New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-09
THE MANCHURIAN MENACE.


The Manchurian situation has suddenly be-
come more grave. If current reports from
Picking are correct, it has become ominous and
menacing to a degree There is no percepupie
reason for Russia's reported action in masslhg
troops at New-Chwang and along the Lao River
save one-that is that she means TO overawe
China into yielding up Manchuria to her, ana
means to establish herself there in impregnable
force before other powers can intervene for the
protection of their treaty rights. 1t would be
unpleasant in the extreme to be compelled TO
impute such motives to Russia and we shall
hone that the necessity of so doing will be
obviated. But at present, on the face of pre-
sumably authentic dispatches, it is difficult to
escape fear that Russia is indeed proceeding
TO the violent conquest and annexation of Man
churia, in defiance of the unqueshonable rights
of America and other countries and in direct
violation of her own explicit and solemn prom
ises. If she is so doing the outlook is stormy
indeed for it is scarcely conceivable that ali
the powers concerned will consent to such
procedure or that some of them will fail to re-
sist it with something more than the ordinary
measures Of diplomacy.
Apart from the general interests of the United
States in China under existing treaties, this
country has especial interests in the very re-
gion now said TO have been reoccupied by Rus
STA. New-Chwang is a treaty port and to US
one Of tie most important in China. The aroi-
trary closing of it would be intoerable. At the
present time this country is negotiating with
China for the opening of o her ports, and China
seems inclined to open them. One Of these is
Moukden, which is On a branch of the Lao
River, and approach 10 which is commanded by
Tien-Chwang-Tai. at a lower point on that river,
TO which Russia is said to have sent an army
Lao Yung, where the Russians are said to be
building forts, lies about midway between New
Chwang and Moukden, fully commanding the
land road between them. Settled at Tien-
Chwang-Tai and Liao-Yung, therefore, the Rus
SLAMS would bar all access to Moukden and the
interior of Manchuria save by very roundabout
routes. Another proposed treaty port asked for
by this country is Ta-Tung-Kau This is at the
mouth of the Yalu River, which forms the
boundary between China and Corea and is near
WiJu. on the Corecn side. 1t is important
partly on account of the trade the Yalu
River and partly because it is proposed to run
a railroad thence to Na--Chwang, across the
upper end of the Regents Sword Peninsula
This railroad to have been built by syn
dictate composed of Americans. Englishmen and
japanese. Evidently, however the action of
Russia now reported is meant to block the way
1t will be pertinent again TO recall the explicit
pledges of Russia in relation to this very region
In 1899 the United States Government solicited
from Russia an assurance of respect for the
policy of the "open door, and a promise that
any Russian claims of sphere of influence
would 'in no way interfere with any treaty port
or any vested interest" In reply Count Mura-
vieff said: The Imperial Government has al
ready demonstrated its firm intention to follow
'the policy of the open door. As to the ports
now opened or hereafter to be opened to for
'eign commerce by the Chinese Government
1.-The Imperial Government has no intention
whatever of claiming any privileges for its
"own subjects to the exclusion Of other for
"eigners" 1t is scarcely satisfactory to say, as
Count Lamsdorff now does, that there is no
thought of attacking the principle Of the open
door as that principle is understood by the I'M
"peridl Government of Russia" That is not the
point. The Imperial Government of Russia
might understand the "open door, policy to
mean open door for Russians and for no one
else. What is now wanted, and what Russia
pledged herself to in 1899, is the maintenance
of the open door" policy as that policy was
commonly understood by the nations which
pledged themselves to ii in 1899 and it was
set forth by the United States In soliciting and
lean Government is now entitled to insist upon.
To be explicit, the American Government has
a right TO expect that Russia will not interfere
with this country's free use of New-Chwang, or
with its use of Moukden and Ta-Tung-kau
when China grants II, or with its construction,
If China grants the concession, Of railroad
from Ta-Tung-Kau to New-Chwang. It Will
scarcely do to say, as Count Lamsdorf does,
that negotiations carried on between two en-
'tirely independent States are not subjects to be
submitted TO the approval of other powers" In
some cases they are such subjects, to wit when
they directly affect the treaty rights of those
other powers. No power has insisted upon that
principle more than Russia has. 1t does not
matter TO America what negotiations go On be-
tween Russia and China so long as American
rights are not dragged into them. But when
Russia proposes to China, demands of China.
the abrogation of American treaty rights, then
it is very much this country's business. 1t is
the indisputable treaty right of America to en-
Joy in every part of China every privilege that
Russia enjoys. The scrupuIous maintenance of