Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-03
The Russo-Japanese Alliance
BY Frederic J. Haskin


Washington, D. c., July 31.--The
latest diplomatic sensation to agitate
the minds of those who have an eye
to Americas international relations Is
the news that Russia and Japan have
contaminated their long-expected
treaty regarding the Far East. only
the formal concentrations which In
variably preamble documents Of this
nature have been made public as yet
just enough to show that the most
Oriental of European and the most
Occidental of Asiatic nations nave
come to an agreement over their NTH
erto conflicting interests in the regions
lying north Of China.
While the nation waits for full and
detailed reports on the nature of the
treaty from Ambassador Guthrie IN
Tokyo and Ambassador Francis IN
Petrograd, a flood of speculation and
conjecture is rife over the probable
nature Of the contract and its posi-
BILE effect on American interests. Re-
Gently a resolution was introduced in
to the United States senate by Sena-
tor Lewis, of Illinois, calling on the
Secretary of State to investigate the
nature of the treaty In its relation to
American interests and trade, and re-
port the result to the senate. While
the resolution was side-tracked by
force of parliamentary complications,
it seems likely that such report will
yet be called for.
The treaty is of particular interest
at the present moment, not only be-
cause the United States is watching
with some anxiety the trend Of trade
relations between foreign nations on
account of the REIMBURSEMENT of world
commerce that may follow the great
war, but also because it comes at a
time when we are apparently about to
adopt something of changed policy
in our foreign financial dealings.
notably in China
Reports and rumors have been rife
for months and are steadily gaining
in persistence and conference, to the
effect that the belligerent alliances Of
Europe will be succeeded by CONNER
cial alliances which will wage a bitter
though bloodless war for the DOM
nance of the worlds trade-an object
that really underlies the war itself.
In this connection we hear of pre-
ferential trade treaties, of reciprocal
tariff agreements to be contaminated.
of elaborate plans for girdling the
globe with trenches of commerce, in
which the place of the United States
is not very clear. The allies are said
to intend the elimination Of the cen
trail powers from the supply-and-de-
mand equation. while Germany and
Austria naturally enough have their
own intentions in the matter of post
bellum business.
Meanwhile the United States with
no organized national policy for for
eign trade domination. or even extern
sion and consolidation, by grace Of
circumstances continues to enjoy
more, and more profitable foreign bust
ness than ever before in her history.
The vital question Of course is how
long this state Of affairs. or one at
all like 1t, will last after the peace
treaties are signed and Europe turns
from the rifle to the ledger. True
enough, it seems doubtful that any
kets and resources can long stand out
against the force of natural trade cur
rents, which are guided by laws eco,
nomical rather than political or senti-
mental. None the less, there Is little
doubt that strenuous and farreaching
effort to direct artif1cally the flow of
world-business will be made by the
warning powers after the war.
Arbitrary and artificial arrange
ments for the direction of industry and
commerce have been most success
fully applied in China and the I'M
settled markets of the Far East gen.
orally than in any other place. Given
a sufficient strong native central gov
eminent, and moderate national au-
tonomy. the business of buying ma
ton will go to the sources where the
goods best fitted to it's needs are for
sale at lowest prices. In the case of
a country like China where the COM
plications Of the local situation make
it necessary for the foreign merchant
to be backed by the force of his home
government before his investment is
secure, and where conflicting spheres
OF influence with their accompanying
preferential trade rights have from