The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-14
q A Leverage on Russia.

Thru the intelligent activity or our
department of state, the new COM
mercial treaty with China has be-
come effective, the exchange of rati-
f1cations at Washington yesterday
completing the necessary formalities.
The Importance of this act lies In
the fact that, by the ratification of
the treaty. the rights Of the United
States in Manchnria are established
so far as any treaty can establish
them. Our government acquires
the power to defend it's legally but
tressed rights in the region over which
Russia practically claims sovereignty
and is there acting as sovereign, as
against the sovereignty claimed by
China in her ratification of treaties
she has negotiated with Japan, the
United States, Great Britain ard other
nations relating to their commerce in
Manchuria. ~ - IT. III -
Our government has never recog-
| nized the bogus Russian claim to SOW
ereignty, and, having obtained from
China valuable open door of trade
| privileges at the Manchurian ports,
| Mukden and Antung, and protection
for >. American citizens engaged In
trade or other interests there, with
the abolition Of the oppressive ikin
or interior taxation levied upon goods
in transit, it will guard American in
terests and oppose the attempts Rus
5siaT may make to drive out our trade
and nullify our treaty rights.
That our government will carry out
1.-THE warnings given by Secretary Hay
, to the Russian government on this
subject of interference with our
| treaty rights, since 1900, there can
be no doubt. The new treaty pro-
vides that, upon the ratification Of
the treaty, the two new open ports,
Mukden and Antung, in Sheng-king
province, will be opened by China
herself as places of international resi-
dence and of trade" Our govern
ment will insist upon it's rights at the
ports of Newchwang, Mukden and An
tung on the Yalu river, and, as the
EJabanese treaty with China, now rati-
fed opens the port of Tatungkou, at
the mouth of the Yalu, it is evident
that Russia will have a hard time try
ing to nullify ratified Chinese treaties
made with a couple Of the most wide
awake nations in the world, who are
determined to enjoy the legitimate
fruits of their enterprise.
There are other nations having in
! terests in China, but, in case OF q
war which would unfortunately leave
Russia the victor, there is small doubt
that the partition of the remaining
portion of the Chinese empire would
follow This government, which
has stood consistently for the integ-
rity Of the empire would, in that case
l have to use it's wits to secure COM
( mercial privileges with Great Brit
7 ain, Germany and France, who have
already intimated that they will &C.
cupy their respective spheres south
: of the yellow river, Germany to take
: Shantung province, now occupied BY
: her, together with the hinterland
: Great Britain, the Yangtsze valley
: and France the two Quang province:
L dHu b UlS SCSilSA1I ~ SNihAesiA' A~e~S
t ing to Russia all China north of the
: Yellow river. This, program will no
2 be carried out, if Japan humilfate
: Russia and destroys her prestige al
: an Asiatic power.
8 At present, Japan's protest agains
the Russian occupation of Manchuria
: and her preparations to occupy Korea
< is a protest in behalf of the right
= of all the powers who have negotiated
q commercial treaties with the Chimes
h empire. Russia 81 oft-repeated fpledg
e that she will respect the rights unde
), these treaties is worth nothing. Sine
a she has occupied Manchuria, she ha
: determinedlys Disseminated agains
Y American and other foreign firms do
e ing business in Manc11uria, and a
It Port Arthur her regulations as t
O tonnage dues compel other than Rus
O sian ships to pay twelve times a
e much as the latter.
n AS a purely business proposition
governments holding commerce.
r treaties with China ought to favo
d Japan in any test of strength wh1c
e may come between the two.