The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-07

Panama, peculiarly important. due to
mutual obligations and the vast inter-
ests created by the canal, have cOntin-
ued in the usual friendly manner, and
we have been glad to make appropriate
expression of our attitude of synpathet-
ic interest in the endeavOrS of our
| neighbor in undertaking the develop
ment of the rich resources of the coun-
try. With reference to the internal po-
litical affairs of the republic, our obvi-
I Gus concern is in the maintenance OF
public peace and constitutional order
1 and the fostering of the general inter
ests created by the actual relations
of the two countries, without the mani
feStatiOD of any preference for the sue
+ cess of either of the political parties.
| The Pan-American union. formerly
known as the bureau of American re-
publics, maintained by the joint con-
! tributions of all the American nations,
{ has during the past year enlarged its
practical work as an international or
ganization, and continues to prove It's
/ usefulness as an agency for the mu-
| tual development of commerce, better
! acquaintance and closer intercourse be-
! tween the United States and her sister
American republics.
The Far East.
| The past year has been marked in
our relations with China by the con-
! cluSiOn of two important International
/ loans one for the construction of the
Hukuang railways, the other for the
| carrying out of the currency reform
to which China was pledged by
treaties with the United States, Great
Britain and Japan, of which mention
was made in my last annual message
1t will be remembered that early
| in 1909 an agreement was conSumma-
| ted among British, French and GER
man financial groups whereby they
J proposed to lend the Chinese govern
ment funds for the construction of
railways in the provinces of Human
and Eupeh reserving for their ma
tionals the privilege of engineering the
construction of the lines and of fur
nishing the materials required for the
work After negotiations with the
governments and groups concerned an
agreement was reached whereby
American British, French and German
nationals should participate upon
equal terms in this important and
useful undertaking. Thereupon the
financial groups, supported by their re-
spective governments, began negotia-
lions with the Chinese government
which terminated in a loan to China
of $3O,00O,00O, with the privilege OF
increasing the amount to $50, 200, 600
The cooperative construction OF these
trunk lines should be of Immense ad-
vantage, materially and otherwise, to
China, and should greatly facilitate the
development of the bOuntiful resources
of the empire. On the other hand,
large portion of these funds is to be
expended for materials, Am erican pro-
ducts having equal preference with
those of the other three lending ma
tionS, and as the contract provides for
branches and extensions subsequently
to be built on the same terms the OPP
portunities for American materials will
reach consid cradle proportions.
Knowing the interest of the United
States in the reform OF Chinese curren-
cy, the Chinese government, in the
autumn of 1910, sought the assistance
of the American government to procure
funds with which to accomplish that
all-important reform In the course
of the subsequent negotiations there
was combined with the proposed cur |
rency loan one for certain industrial |
developments in Manchuria, the two |
loans aggregating the sum of $5O.OOO,-
O0O. While this was originally to be /
solely an American enterprise, the /
American government, consistently /
with its desire to secure a sympathetic +
and practical cooperation OF the great
powers toward maintaining the prlncl-
pie of equality of opportunity and the I
administrative integrity of China, urg-
ed the Chinese government to admit to
participation in the currency loan the (
associates of the American group IN |
the Hulxuany loan While of immense I
Importance in itself, the reform cOntem-
plated in making this loan is but pre-
liminary to other and more compre.
hensive fiscal reforms which will be OF i
incalcuIable benefit to China and for
eign interests alike, since they Will
strengthen the Chinese empire and pro-
mote the rapid development of interna-
tional trade.
Neutral Financial Adviser.
When these negotiations were be-
gun. it was understood that a financial
adviser was to be employed by emma
in connection with the reform, and IN
order that absolute equality IN all re-
spects among the lending nauohs
might be scrupulously observed, the
American government proposed the
nomination of neutral adviser, which
was agreed to by China and the other
governme concerned. ON sep
fember g. 1911, Dr.. Vissering, pres1-
dent of the Dutch Java bank and /
fnancier of wide experience IN the
Orient, was recommended to the chi T
nese government for the post OF none
tary adviser
Especially important at the pres
ent, when the ancient Chlnese en-
rIra is shaken by civil war incidental +
70 its awakening to the many in
fuences and activities of moderniza-
ton. are the cooperative policy OF GOOD
understanding which has been 1ostereo
nv the international projects referred
TO above and the general sympathy OF
view among all the Powers interested
in the Far East While safeguarding
the interests of our nationals. this gov
eminent is using its best efforts in con-
+ipuance of its traditional policy OF
svnnDathv and friendship toward the
Chinese Empire and its people, with
the confident hope for their economic
and administrative development, and
with the constant disposition to con-
tribute to their welfare in all proper
WAYS consistent with an attitude of
strict impartiality as between contend
ing factions
For the first time in the history of
the two countries, a Chinese cruiser,
the Haichi, under the command of Ad-
miraI Ching, recently visited New
york, where the officers and men were
given a cordial welcome
New Japanese Treaty.
The treaty of commerce and naviga-