favor Of Rus
sia would not suffice to keep Ameri-
can goods out Of Manchuria. Ii is
clear, therefore, that the Manchuian
occupation hinges upon commercial
considerations alone.
If there is security Of life and
property, it can be a matter Of little
importance to foreigners who policies
ManchUria, as long as the country Is
open to trade, as are other parts Of
China. Russia will guarantee the
former, but will not concede the
latter point. Her policy Is fixed; the
details will vary IN accordance with
what she believes at different times
will be the best means Of securing
the object in view-the diversion Of
foreign trade into Russian channels.
Secretary Hay has succeeded - at
least, 50 it seems-in prying open
tine door. But will he succeed in
Leening il oDen2 That is. we repeat.