Evening star., 1905-08-29
THEHANKOW RAILROAD
DECLARED TO BE THE KEYSTONE
OF CHINESE POLICY.

Sycamore Hill yesterday the question OF
the Hankow railway concession in China
enters a new phase, world wide in its i'm
portance. From a mere financial enter
prise in which American and Belgium
stockholders were interested. the surrender
of this concession has become the keystone
of the political policy of China. On it de-
pends not only the role America is to play
in the commercial development of the far
east. but the limitations of Japan's in
fiuence at Peking. when the present war
has been brought to end. Behind 1t is
now clearly seen the hand of Japan.
President Roosevelt's purpose in sending
for Mr.. Morgan yesterday was to explain to
him the status of the negotiations which
the government has undertaken with China.
When it was first known that China had
offered to buy the rights controlled by Mr..
Morgan for 100000 protests were heard
from many sources. In reality King Leo
pold feared the Japanese influences behind
China'S offer Then came the Chinese boy
colt of American goods.
Edwin H. Conger. former minister to
China, urged that the sale would be
treat, disastrous in it's consequences in the
face of the new anti-American agitation.
President Takes a Hand.
AT this point President Roosevelt took a
hand in the situation and sent for Mr.
HOISdIl AS d TtSull OI lHS interview De-
tween the President and the financier on
August the meeting of the American
China Development Company, at which the
Hankow concession was to have been sold.
was postponed to August 90 1t is not
thought that any action will be taken at
| today's meeting of the American-China De-
velopment Company in Jersey City for II
was officially announced yesterday after
Mr.. Morgan's visit that mo conclusion had
been reached"
From an authoritative source an outline
OF the agreement which China hopes to bring
about with the United States is found
Ihere Is little doubt that Japan was be-
hlnd China in her original offer to buy the
HankoW concession. Japan is anxious to
obtain the control Of the southern Chinese
| railways, as Russia did in Manchuria- and
Is especially anxious to have this particu-
lar iine IN friendly hands, as it is to con-
meet with the railway concession now beine
pushed by the Japanese from Swatow
through the province of Hanan where on
posiuon to the American road has been
particularly vicious on the part of the ma
ttves. N 'N' nd
To Protect American Interests
When President Roosevelt took decisive
steps to protect the American interests in
vowed IN the sale of the railway China,
through her minister. Sir Cheng I,iane
Chang, offered compromise suggesting a
joint control of the finished railway by
latter furnishing the capital This prono-
sition has not been accepted, but negotia-
dons are still pending. This plan, how
ever. mas become known in Russia and has
excited Indignation
1t is unfortunate that while President
roosevelt Is acting mediator between
Russia and Japan the United States should
be placed in the light of making secret
deals for China concessions with the VIC
torious belligerent. Yet this impression
has been freely circulated in official circles
in Russia.
President Roosevelt has been informed
through Ambassador Meyer of the attitude
OF the Russians, which was recently voiced
by the Nova Vremya. This journal an
nounced without reserve that China Japan
and the United States have entered into
secret agreement by which a number of
railroad concessions which have been
granted to England France and Germany
are to be repealed and transferred to
large Chinese-Japanese company, which is
to take over all railroad enterprises in
China's territory. The company Is to work
with American capital.
Plan Favors the United States.
Such plan places America In the posi-
ton of being in commercial alliance with
the power that has become predominant in
China.
From a Russian point Of view it gives the
most selfish purposes to President Roose-
velts earnest and impartial efforts for
ernment will not consider any international
partnership In the Hankow railroad, unless
1t be with China. Hence the hitch in the
present negotiations.
It is curious fact that the previous
squabbIes in the management Of the Han
kow railway have been remotely connected
both with Russia and Japan.
Seven years ago, when the Belgian
French and Russian interests assumed con-
troll Of the American concession, China, in
fuenced perhaps by Japan. would not per-
NIT the road built under other than Amer1-
can aspects.
In tS99 enough stock was bought to give
the Americans the majority and the cabi-
net at Washington definitely announced
that the company was under American pro
lection. Japan's policy seems to have been
first to freeze out Russia and French in
terests and then to encourage obstacles in
the way Of the Americans. The fruit or
the policy, blocked temporarily at least by
the President. would have been the sale OF
the concession outright to China.
President Roosevelt realizes that the out
come of this question Of railway ownership
Will indicate Americas future commercial
position in China. 1t Is a step beyond the
open door.