Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-03-04
American Attitude In Asia.

attituut htlhs
While IL 10 the avowed purpose OF the
state department at Washington to
maintain strict neutrality In the war
between Russia and Japan. II will ap-
parently employ all the resources OF pa.
cihc diplomacy In safeguarding the le-
climate interests aud peaceful rights
IF this country In the orient. To this
snd Secretary Hay has addressed a
note 10 the principal European powers
proposing a joint notice to Russia and
Japan that both during the war and
after 1t the neutrality and integrity Of
China must be respected. This does
not mean that we intend TO NEEDLE In
the controversy or TO take sides with
either belligerent. Ii in no sense vlo-
lates the spirit Of neutrality TO which
we have pledged ourselves. nor can the
propriety of the action he called In
question. Long ago Secretary Hay pro-
1 posed TO the powers the maintenance
! of the same principle, the open door"
and the territorial integrity OF China In
/ time of peace. and secured from them
/ their explicit and cordial assent there
to. Precisely the same thing Is now
| proposed. though under different cir
/ cumstances. Though the war will be
waged largely in China. she is not one
/ OF the belligerents. On the contrary. ii
is understood that she has made. or Is
| about to make. declaration of strict
neutrality. In that case she is entitled
10 he treated as neutral by the pow
/ ers. and the powers are entitled to In
sist 10 the belligerents that she shall
! thus be treated.
The action taken by our government
4 does not infringe in the least upon the
/ principle Of neutrality between the bel
lgerents. 1t may be regarded by some
as unfavorable to Russia and by some
as unfavorable TO Japan. Perhaps it
may he to one or the other. Certainly
/ it Is not meant TO be so, and so far as
can he seen 1t Is as likely to be favora
)
er, so that no matter what its effect
may be America cannot be charged
with partiality for either Of them. 1t Is
true that Russia is suspected OF want
ing to seize and annex Manchuria,
wherefore this action Of the United
States might be regarded as warning
/ fn har m fhon Innan 10
ed of an intention to drive Russia out
| Of Liautong at least and to take that
part of Manchuria for her own. as she
aimed TO do under the Chinese treaty
OF 1895, so that our action might with
equal justice be interpreted as warn
ing to her. 1t Is, in fact. friendly no
tice to both of them that. however much
they may quarrel and fight between
themselves. they must not let their
tightings infringe upon the lawful
rights of this and other neutral nations.
| The common interests of the worlds
great nations must be the controlling
| influence to keep within the bounds Of
reason the war between Russia and
Japan and in the end to impose condi-
tions of peace which shall forbid that
an advantage be secured by one at the
cost and loss of all The time is past
when at the close of n war two impor
tant belligerent nations can be permit
ted to make Il treaty of peace upon
terms satisfactory and convenient to
themselves in disregard of the interests
Of other nations. The powers Inter
vened to shape the terms of peace be-
tween Japan and China; they control
led the settlement between Turkey and
Greece When Russia was at the gates
Of Constantinople and in the treaty of
San Stefano dictated terms altogether
unacceptable to the powers. the concert
of Europe interposed and established
very different conditions of peace In
the treaty of Berlin. So in the far east
the nations Of the world will not per-
NIT the issue of the war now begun to
extlnguish their commercial interests
and bring within the control of pow
er jealous Of foreign advantages an i'm.
pOrtant portion Of the empire Of China.
1t is we'll that the neutral powers should
define their interests at the beginning
of the war instead Of waiting until Its
conclusion, and in taking the initiative
the United States has acted with ap-
parent wisdom and discretion and will
doubtless have the approval of the 9th.
er neutral nations. This action clears
the atmosphere and will tend to short
en- the war.