The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-07
CHINA'S PREDIcAMENT.
(The New York Times.)

(The New York Times.)
There has been no time since the
eventful year of 1898 when China has
not been in state of crisis. In that
year the Russian agreement for the
construction of the Chinese Eastern
Railway and the lease of Port Arthur
was matched by the German seizure
of Kiao-Chau and the British posses
sion of Kowloon, the hinterland oppo-
site the island of Hongkong. Loans
have been followed by concessions,
foreign capital invested in railway
construction has been the forerunner
of foreign control, the internal dissen-
sions due to disgraceful cabal among
the Manchu Princes brought in their
wake rebellion. and a newly formed
republic has entailed unlimited con-
fusion IN governmental arrangements
To crown all, the war in Europe stop
ped the service of existing loans and
made new ones impossible. China
has been thrown on her own resourc-
es, with results which have favored
economy of administration on the
one hand, but on the other have para
lyzed industrial development.
China has, indeed, fallen on hard
days For much of her ill-fortune she
is herself to blame. Ignorance of the
outside world was coupled with AFRO
gance which prevented the entrance
OF new ideas. A decentralized method
of governmental control which allow
ed wide freedom of action to the prov
inceS was inadequate in dealing with
questions arising out of treaties made
by the Central government with for
eign nations. The fall in the price Of
silver found China without a uniform
currency and upset her long-estab-
lished copper coinage. These are only
few of the difficulties which have
puzzled in recent years the brains Of
ChieneSe statesmen and have been the
despair of foreign ministers accredited
to that unhappy country.
Distressing as is this category Of
ills, 1t IS now overshadowed by the
recent Japanese demands concerning
which there has been so much secrecy.
Out of the mystery surrounding the
negotiations of the Picking conference
between the Chinese minister of for
eign affairs and the Japanese minister
to China there emerge two leading
facts. One is that Japan considers the
granting of her demands of paramount
Importance to her new role in Asia,
and the other is that China feels that
their acceptance would sound the
deathknell of her independent sover-
eighty. These two facts have an OBJ
vious bearing upon the direction of
American sympathy in the situation.
The very helplessness of the inchoate
condition into which governmental
blunders have plunged this ancient ma
ton appeals to us as a reason why
neighboring country should not take
advantage of it for her own purposes.
America initiated and has stood spon-
sor for the policy of recognizing the
integrity of China and maintaining an
equal trade opportunity for all nations.
This policy is now threatened. Are we
not within our rights in insisting that
Japan, which agreed in the Root-Taka-
hira notes to the policy enunciated by
our government, should give full ex-
PLANTATION of her demands and should
| modify them so as not to violate pre-
viouS pledges to us? Is her ambition
will she announce an Okuma doctrine
for Asia which will be the same as
our Monroe doctrine for the Ameri-
| cas-? Such doctrine, plainly stated,
would please us if it were accompan-
led by the same self-denying ordin-
ance that the United States has fol-
lowed in the case of our neighbors.
We do not want others to interfere
with American nations, and we do not
propose to interfere with them our
selves. Japan is welcome to the lead
ership of Asia, as far as we are con-
cerned, if with such leadership she
will also guarantee her non-interfer-
ence with the internal affairs of other
Asiatic countries. Our interests is in
the weaker nations of Asia and our
desire is that they shall not be crush
ed. If Japan will re-affirm in unequiv-
ocal terms her adherence to the
doctrine of the territorial integrity of
China and of the open-door policy for
trade, America will not intermeddle
in her negotiations with China for the
settlement of their outstanding difficult
ties. And it is clear, from Sir Edward
Grey's statement in the House of
Commons, that this is the position of
Japan's ally. England. Frankness in
explaining her demands and modera-
ton in pressing them. to the end that
there may be no question of protec-
torate or of violating the principles of
the open-door and of China's terri
torial integrity, will surely be the wise
course for Japan.