New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-20
CHINESE NEUTRALITY.

There Is no denying the fact that the Ques-
ton Of Chinese neutrality for the moment
ecIipses in interest all other features OF the s!'
nation In the Far East. 1t was the feature or
the case in which some OF the earliest anu
deepest American interest was taken. anu
which called forth the most important AlneF4-
can dinlonatic action that has been taken dur
ing the war No doubt American interest III
# remains as deep and keen as ever. though
NJ course as we have already observed. this
country is In no sense bound to take anything
hut diDlomatic action ia the premises. no matter
what nav happen The idea which has been
nut forth In Russia, that America ought 20
intervene with force and arms IN support OF
Secretary Hays proposal, is too prepoSterous
for serious consideration. Neither can we SUD
scribe to the idea, which has been expressed py
a no less authority than the Russian Amoassa-
dor 70 America that Secretary Hays plan has
gone to wreck and is null and void. Japan mas
done some things which we must regard with
regret and disapproval But they are not the
only such things in this war; nor does the fact
that each of the belligerents has done some
questionable things necessarily make the neu-
traiity agreement void and throw the Chinese
Empire into the melting pot
Count Cassini is reported In 1.-THE New-York
Herald" as saying that Russia had expected TO
see America hold aloof from the controversy
over the sinking of the Knight Commander and
the seizure of foodstuffs contraband. and
that anyway, that Is not the great question
which confronts the world today. But 1t really
seems as reasonable and proper for the United
States TO interest itself IN that controversy as
in This later one over the Ryeshitelni. Certainly
this country has a strong and legitimate Inter
est In the treatment OF It's commerce on the
! high seas. Ii has expressed itself as directly
and as strongly upon that subject as II has
upon the neutrality Of China. Neither is 1t clear
| that these recent doings Of Japan sweep all
| other Issues from the field The fact that one
bellIeercnt violated neutral rights could scarce
| Iy cause the world to ignore similar vfo-
| lations by the other belligerent Now 1t has
| been directly charged that in the case of the
cInboat Manchuria the Russians violated, or
abused. the neutrality Of China. and that that
| neutrality was enforced and indicated solely
by the intervention Of Japan. Similar charges
have been made concerning Russias action In
| the territory west of the Lao River Whether
these charges are true or not we do not know.
Neither do we know the precise facts con.
corning the Che-Foo incident. But before any
world shaklng action, such as Russia now In
yolses. is taken for the vndlcation Of Chinese
neutrality It would seem fitting to make sure
| OF all the facts in all the cases.
Investigation and adjudication are, II seeml
TO US, what the case demands. rather than mere
recrimination. Such investigation should. oil
course be held by China. II Is her neutrality
that is In question. 1t Is for her to vindcate it
II she can. II Ia for her to determine whether
II has been violated. and, II so. to demand rep
araton. If Russia has suffered through vic
lation Of Chinese neutrality IL is her right II
make complaint. not 10 America or to th'
world, but to China II is for China to deter
mine whether the complaint is well founded
| and, II II Is. TO make reparation Tor her owl
negligence. or to exact reparation from japan
The other nations will regard such procedure
with sympathetic interest But there Is no rea
son why they should rush headlong into tn
. controversy. either as parties TO the dispute o
9 os spectators of China. Meantime. the agree
I mcnt stnnds. TO respect as far as possible Tn
1 neutrality and integrity of China. We say a
? fnr as possible. for that cannot be done entire
: ly. Russia has all along been occupying Gin!