The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-19
FLEET TO FAR EAST
BATTLE SHIPS WILL ACT AS GUARD
 OF CHINA.
World Pledge fs ts ue Kcpf--DiPlo- maflc Connict Over Mauchuria May Lead to New Com-
 plkcaflonn. s

A special to The Chicago Record Herald from Washington. February ls, aAys:
 The question of preserving Chinese Territorial and Administrative Entity has suddenly assumed new importance in the eyes of the diplomatic world, in connection with the cruise of the American battle fleet to the Pacific especially since it became an assured fact that the fleet is to proceed to the Orient soon after reaching San Fran ciso.
 Several months ago it was stated in these dispatches that certain interests closely in touch with commercial af- fairs in China professed to be informed that the real significance of the fleets movement to the Pacific had to do with affairs affecting the Flowery Kingdom. and that in time their statement of the case would be justified. Always the well-informed have been aware that there was something--if nothing more than a remote contingency--aside from the practice features of tho cruise fn- volved. A popualr impression has been that the immigration question was be- yond it all. The immigration question now is practically settled. but there is to be no change in the program of send ing the fleet under Admiral Evans to the Far East.
 But there are other affairs of far- reaching importance which are likely to engage the diplomats in the near fu- ture. The Manchurian question will supply work for Baron Takahira, the new Japanese Ambassador. before he has been established long at his new post, and so far as this country Is con- cerned the presence of a big fleet in Asiafic waters may strengthen the hands of our government in the diplo- matic negotiations that are deemed imminent.
 It would be impossible at this stage Co get an offlciaI admission that there Is any di1iculty feared through threat ened assault upon the territorial integ- rity of China in Manchuria, but one may hear quiet declarations to the ef- feet that the time is approaching when matters must come into the open.
 The foundations of the potential dip- fomatic conflict that is Indicated by certain deveIopmenta--as far as the United States Is concerned--were laid by the late Secretary of State John Hay nearly eight years ago, during the Box CT outbreak in North China. As far as Japan is concerned the foundations were laid ages ago. When Secretary Hay addressed his famous note of July 2. 1900. to the dtnerent powers diplo- matieally represented in the besieged legation at Peking, he secured from all, including Japan. a subseantial agreement with the policy he outlined in these words:
 sThe policy of the Government of the United States is to seek a solution which may bring about permanent safe- " and peace to China. preserve Chi nese territorial and administrative en- ffty. protect all rights guaranteed to friendly powers by treaty and interna- kiona1 law. and safeguard for the worlds people equal and impartial trade with all ports of the Chinese Empire. !"
 To this declaration Berlin. London, Paris, Rome, St. Petersburg and Tokio adhered. The weakness of the United States position is that the agreement thus made was never put in the form of soIemnly ratified treaties. But the fact is that that agreement is now se- riously and openly menaced by one of it's principal signatories Japan. and 2 the question now facing this govern nent is, what shall be done about it For Japan has determined to make Manchuria her own. She will do 1t peaceab1y, if she 'can. But. when the peaceful efforts fail, she will it Is de- clared. resort to force. unless she is