The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-14
THE EFFORT TO PROTECT CHINA.

/ THE EFFORT TO PROTECT CHINA.
England's request for details when
+ invited by Secretary Hay to join the
! United States in a note to Russia and
Japan, suggesting the propriety Of linn
iting hosulities within as small an area
as possible and OF respecting the neu-
trality and administrative entity of
China, caused surprise in Washington.
II was expected that she would be the
first to accept the invitation, since the
proposition it contained was in har-
mony with her policy, but she hesi-
tated and asked for details. She want
ed to know If the administrative en-
/ tity" Of China included the neutrality
Of Manchuria. 1t is hardly reason
able to suppose that Mr.. Hay had in
mind the neutrality of Manchuria.
Russia now occupies that province,
and It is probable that much Of the
war viii be waged within its limits.
But. as stated in our Washington dis
patches, it was not possible for Mr..
Hay in framing his note, TO go into
details. If he had done 80 he would
have invited all sorts Of inquiries from
the Powers to whom his note was ad-
dressed, and it would have been prac-
tically impossible to get them to agree
to the terms of a note to be sent to
Russia and Japan.
Germany gave a prompt and favor
able answer. Doubtless she would like
to have had something to say about
the terms of the note, but she realized
that If there were discussion about
ii no agreement would, in ali proba
bility, be reached. 1t is probable that
Frances hesitation to accept the in
vitation was due to her desire not to
do anything that wouldn't be accepta-
BILE to Russia, whose creditor she is to
the extent Of pretty nearly $1,000, 000.
900. 1t is said that she is much in
doubt about collecting either the prin-
cipal or the interest of this debt. The
belief is that the other Powers will ac-
cept the invitation, and that Russia
and Japan will heed the suggestion
respecting the neutrality and integri-
ty of China.
But is there not chance that this
note will involve the United States
and the other signers Of it in the war?
There is, of course. but it is regarded
as a very remote one. Still, it is a
part of the agreement that the sign
ers of the note must send an armed
force to protect China if her neu-
| trality shouldn't be respected. And
in the effort to carry out the agree
ment there might be a lack of har-
mony among the signers of it.
There is an opening for trouble in
this joint note, though there is no
reason at this time for anticipating
trouble Mr.. Hay doesn't believe that
the allied Powers will have occasion to
use force to secure respect for the
suggestion contained in their joint
note. Indeed, 1t is probable that the
main purpose of the note has refer
ence to the territorial consequences of
the war. Expressions have been
thrown out by some of the leading
| men of Japan that before the war be-
| gan Japan asked that certain conces-
sions be made in respect to Manchu-
ria and Corea, but that since she had
to go to war she might enlarge her de-
mands If she were victorious.
If Japan should be victorious Russia
would have to leave Manchuria, but
would japan be allowed to take pos
session of that province? 1t is evil
IDENTIFY the meaning of the joint note
that she wouldn't. She wouldn't gain
any territory by the war. China
| full sovereignty would be restored in
Manchuria. But what would be the
result as to Manchuria if Russia should
be victorious? Would the allied Powers
insist upon her keeping her promise to
evacuate Manchuria? AS already
stated the questions that are likely
to arise may afford an opening for
complications now unthought of.