El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-31
World Powers Graphing For
Control Of Chinese Railways
By
Frederic
J. Haskin
II-Trouble in China.


road in its own territory in Manchuria-
Despite the specific guarantees of the
Treaty of Portsmouth that neither ia
pan nor Russia would interfere with
the development of the territory by the
Chinese, both nations objected 70 this
new railway PROJECT. As the railway
was TO be built through southern Man
! churta, the Japanese took a lead in the
opposition China. utterly helpless 10
oppose japan in war, was forced to sub
nit. and last August, China was com
PEELED to humiIate itself by acknOwl-
edging in a treaty that it had no right
to build a railway in its own territory
without obtaining the consent of ia
pan But still Japan continued to as
sert that its occupation of Manchuria
was wholly and solely in the interests
Of the open door policy
Railway Loan solicited.
Just a year ago, the Chinese govern
ment announced that it would seek 70
float large loan for the purpose Of
building two great railways. one to con-
meet Canton and southern China with
HankOw, thus establishing communica-
ton through TO Picking, and the other
from HankOw westward to the rich but
now almost inaccessible province OF
Sze-chuan. German, British and French
capitalists were about to take the loan
when the United States asked that
American capitalists be permitted TO
participate This request precipitated a
terrific struggle in International bank
ing circles and in the world of diplo-
macy.
In July. president Taft, disregarding
the ordinary channels Of diplomatic in
tercourse, wrote directly to the prince
regent Of China and asked for a share
in the loan. AS result of this extra
ordinary action, American capital was
admitted to participate on an equal ba-
oil 1T TT
money Then came other railway prop
ositions in which the Americans had a
great share and which tended further
to complicate the situation
United States Position
In January, Mr. Knox made his pro-
posal for the naturalization of the Man
churian railways. The United States
government declared ''one of the most
effective. if not the most effective way
to secure for China the undisturbed en-
Joyment of all political rights in Man
churia, and to promote the moral de-
velopment of the eastern provinces I'M
der the policy OF the open door practi-
cally applied, would be to take the rail-
roads Of Manchuria out of the eastern
politics and to place them under an
economic and impartial administration
by vestfng in China the ownership of
its railroads; the fund for that purpose
TO be furnished by the nationals of such
interested powers as might be willing
to participate and who are pledged to
the policy of the open door and equal
opportunity
Proposition Rejected.
Tokyo and St Petersburg immedi-
ately and positively declined to accede
to the proposition. Other nations side
stepped Germany, perhaps, was more
cordial than any OF the other greae
powers Great Britain, as an ally of
nd
rfous. trouble with Germany. was placed
in a most embarrassing position The
proposal absolutely failed so far as the
project of naturalization was concerned
But it resulted in clarifying the Man
churian situation. Japan and Russia
have been forced into the admission
that their occupation of Manchuria is
political and strategic, and that the Chi !
nese sovereignty in that territory is
but ghost without substance Or au-
thority.
Japan and Russia Form Alliance
In the face Of the rising tide of I'M
rest and dissatisfaction in China. the
Russian foreign office declares that the {
Treaty of Portsmouth involves but two
part1es-Russia and Japan. This means I
that the obligations to China expressed I
In that treaty are 10 be interpreted only !
in the interests of the signatory powers /
II means that Japan and Russia have
dSAeeu 10 ulFl0e Mancnuria between !
them and 10 intrench themselves per-
manently and impregnably in the land
of the open door. The world suspects
the existence of secret convention be-
tween Russia and Japan and daily ex-
poets the pronunciation of an open ire
atty between those two empires so lately
at war.
The Chinese people are greatly aCi-
tated. they are angered against the en-
enactment Of foreigners. they are in
censed because the reigning dynasty
does not right their wrongs, and they
are on the point of open rebellion. Such
an outbreak would be most unfortunate
ana would mean the end of all efforts
10 save the Chinese empire from dis
ruption- For the good of the peOpLs of !
China, and in the interests of the peace
of the world, Mr.. Knox has volunteered
70 the prince regent to assist the Picking
government in maintaining quiet in the
empire.
Taft Knows Conditions
What is called Mr.. Knox's policy may
be credited. in large part. to president
Taft. Mr.. Taft knows the Orient and
is firm supporter of the traditional
American friendship for China All thar
has been done in his administration with
respect to Chinese affairs was fore
Swallowed in the great speech which Mr.
Taft delivered at Shanghai in October /!
1897
Tomorrow. "III.-Progress of Re !
form"
handed catch of Kelly's ground drive in I