The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-22
MIR. WILSON'S RESIGNATION.


|
| 1t is not surprising TO see that M
Huntington Wilson, Assistant and Act
ing Secretary of State, has pcremptorily
resigned his office on the publication
Of President Wilson 5 announced policy
Of Indifference with respect to CHINA
and her affairs, and practically with
drawing from the concert of the SIN
powers that was relied upon to pre-
serve the territorial integrity of China
and supply the new republic with the
immediate money that it needs, by way
of a loan.
When the five powers, Russia, Japan,
Great Britain, Germany, aud France,
undertook TO carry things with high
band and take China S affairs into
their own guidance, shutting the United
States out of them as to the proposed
loan and as to Chinese policies, Secre.
tarv Knox made "A vigorous remon-
strancc, holding that the United States
was fully entitled to her share in the
outside influences that would preserve
the open door for trade and would pre-.
vent the dismcmbcrmcnt of the ancient
empire. Secretary Knox held that in
order to make this country an equal
force and power with the other five ma
tions ii would be necessary for Amer
lean bankers to furnish this country's
proportion OF the proposed loan. At
that time this loan was fixed on
basis Of $300,000,000, but China was
disinclined to borrow that much in one
sum, and SO the amount was cut down
to $125,0000 900, The loan hung fire
powers to turn the money over unre
servedly to the Chinese officials, we'll
knowing that if this were done, graft
and loot would leave very little for
the proposed railways, public improve
ments, and to pay the debt which China
owes upon current account to her army
and civil employees
When President Wilson sent out his
declaration that the United States
would not ask American bankers to
their part in the loan TO
China and that this country would de-
cline 10 interfere in Chinese affairs,
the whole American interest in China
was surrendered, the policy of equal in
terest was dropped, 1t was quite natural
therefore, that Assistant Secretary vii.
son, who had taken an active part in
The constructive policy which gave the |
United States footing in China, both |
For the protection Of China from pred !
atory interests on the outside and also |
as a helpful measure to assist the new |
republic IN getting such financial aid |
as 1t needed, as well as to protect our
Jhlnese trade, it was the most natural |
hing IN the world that Mr.. Wilson
should stand from under. 1T was all |
he more incumbent upon him TO do this.
since it appears that this reversal of
policy was taken without any cousulta-
ion with him, and in fact without his
knowledge. He Justly refers pointedly |
% the singularity of the procedure
whereby the Acting Secretary Of State.
secretary Bryan being away from
should learn first of this
important development in our foreign
lffairs from the newspapers. It showed |
hat matters had been taken out of his
lands, and that the policy which he
lad helped to build up and had cher
shed as to China was reversed, with
,ut notice to him. Nothing remained |
,or him, therefore, but to resign, and
ouch his resignation in such language
Is would indicate the exact reason for
he step which he took.
Mr.. Wilson has done himself credit
n facing the issue in such manly fash
on, and indicating that his self-respect
would not suffer his longer contiuu-
lnce in the State Department under
he circumstances as developed. No one
AN blame him for the peremptory ma
ure Of his designations; but if it had
lot been quickly and peremptorily ten. |
Tered. he would clearly have been
nan lacking in spirit and in proper
'egard for his own dignity and self
aspect