The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-11
TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY
OF CHINA.


Washington dispatches state that this
government has taken the initiative in an
international movement to preserve the
neutrality of China while the present war
is in progress and to prevent its dismem-
berment afterwards. Secretary Hay has
addressed an identical note on the subject
to several of the European powers. and
some of them have already indicated their
approval of the suggestion. The object is
TO restrict hOstilities to as narrow a field
as possible and to preserve the integrity
of China.
This is the third time that the integrity
of China has been threatened during the
last ten years. and it will be the second
time the United States has taken the lead
in a movement to prevent ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Of the empire. In the war between Japan
apd China in 1S94-5 the former, by series
of brilliant victories on sea and land forced
China ito sue for peace. At the conclusion
of the war Japan was in a position to die
tate terms. and would probably have de-
manded the cession of Manchuria had not
the European powers interviewed. Foremost
among these was Russia, who joined with
other powers in urging magnanimity and
moderation upon Japan. AS a result Japan
was, one might say, cheated out of the
rightful results of her victory and put off
with a money indemnity and without any
acquisition of territory. Russia was saving
Manchuria for herself. She kindly assisted
China in paying the money indemnity to
Japan, and few years later got important
concessions in Manchuria and a lease Of
Port Arthur for twenty-five years.
The second time that the integrity of
China was threatened was at the close of
the Boxer war in 1900. BY that time Russia
had laid the foundation for a claim to
Manchuria, and Great Britain, France and
Germany had spheres of influence" which
they wanted TO expand into territorial pos
sessions. They all favored policy of per-
manent military establishments in China
and a practical dismemberment of the en-
pire. The United States took the ground
that its interest there, after protecting its
citizens, was limited to insuring universal
opportunities for trade. She favored the
withdrawal of all foreign troops from China
and no partitioning of the empire, and this
policy finally prevailed. There can be no
| doubt that the firm stand and consistent
policy of the United States during and after
the Boxer war was mainly instrumental in
preserving the territorial integrity of China.
The effectiveness of American diplomacy
during that critical period was universally
recognized
There is no certainty that the integrity of
China will be threatened by the present
war, but it may be- Japan has declared
that she has no designs upon China. Russia
has not defined her position on the subject,
and If she did no statement from her would
be worth anything The movement initiated
by Secretary Hay is intended TO commit
the European powers to use their influence
10 prevent the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF China by
any power a result of the present war.
1t is in the interest of China, of interna-
tional justice and of worlds peace 1t fur
nishes additional evidence that the United
States is China's best friend and that Amer
lean diplomacy aims at beneficent results
by straightforward methods.