The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07


After months OF negotiation the equal
participation Of Americans seems at
last assured. 1t is gratifying that
Americans will thus take their share
in this extension of these great high
ways of trade and to believe that such
activities will give real impetus to
our commerce and will prove a prac-
teal corollary to our historic policy in
the far east
The imperial Chinese government In
pursuance of its decision to devote
funds from the portion of the Indem-
nifty RENTED by the United States to
the sending of students to this coun-
try has already completed arrange
ments for carrying out this purpose,
and a considerable body Of students
have arrived to take up their work in
our schools and universities. No one
can doubt the happy effect that the as
sociations formed by these representa-
tive young men will have when they
return to take up their work in the
progressive development of their coun-
try.
The results of the opium conference
held at Shanghai last spring at the
invitation of the United States have
been laid before the government. The
report shows that China is making re-
markable progress and admirable eff
forts toward the eradication of the
opium evil and that the governments
concerned have not allowed their COM
mercial interests to interfere with a
helpful cooperation in this reform.
Collateral investigations of the opium
question in this country lead me to
recommend that the manufacture, sale
and use of opium and its derivatives in
the United States should be SO far as
possible more vigorously controlled by
legislation.
In one of the Chinese-Japanese con-
ventions Of Sept. of this year there
was provision which caused consid-
cradle public apprehension In that
upon its face it was believed in some
quarters to seek to establish a monop-
oily Of mining privileges along the
South Manchurian and Antung-Muk-
den railroads and thus to exclude
Americans from a wide field of enter
prise, to take part in which they were
by treaty with China entitled. After
q thOAOoSA VI lA0 COAt Cll-
tons and Of the several contextual
documents the secretary of state reach
ed the conclusion that no such monop-
oily was intended or accomplished.
However, in view of the widespread
discussion of this question, to confirm
the view 1t had reached this govern
ment made inquiry of the imperial
Chinese and Japanese governments
and received from each official assur-
ance that the provision had no purpose
inconsistent with the policy of equality
of opportunity to which the sigma
tories, in common with the United
States, are pledged.
Relations With Japan.
Our traditional relations with the
Japanese empire continue cordial, as
usual AS the representative of Japan
his imperial highness Prince Kuni
visited the Hudson-Fulton celebration.
The recent visit Of a delegation of
prominent business men as guests of
the chambers of commerce of the Pa
cific slope, whose representatives had
been so agreeably received in Japan,
will doubtless contribute to the grow
ing trade across the Pacific as well as
to that mutual understanding which
leads to mutual appreciation. The ar
rangement Of 1908 for cooperative
control of the coming of laborers to
the United States has proved to work
satisfactorily. The matter of a revi-
sion Of the existing treaty between the
United States and Japan which is ter
minable in 1912 is already receiving
the study of both countries.
The department of state is consider
ing the revision In whole or in part of
the existing treaty with Siam, which
was concluded in 1856 and is now, in
respect to many of its provisions, out
Of date.
The Department Of State.
1 earnestly recommend to the favor
able action Of the congress the esti-
mates submitted by the department of
state and most especially the legisla-
ton suggested In the secretary of
states letter of this date whereby 1t
will be possible to develop and make
permanent the reorganization of the
department upon modern lines in a
manner to make it thoroughly ef-
fcient instrument in the furtherance
of our foreign trade and Of American
interests abroad. The plan to have
divisions Of Latin American and far
eastern affairs and to institute a GER
tain specialization in business with
Europe and the near east will at once
commend itself These politico-geo-
graphical divisions and the detail from
| the diplomatic or consular service to
the department of a number Of men
who bring to the study cf complicated
problems in different parts of the world
practical knowledge recently gained on
the spot clearly is of the greatest adj
vantage to the secretary Of state in
foreseeing conditions likely to arise
and in conducting the great variety OF