The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-09
Knox Assures Germany OF
Hands Off" Policy.
WARNING TO OTHER POWERS.
Publication Of Note to German Arnbas-
sador Is Taken as a Declaration to
the World That the United States
and the Kaiser Will Demand
Absolute Neutrality.

Washington, Feb. Sin note to the
German ambassador Secretary of State
Knox has again put the United States
in a position OF protector Of the inteG
rity of the Chinese empire and places
this government on record in favor of
policy of hands off" during the pres
ent political upheaval in China.
The publication of the note is also re
garded here as in effect a declaration
to the world that the United States
and Germany will be found acting to-
gether against any grabs" in China by
other powers. The publication OF the
note follows an exchange between the
governments of Germany and the Unit
ed States in. regard to the situation.
The note was handed to Ambassador
BernstOrff in response to an inquiry
from his government as to the "atti-
tude and general impressions of the
government of the United States in re-
gard to conditions in China"
Copies of the note have been placed
In the hands of the governments of the
other powers chiefly interested in Chi
na-namely, Great Britain, France It
ally, Russia and Japan. 1t is expected
that the text of the note and the cir
cumstances in which its publication
was agreed upon by the governments
of Germany and the United States will
have a strong moral effect in regard to
The future developments in China.
Full faith in the adhesion of all the
powers to the policy of noninterven-
tion and absolute neutrality in the Chi
nese situation is expressed by Secre
tary Knox in the note
Secretary Knox also declares it to be
the policy of the United States to dis
courage its national bankers from max
ing any loan to either side in the Chi
nese situation. regarding a loan to Ell
ther violation of the policy Of abso-
lutte neutrality.
This step upon the part OF Secretary
Knox is plainly a move in continuation
of the Hay policy in regard to China.
Germany has from the first been most
| heartily in accord with the United
States in maintaining the integrity of
China and the absolute neutrality of
the powers during the present revolu-
tion.
There was no doubt in Washington
that the import OF the Knox note
would be fully realized by the govern
| ments to which II has been communi-
Gated. Though the American secretary
Of state has succeeded in COUGHING his
expression Of policy in the most diplo-
/ matte terms, its significance as the
warning note will, it is thought, be
clearly seen by the other powers. The
fact that the writing and publication
OF the Knox note is the result of an
understanding between Germany and
the United States will greatly add to
the force of the document. The other
powers, according to the Washington
view, will hesitate long before embark.
! ing upon a policy Of advancing their
special interests by taking advantage
Of China's distress with Germany and
the United States standing together
before the world in opposition to any
such move.
The quarter in which the Knox note
is expected to do the most good is in
the councils of Russia, Japan and
Great Britain. Ever since the begin
ming of the Chinese revolution suspi
cion has fallen repeatedly upon Rus
sia and Japan.
Great Britain has been involved il
these suspicious owing to her alliance
with Japan and also through the as
siduity with which the British foreign
official cultivated Russian friendship
during the Moroccan crisis.
The state department was quick Il
recognize the grave possibilities in the
situation at the very outset OF the
Chinese revolution. Through Minister
Calhoun at Peking it exerted ever!
possible effort to obtain an infOrma
agreement among the interested par
ties on a neutral policy OF noninterven
ton. 1t developed soon that German!
was in complete accord with the Unit
ed States in regard to the policy tn,
powers should adopt in China. Tn,
two governments were a unit through
out in working for "hands off" pol
icy.