Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-31

washington, ID. o., Aug. IS.-At an
informal meeting held few days ago
in the office building of the house OF
representatives. body unique in the
annals of American foreign relations
was organized. A group of senators
and representatives met to discuss the
formation of an American China
group,
The China group" system has es-
tablished itself widely among the prin-
cipal world powers in the last three
years. The United States is ninth or
tenth among the nations where the
idea has taken hold.
China group, in the simplest pos.
sible terms, consists Of number Of
members of the national legislative
body Of a country who are interested
in the relations of their country with
China, and in Chinas relations with
the rest of the world. They get to-
gether and similar group in the Chi
to what is going on. A China group
is an absolutely unofficial body. 1t
has no formally recognized place or
standing in the diplomatic scheme Of
things. Its members are supposed to
be drawn together by common in
terest in the Chinese question as they
might be drawn by a common interest
in Arctic exploration or the collection
of rare porcelains.
At least, this is the way they must
be regarded under the rules Of the dip
lomatic game. AS a matter of fact,
their interest in Chinese affairs is of
considerably more Importance and
value to the nation than any absorb
ton in the North Pole controversy or
the tea cups of the Ming dynasty
would be, but when men occupy prom.
inent positions in public and official
life, 1t is necessary to distinguish
sharply between their official and their
unofficial activities.
The China group, then, will occupy
position theoretically analogous to
that Of a political club in some coun-
try village, which meets to discuss
the. affairs of China unof1cially. Only,
when the China group meets for dis
cussion. a similarly unofficial commit.
tee Of the Chinese parliament will
have given them what sporting writer's
would term Inside DOPE" and they
will have something worth talking
about to occupy their time. Also,
when they cast of their own unoffcial.
dom, they become again men OF prom.
inence In the congress of the United
States, and can use what they know
and what they have decided to influ-
ence their colleagues to action.
There Is nothing mysterious or Sc
cretive about such proceeding, none
of the devious and hidden methods
that are sometimes associated in the
popular mind with diplomacy. The
whole thing is a simple and entirely
open system for the promotion Of bet.
ter understanding and the most
friendly relations between China and
the United States. The idea Of putting
the legislators of two great republics
Informally in touch with each other,
without the pedantry that attends Of
fetal diplomatic exchanges where
every comma must be weighed and
considered. is to all appearances a
most excellent one, as time should
prove.
The first meeting of the American
group showed that there was at least
nothing partisan about the reception
given the idea. Republicans and dem
ocrats az well as the socialist member
worked in harmony. Mr.. Cooper of
Wisconsin was elected to the chair
manship and Mr.. Slayen OF Texas
made secretary Of the group Some
was raised over a possible
conflict between the activities Of the
new organization and those of the
state department, and committee
was appointed to take care of this
point by drafting resolutions of pur-
pose. When this has been done, men,