The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-28
By JOS: Oil.

Washington. December 23,-(special
correspondence The senato's ratifca
ton OF the commercial treaty with China
which guarantees the opening u the two
Manchurian ports. Mukd ard An-Tung
70 foreign commerce e United
States ..ignt in tho heart and the heat.
of the present Far Eastern controversy
so far as its commercial aspect is con
cerned.
This does not mean that the United
States has. or can have, any direct hand
in the Russo japanese contest for SUI
prefnacy IN Korea; but it does mean
that this government is now in position
to put to test the friendly assurances
of the Russian government that the IN
terests Of American commerce in Man
churla shall be fully respected, even IN
the face Of the declaration Of Niceroy
AIexieff's newspaper, that SO long rs
Manchuria is occupied by Russian sol
diers. the provisions Of this treaty Will
be altered IN such q way as 10 save
Russian interests the blow they would
otherwise receive
While this latter declaration is not
official and may not have been author
tied. 1t is natural that coming from such
source It should be taken as voicing
unfriendliness toward the opening OF
these two ports to American commerce
Admiral AleXieff and the editor who is
supposed to speak for him represent The
popular Russian view that Manchuria is
part OF the domain Of the czar, ignoring
the Official ST. Petersburg acknowledge
inent OF China's sovereignty over the
great northern provinces Of the middle
kingdom The United states which with
the rcst Of the world holds to the thco-
~ Of Chinese sovereignty. has nego-
tiated this treaty with the government of
China and expects to see its provisions
respected. whether China does or not.
The Demands Upon Korea.
Coincident with The senate action which
makes this treaty effective comes the
request upon the emperor of Korea for
the opening Of two ports In his Kingdom
"elnpire he is pleased to call it-adio.n-
ing ManchlIria The United States,
through its able minister at Seoul. IS
asking for the opening to commerce OF
AViju. while Great Britain and Japan
are pressing for similar privileges at
Yongampho Russia, which is endeavoi
ing to become the dominating influence III
Korea TO the detriment OF Japan, IS I'M
fr5ondlv Ia these commercial moves
which would, 1t fears, give 10 CONNER
cial rivals an equal footing with herself
In territory she hopes TO control, ana
here IN Washingt there IS suspicion
that JaDan-bocause Of ner hopes WIN
r1aard !, Korea is not particularly anN-
icus to see these Korean po''s Vpc"tN
tn outside commerce, Whether there IS
..ItET ,IADAIlRSt.
Nd faith is vet to develope. Japan may
frol eoma,yhat aggriovad over the fact
th.t sbo ms been given TO understand
49, - eho poes to war with Russia she
rnn t,xrect no help from the United
States. r,a,, me- !, ~
moi tbr United States will continue III
49,, otrorts RI secure the opening OF WIN.
.I{acauee Of the unsettled state OF ~
faira,, an American war shlp is on the
,,'.,,, "a korea. Minister Allen has asked
for this, probably because ne desires 70
make a showing that Will impress the
Korean court that this government means
i,sineea There is nothing in this situ-
ption 10 imply that we propose to get
mixed up in any Waruke deNeiopmchts
between Russia and Japan, but we DO
desire Ia have it realized that the United
States is factor 10 DE consluere" N
that section of the world which Just
NOW Is the meeting place of international
ambitions.
The New Mediterranean.
In the light of the far-reaching i'm
nortance of the problems to be solved
In Korea and Manchuria. have thought
an exolana ton of the relationship be
tween the different places mentioned in
the daily cables may be Of interest.
The gulf Of Pechili has been called the
New Mediterranean on whose shores