The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-20
Japanese Aggression in Man churia Secures Many Valuable Con-
 sessions.
BARS FOREIGN COMPETITION
Loss of Our Commercial Foothold At tributed Here to Government Regulation of Corpor-
 ations.

Washington, Feb. 19,-Information from unofficial and individual sources evidencing the aggressiveness of Jap an in Manchuria, has been accumulat- ing in the state department for some time. That this condition is irritat- ing increasing degrees to China, is also matter of knowledge here. It is stated with authority, however, that in no manner has the Chinese government brought the matter to the attention of the American government and no representation on the subject Is looked for
 The remarkable explanation of the attitude of our government in this inn portant matter Is developed as the re- suit of inquiry directed toward off cials who cannot be quoted, but are in positions to direct our policies. In effect it is as follows:
 It is frankly admitted that America is losing her commercial foothold in the orient This loss, however. is not charged to Japan. Rather it is as- serted to he the effect of the growing tendency toward internal govern mental regulations in the United States. As an illustration of this, at- tention is called to these facts:
 Five years ago, four in barrels was being shipped to the Orient from the northwest steel rails from Pittshurg anad cotton in bales from Texas These shipments were made possible because of an exceedingly low ocean freight rate arrived at by railroad combination. This rate has been con- demned by our courts as a conspiracy against trade, and the development of this trade has been abandoned. The domestic war, as it is characterized, against the Standard OH company, which is credited with the largest or iental trade of any American enter prise, is declared to have been disas- trously effective in the Orient, while the tobacco and cotton goods trades are said to have been dealt heavy blows through the operation of railroad reg ulation here
 From th,s point, lt seems easy for government officials here conversant with foreign matters, to view Japanese commercial aggression in Manchuria with greater degree of complaisance than would be the case in the face of an urgent domestic demand for govern mental assistance. Japan. it is asser- ted, car without great difficulty, justi- fly everything she has done in Man churia as sanctioned by tho "open door policy, initiated by the late Sec retary Hay, anl adhered to by the greater nations, including Japan. While Japan may justify these things in the strictest sense, Inder the 'open door policy, it has been charged that there exists evidences of her use of many methods ana practices which might not bear the light of impartial investga- tion Besides her claim to an equal footing with other nations in Man churia on the "open door basis, she has. it is asserted. obtained many val uable concessions through which her control of the railroad and tclegraphic facilities are practically complete. This control is known to be used primarily in the interest of Japanese tradesmen and to the detriment of all foreign competitors.
 These disadvantages are or course being felt by American tradesmen, as well as by those of other foreign na- tions. As the trade of Germany. Eng land and other nations. is more valu- able than the American trade and as these nations are what is terme highly commercially organized, il would not | be a great surprise to American diplo- macy to hear Of protests from these quarters against Japan's aggression There is nothing. 1t is pointed out, ! in Secretary Hays promuigation If ! the "open door policy which par takes of the nature Of an agreement with an, nation looking 10 its main ] tenance For this reason it is pre- dicted that should combination of ] protests be made and ans movement initiated by foreign nations the sup port which it would receive from this country would be no more than moral