The San Francisco call., 1904-03-02
OUR TREATY RIGHTS.

~ OMPLAINTS made in St. Petersburg that
| English reports and rumors going to enl-
- broil the United States with the Gar To this
class it is said belongs the that the American
man-of-war Vcksburg did not floating Russian
marines at Chemnlpo.
Americans rather skeptical the Russian com
plant. The position OF Government is one thing and
the sympathy of people is quite another: No Rus
sian can deny the exceeding patience of Government
with Russia When the Gar proposed the secret treaty
with China which foreclosed against the commercial
rights of the rest of the world in Eastern sAs
sinister pact exposed by Minister to China ST.
Petersburg promptly denied that any such treaty had
been mooted and fatty accused our Minister of living to
his Government Subsequently the Chinese Foreign
Office disclosed the terms of the proposed treaty which
were found to be exactly as Minister had stated
them
The United States could accept such conduct on
the part of Russia challenge to war; and short OF
that there nothing be done except show our posi-
ton by supporting Minister. Subsequently we pub
licly negotiated and concluded commercial treaty with
China 1t ratified and ratihcations were exchanged
between the Chinese Minister in Washington and Secre
tary Hay, and of this Minister Pekng was mott
fed by cable
The French press, spiteful in manfesting sympathy
with Russia in order to block the diplomatic game of
Germany, Immediately denounced this treaty and insult
gy characterized the elegraphic notice of its ratica
ton as resembling the telephone marriages in vogue in
the United States. This unfriendly our Govern
ment and was gratutous insult to our people by a
slanderous accusation against them.
Now, along with the Russian complaints that England
IS in the rumor business, the Endorsement in the
Russian official newspaper of this piece of French i'm
pudence and rather brazen criticism of our right TO
make commercial treaty with China ALL Americans
would like to know when and how became obligatory
upon their Government ask the consent of Russia be-
fore making treaty?
The Gar has suzerain rights in China To secure
Gar tried to force China accept under duress Our
commercial treaty the conclusion of the policy of the
open door in China for which Secretary HAY laid the
foundation three ago his identical note to the
European governments. His remarkable foresight es-
tablished commercial rights in China and thew are
secured by the treaty which exctes ire in St Peters
burg.
The Washington Government has in particular
been unfriendy Russia but has gone verge of
international patience with that power in overlooking its
distinct aggressions and Punic faith. No matter what
may be the sympathies of people, they intend that
their Government shall do more than maintain its
rights without military aggression. One seek
far for the of Russian objection our Chinese
treaty 1t unconscousy dscoses the Russian purpose
make conquest of China Treaties run with the terri
tory and not abrogated by change in sovereignty
If China be absorbed by Russia open treaty will
block her policy of closing China to the rest of the
world order that she may gnaw the Celestial bone in
peace.