Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
Monroe Doctrine Adapted to
, the Chinese Situation.
Mr.. PROCTER'S VIEWS
AMERICAN RIGHTS IN ORIENT
MAY BE MENACED.
Growth Of Our Trade With the Far
East-Importance Of Preserving
and Extending It.

Civil Service Commissioner John r. Proc
| ter has long taken a deep interest in the
affairs of the orient, particularly concern
!, ing the political and industrial develop
! ment Of China which he regards as of the
utmost importance to the United States in
| the extension Of the latters foreign trade.
THE value of the trade of Great Britain
and the United States with China" re-
marked Mr.. Proctor in discussing this mat
ter recently, now amounts to six times
as much as the combined trade of Ger
many, France and Russia with that coun-
try. and consequently these two countries
may be said to have paramount CONNER
cial interests in China. These are also the
two countries having the largest frontage
of coast line on the Pacific and Indian
oceans. and they thus have paramount po-
litical interest in the future of the millions
of Chinese whose territory fronts that
ocean. Our trade in China must In time
exceed the enormous trade of Great Bril-
tain with that country. We at last realize
that because of our abundant resources.
the skill of our workmen and the efficiency
of our machinery, we can successfully conf
pete with any and all countries for the
markets of the world. AS our capacity for
production grows more rapidly than our
capacity for consumption, this country,
more than any other. is interested in pre-
serving China from partition among Euro
pean powers
Effect of Chinese Partition.
1--WE need have no illusions as to the ef-
feet of such movement upon our agricul-
tural, manufacturing and commercial inter-
ests. Certain European countries, not hav-
ing the same abundant stores of superior
Goals, iron ores fibers and other raw prod
ucts, realize that open competition Is inn
possible. They having the inherited medi-
Of colonial
eign possessions for the exclusive benefit OF
the home government, impose discriminat-
ing duties upon imports into all regions
brought under their control An example of
this system is shown by the French occu-
patton OF Indo-China and Madagascar. The
United States consul in Manchester, Eng
land. in 1898, wrote: The new duties on
cotton goods in Madagascar, which came
into operation in October last. are likely.
in the estimation of persons engaged in this
trade to all but eXtinguish the consump-
ton of any but French goods
For these reasons our government
should declare, applying the language of
the Monroe doctrine:
New Version of Monroe Doctrine.
"In the wars of European powers, In
matters relating to themselves. We have
never taken any part, nor does 1t comport
with our policy to do so. 1t is only when
our rights are invaded or seriously menaced
that we resent injuries or make prepara-
tions for defense. With the movements In
China we are of necessity more immediate
ly connected, and by causes which must be
obvious to all enlightened and impartial OBJ
servers We owe it, therefore, to candor
and to the amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and those powers
to declare that we should consider any at
tempt on their part to extend their system
to any portion of the Chinese empire as
dangerous to our peace and safety, and as
a manifestation of an unfriendly DISPOSE
ton toward the United States.
Mr.. Proctor considers that this govern
ment will lose it's great opportunity II 1t
does not take a steadfast and constant
course in dealing with the question of the
dismemberment of China. He expressed
these same views in 1900 and he has never
ceased in his conviction that the integrity
of the Chinese empire is of the utmost i'm
portance to this country in the years to
come.
1.-The decision must soon be reached" he
says (which will determine whether the
principles of constitutional liberty and self
government, represented by the civilization
of the Teutonic races, or the repressive abb
solutsm of the Slav, shall dominate the
world"