The Washington times., 1913-03-19
AMERICA AND THE CHINESE LOAN.

This newspaper has repeatedly pointed out tha
the one great and very real service the American
Government could render to the republic o
| China consisted, not in forcing upon that nation
set of difficult and embarrassing conditions nciden
to providing it with financial support, but in promp
and cordial recognition of the republican govern
ment. 1t is well known that delay in recognition
the new regime has been occasioned, not only herr
that sought to impose various conditions upon tn,
new government of the old nation.
Under President Taft the United States was ont
of the nations in this hod-up combination. Unde
President Wilson it will not be one of them.
The Presidents statement of policy toward thi
question of Chinese finance will, undoubtedly, re
ceive the approval of the vast body of Americans
The new Chinese government is the result Of Amer
ican inspiration, patterned after American models
set up by men educated in this country, students
our political institutions.
1t is short-s GIFTED policy which the European
countries have sought to impress upon China;
policy of uniting to control its taxation SYSTEM
administer its revenues, to make it in effect the
financial and administrative vassal of a European
North American concert Of powers operating through
their financial agencies That is not the course which
will encourage and promote the right development
of China. 1t is not calculated to give the Chinese
people the self-respect and self-confdence withou
which they cannot possibly do the best for them
selves 1t is not calculated to inspire Chinese gooe
will toward the Occidental powers. And finally, i
is opening wide the door to ultimate dissensions
among the cooperating powers themselves.
All the world, of course, is looking to the com
mercial opportunities which will be afforded them
incident to the great development movement thai
has begun in China. Here is an empire of nest
mabe wealth in resources and with 400, 600, 900 in
dustrious people. Its development would be amos,
like annexing another world to the industrial and
commercial field of opportunity that this one now
presents
In the long run, that nation will stand best with
China, will enjoy the best share of substantial bene-
fits and will engage the largest measure of Chinese
confidence, which most nearly attains to sympathe.
tic understanding and appreciation of the Chinese
national aspiration. For China is at last beginning
to develop national feeling something it has lacked
and needed in the past.
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan have in
dicated in this Chinese matter frank reversal Of
the Taft Administrators policy The United States
secure participation for the United States in the
Chinese loan. This means that the Government will
decline to assume any responsibility in behalf of
such an investment, or to place itself in the position
Of membership to the Chinese government in future
THE conditions of the loan" declares President
Wilson in his statement, seem to US to touch very
nearly the administrative independence of China it.
SELF and this Administration does not feel that it
ought, even by implication, to be a party to these
conditions" The President points out that these
conditions include the pledging of certain revenues
some of them representing antiquated and perhaps
undesirable taxes. In effect the conditions sought
to be imposed amount to denying China the privilege
Of carrying out the very internal reforms that the
new government wants to effect 1t ought to be the
last thing in tine mind of this American republic,
founded in protest against taxation system that was
imposed upon us from the other side of the Atlantic
to try to impose just and obsolete taxation svs
TEN on the republic across the Pacific
1t remains to be seen to what extent the Ameri-
can Governments attitude will affect the nego-
tatons for this loan. No matter; China will get its
money somewhere, or get along without it; and the
world knows, China knows, that the great Amer
can nation will not regard with complacency any
efforts to tie the hands of the enlightened new ad
ministraton in China, TO fasten upon the people.
through financial bonds, a system that they have
tried by revolution to repudiate
Now let the United States extend its formal and
cordial recognition to tine republican govern
ment, and the great republic of the West will have
struck hands with the republic of the East in
fashion that will be the assurance of mutual under
standing and interest, and Of vast material advan
tages to both.