The San Francisco call., 1904-03-06
DEBATE IN THE SENATE
ON AMERICAS ATTITUDE
TOWARD WARRING POWERS
Hale Challenges Statement That This Nations In
terests Are in Common With Those of
Britain and Japan.

cepting very unpopular note from
us?' he asked
Patterson called attention to the re-
port that the note to Russia and Japan
had been melted by Germany.
Nelson replied to Patterson's ques-
tions concerning our naval influence III
the East, saying that, with this coun-
try, Great Britain and Japan all united
in support of an open door in China
there was no danger of the dismember-
ment of China. All, too, were hostile to
the absorption of Manchuria. He did
not believe there was any formal alli-
ance-only mutually of interest.
HALE CHALLENGES STATEMENT.
Hale protested that this debate was
eXtraneous.
Il do not want the statement of the
Senator from Minnesota to go unchal-
lenged," he said. Il do not agree that
there is to-day any such common inter-
est between the United States, Great
Britain and Japan on the one side,
against Russia, France and other pow
ers, as his statement implies. Our at
titude is one of neutrality, and so de-
clared by our State Department. The
statement that we have a common in
terest with Japan and Great Britain
as to Manchuria l can't let go without
challenge. We are not against Japan,
nor must it be said that all our inter-
ests are with her and against Russia
and other continental European pow
erS.'
He said that if Japan be successful in
the present war the United States
would find herself in more danger in
commercial matters from that ambi-
tious power than any other. He CHale)
considered the Oriental trade as of COM
paratively little Importance. If we had
not been involved with predatory ma
tions in invading China even the Chi
nese Boxers would have protected our
interests in China. He was not in favor
of any policy that involved US in the
expense, in the enormous wickedness,
of the war so far away from our shores.
Resuming his speech, Depew denied
that the Hay note had been inspired by
Germany He spoke of it as a revela-
ton, and said that the Denver News
must have direct Marconi communica-
ton with the palace at Potsdam.
Patterson replied that the state
ment had been carried by the Asso-
ciated Press, as Depew should have
known, if a general reader of the
newspapers.
DEFENDS THE PRESIDENT.
Continuing, Depew said that Nelson
openly had expressed his partiality for
Japan, while Hale almost as plainly
had indicated his leaning toward Rus
sia. As for Patterson. he had mani
tested the usual Democratic tendency
toward expediency by standing ready
to take advantage of the situation.
whichever side might win. He agreed
with Hale as to the wisdom of Hale's
attitude; but" he said, "the fact re-
mains that every man, woman and
child in the United States is lined up
on one side or the other, as they are
whenever there is a fight"
He added that the Presidents
proclamation announced our official
attitude, but said that behind that we
could say what we pleased as indi-
viduals.
Depew defended President Roose-
velt against the charge of impetuos-
ity and recklessness, saying that if he
had had the disposition to make trou
BILE he could have found it in the Ca
madam dispute.
"A less wise man would have seen
and seized the opportunity to appeal
to the popular sentiment he said.
Instead of doing this, the President
appealed TO arbitration. and in view
of the result we owe him lasting
debt of gratitude for the wisdom and
patriotism displayed"
Depew said he had been appointed
Minister to Japan thirty-eight years
ago and that in those thirty-eight
years japan had progressed as much
as Europe had progressed in the last
500 years. If her contest with Russia
was to be on land Japan would be
nowhere, but the fight must be on the