New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
AMERICAS INTERESTS
IN CHINA COMPROMISED
Reversion to Spheres of InfIu-
ence Policy Likely to Check
Our Trade Expansion.
"OPEN DOOR" ALL BUT SHUT
U. S. Diplomacy Influential in
Picking Out of Proportion to
Our Concern in Far
Eastern Problems.
From The Tribune Correspondent

From The Tribune Correspondent
| Picking, aug. 10-America's foremost in
terest in the Far East, particularly In
China, may be described in one word
opportunity Americas trade here Is at
present comparatively small. and while
American diplomacy remains influential
to degree out of proportion to our
tangible commercial interests the most
valued possession years of American
diplomatic effort have obtained for the
nation is-opportunity. This IL not so
much the fault OF American diplomacy
as it Is that OF American manufacturers,
who fail TO como over here and sell their
wares. yet perhaps II is not as much the
fault of the manufacturers as II IS the
economic conditions in America. which
do not yet demand foreign expansion.
This matter OF opportunity is closely
related TO our greatest asset here, which
is the friendship which China has for
America. Now II Is OF the uttermost i'm
portance that both the opportunity for
| expansion I'm this market and China's
/ friendship be retained, cherished and
| cultivated until the time comes when
I American merchants can or will take full
advantage OF the situation. Beyond all
doubt huge business awaits American
merchants in China II the opportunity
and China's friendship can be kept in
tact
Sovereignty in Danger.
| At the present moment however. both
are being endangered to a very consider
] "A ha n
OF the land-seeking powers are drawing
n circle around China proper which In
! the end will mean not only the loss OF
! China's sovereignty thing Americans
will deplore on princple-but the certain
/ loss OF opportunity, and, as likely as not
| Chlna's friendship. China uncOnsciousy
turns TO America for protection. and If
! such protection be not furnished China
will lose her faith and friendship along
| with her independence. All this is not
going to happen next month, or next
year, but all the signs point TO its hap
pen!ng most certainly within ten years
or twenty, or even nifty.
The Importance OF II all is that nifty
years from now will be the time when
American trade should be equal 10 or
/ greater than that OF the other powers OF
| the world Much OF all this has been said
before. Statesmen, diplomats and con-
suls have been crying aloud about II for
I many years. The result has been that
Americans are taking greater interest
/ I'm Far Eastern trade, and in a few years
VIII know enough about It 10 compete
with the others
What endangers American opportunity
now is the advances which are being
made by the japanese and the Russians
| II Is considered here that Western China.
tremendous DEPENDENCY OF China, Mon
goia. both outer and Inner. and Man
churia North and South. have practi-
cally passed out OF Chinese control. some
regions to become independent, others to
pass under the domination OF aliens.
And history teaches that where there are
spheres OF influence. as in Manchuria,
competition is hopeless.
Special Interests" Cared For.
The Russians and the japanese have
come to some sort OF agreement in 81.
Petersburg within the last few days. Just
what # is no one seems 10 know, at least
no one in Picking but there is no doubt that
! Russias special interests" In Northern
Manchurls. Outer Mongolia and Western
! China have been recognized by the Jap
anese, and the Russian government has
returned the favor concerning Japan's in
terests in South Mauchuria and Inner
Mongolia.
There is plenty Of evidence that the
agreement concerning these matters was
cached long before Prince katsura went
10 st. Petersburg. At the Paris confer
ence OF the sextuple group the Russian
and japanese agents worked wholly to-
gether. even presenting their demands in
| identical language. over I'm Toxic they
are saying that the recent shower OF dec
oratons upon Russian officials. from the
Foreign Minister downward, was due TO
the completion Of this understanding
II is not so very important 10 America
| IL the markets Of Western China or Chi
nese Turkestan. outer and Inner MonPo-
| liza. and even Manchur!a, are lost, for
| there is plenty OF China left TO trade with.
but the great thing IS that acquisition or
these places by the Russians and Japan
ESQ brings those nations down to the
borders Of China proper. and II II there
that American trade must some day find
an outlet.
No protests Raised.