Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-03

tionalize the railways OF Manchurla,
great many people jumped to the erro-
neous conclusion that Mr.. Knox's far
eastern policy was failure. 1t is true
that the proposition was turned down
Immediately and it is also true that there
was never the least chance that it would
be accepted. But the fact remains that
Mr.. Knox's proposition has succeeded In
forcing Japan and Russia to make pub
lie their Manchurian policy, a policy
which they had been pursuing In secret
and which could not be successfully at
tackled except in the open.
The whole future of China depends up
on its railways. If China is to be INDUS
trially independent in this age of CONNER
cial progress, it must have more ran
roads and plenty of them. If 1t is 10 De
politically independent in this age OF com
mercial politics, it must have control OF
its own railroads. II no new railroads
are built China cannot go forward III
the new railroads, when built, are owned
and operated by and for foreigners, then
China cannot hope long to remain an III
dependent state.
The policy of the United States, in It's
relations to China, always has been ths1
of disinterested friendship, so tar as al
fairs in Asia have been concerned ~
other nation has been or is now SO as
interested. In 1900 the United states saw
ed the Chinese empire from olsnleiiioei
ment and put an end TO the series %
territorial seizures which hao Deg "a
1897 and which had caused the grea.
poxar rehelIion. Now, in 1910, the United
states ia seeking to save China from
financial slavery and to put an eno 10
the series of railway grabs which 20
chiefly responsible for the present unreal
ened anti-foreign outbreak in emma
Mr. Knox's policy has been but lne
logical and necessary outcome Oh nuo.l
Nv 10 the principle of the open door a an,
souaI onnortunity as laid down py INC
Iate John Hay. There is nothlhe NV
ar startling in the diplomatic az . 80
~ the present administration towaru 80 IN,
nese affairs. Mr.. TAFT ana M c-ar-
have merely translated the glll'e 4e into
ara,Ities of the famous Hay hote IIso
~ hard practicalities and specihc TERMS
20 binding commercial contract
1,,,,o, Mr. Hay proposed that the pow
y ..,,+aIlv should agree to MAINTAIN 'iie
tarritorial and administrative ENTITY
49, chinese empire and should suppl
~. .ne soo.r,ne of the open door ana equa,
ornortunity, all the powers co"eel.ees'
oi,tho,t question and signed the aeie0
ment.
w. AZ Knox ten, years later Pr
,osad 70 neutralize railroad w. 20
A. Manchuria as the only elnclen, an
sao,,re for China the unolstuioe ,.on-
so,.roent of all political rights II Snor
chur,a. under the policy Oh lnI aacIined
the interested powers shaips &c n in
anu SUI .brough unofficial channels Vh~'
the proposal was lnpei
r,atter of fact,( only the Chl.eu a
s.asas among all the powers, Is An
a. s,,nnorting the open door oo0Ii l. 40
az. ~ast have special privileges az -,
eIe 80, ,s wAlling to sacrihce Ns o""
Vi Sop the sake of China 30 l",
- Manchuria is concerned hus sIa
Ienan occupy exactly the same s Soth
Roth coveting Chinese TERRITORY Th;resc
intriguing to obtain Po 90 blows
waters. the two nations cams - ~,
" to,,ght a tremendous war wholy oi'
ShSnase territory That was oroushI
close by the friendly lnterVenIion 20
~ Trnited States, the cul1nliialiol - -
.n;o,o uyas the signing Of the treaty VI
portsmouth. BY the terms OF thas 49,,
pussia and China divided the Mail0 ~
risn railways between themselves 80
undertook not to interfere win c,.ivase
| velopment of the country oy lne and
va soIemnlv engaged to respect anu
80, The chinese sovereignty in Manchu-
ria.
The ink was not dry on that treaty De.
fore complaints began to be maoe 'hae
the omen door was closed, ana thaL, dS
a matter of fact the Japanese ana rus
slams were using their railways as az,
excuse for the complete domination or
control of Manchuria, polltlcal anu n.ia,
ciaI After awhile the Japanese army
with much ostentation, evacuated Man
cburia and the control of the country
NO sssed again into the hands or It's right
F,,I owners But complaints did not
cease II was charged that the Japanese
railway guards were in control OF Ihe
situation as effectively as ever the Jap
anese army had been. 1t was charseu
that the Japanese products got through
the custom houses without paying 'Ie
| duties imposed upon other wares. IN
short, It was charged that the open door
was completely closed to all but the
Japanese. In northern Manchuria, COM
plants of similar nature, although less
| insistent, were heard against the Hus-
slams. But still, Japan and Russia con-
tinued TO profess tina their only bust
ness in Manchuria was to guarantee
the open door policy.
Then China decided to build railroad
| in it's own territory in Manchuria. De-
spite the specific guarantees of the treaty
of Portsmouth that neither Japan nor
Russia would interfere with the devel-
opment of the territory by the Chinese,
\ both nations objected to this new rall-
way project. AS the railway was to be
built through southern Manchur1a, the
Japanese took lead in the opposition.
l China, utterly helpless to oppose japan
| in war; was forced to submit, and last
| August China was compelled to humili-
ate itself by acknowledging in treaty
that 1t had no right to build railway
in its own territory without obtaining
the consent of Japan. But still japan
| continued to assert that it's occupation
of Manchuria was wholly and solely in
| the interests of the open door policy.
Just a year ago, the Chinese govern
ment announced that 1t would seek to
float a large loan for the purpose OF
| building two great railways, one to con-
enct Canton and southern China with
Hankow, thus establishing communities
| tion through to Peking, and the other
| from Hankow westward to the rich, but
now almost inaccessible province of See
| chuan German british and French can