The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-23
MORE PRAISE FOR
HAYS RECENT NOTE
Baron Speck Won Sternberg
Makes Address
GREAT FUTURE IN FAR EAST
Describes the Points of Advantage to
the Various Nations of Having
Ports for Trading In
China.
GREAT FUTURE IN FAR EAST


Philadelphia, February 22.-Baron Her
man Won Sternberg, the German ambas-
sador to the United States, upon whom
the University of Pennsylvania today
was the principal speaker at the regular
monthly meeting tonight of the American
Academy of Political and Social Science
at the New Century drawing room. A
large audience warmly greeted the baron
when he was presented by Prof. Il. s.
Rowe, president of the academy. The
subject of his address was "The Germans
as Colonizers" He concluded his adj
dress by briefly touching on the situation
in the far east, and his complimentary
reference to the Washington government
in inviting the powers of the world 10
act in concert so as to preserve the in
tegrity of China and to prevent confiagra-
tion, the limit of which no human mind
would be able to foretell," was enthusi-
astically received. Baron Sternberg said
in conclusion:
Sternberg's Conclusions.
'"Time is too short for me to dwell on
the history and the development of Ger
manys colonies in Africa and in the Pa
cfic, but l think it may be of interest to
you to hear a few words about her Chi
nese possession, Fio Chow, since the rest
of the world is turning to the battle
grounds in the far east, where the great
est political and social problems which
ever confronted the statesman and the
diplomat, dormant for centuries, are now
ripe for solution.
THAT the time was rapidly approaching
was keenly felt by all students in the far
east long ago. The powers of the world
also foresaw long ago that. to have a
voice in the pending councils of the ma
tions which should decide on the fate and
future of China, they above all would
need naval strongholds And to reap the
advantages of the coming trade of the
far east they would need trade empo-
RUINS.
Must Have Backing.
without this backing they knew what
they would be forced to the rear, thus
permitting the more powerful to reap the
stupendous advantages which the future
of China has in store. Only to those
who have lived and labored In the far
east is it given thoroughly to appreciate
this true value of these advantages.
England already possessed Hong Kong
in the south to which she added after the
China-Japanese war in 1894 the harbor
and naval base of Wei-Hai-Wei in Shan
Tung. Russia gained after the same war
the famous naval stronghold of Port Ar
thur and the Port of Talien Wan, where
within a few years has sprung up one
of the finest cities and trade emporiums
in the far east.
'The Spanish war brought to the United
States the Philippine islands which will
ho most valuable for
strategical and commercial purposes. The
already great value of these islands in
China's eastern flank will be enormously
enhanced after the opening of the Pana-
ma canal They will be the great eastern
trade emporiums from where will radiate
her comeree, feeding a Chinese coast line
of 1000 lies studded with rich harbors,
most of them In the infancy of their de-
velopment
Apparent to Laymen.
.'The strategical position of Subig bay
and other harbors is apparent even to the
layman France, as we know. controls
large portion of the southern frontier
of China bordering on her vast lndo-
Chinese possessions Japan's strategical
and commercial position is known to you
all. When Germany procured the harbor
of Kio Chow from the Chinese govern
ment in 1899, her first step was to open
it to the trade of the world. The laws
and regulations governing trade and COM
merce and settlements there are consd-
cred the most liberal ever framed for a
colony, the only close restrictions being
thase relating to the public health.
Regular steamship lines were soon
established and the building of railroads
taken in hand SO as to tap the various
resources of Chan Tung, especially its
~ ....4
has strictly adhered to the principle of
placing the construction of railroads into
private hands being open to all nations
"The establishment of law courts the
personnel of which is chosen partly from
resident merchants is another marked ad-
vance in the development of the colony
The Chinese enjoy their code of law. Only
cases of crime come partly under the Ger
man laws, owing to the severity of the
Chinese penal code. The fundamental
policy Of Germany in the administration
of her Chinese colonies has been the
greatest possible liberty to subjects Of
all nations and the maintenance of the
best public order
Alarm at War Clouds.
Grave fear and alarm was expressed
by all concerned lin the steadily growing
trade of the far east when the war clouds
out there were threatening to burst n
was the far-seelng eye of the Washing
ton government which saved China from
chaos and dismemberment during the
Boxer trouble in 1900. Now flames again
threaten to arise from the still shoulder
ing ashes.
But in the right movement we again
see the ever same watchful government
arise and invite the powers Of the world
to act in concert SO as to preserve the