New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-06
AMERICAN FUTURE IN CHINA
Commercial Cooperation with Japan Is
Urged Instead of Economic Warfare.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
| Sir: Recent newspaper items report pro.
jected loan under the auspices Of the Ameri-
can international Corporation for the con.
struction of railways in China. Aside from
! it's vital interest for the student Of economics
and finance, such an enterprise has funds'
mental significance of far more seIOu;
nature.
That China is about to enter on a period o.
rapid and gigantic development by external
forces and will become the playground Of
tremendous economic factors there Is little
doubt The corollary of this statement Is no
less true, though perhaps not so generally
recognized China constitutes one Of the
greatest menaces to the worlds peace In the
generations 70 come.
| As Mr.. Walter Lippmsn ha. ably pointed
out in his Stakes of Diplomacy" it is in the
great undeveloped tracts Of the hsbitaoe
world that international friction Is most ire
quently generated. It i. here that the SEEDS
of war are sown, through the inevitable con-
Aict Of unrestrained economic forces in the
arenas where the great, greedy powers strive
to realize their commercial ambitions.
! For this reason the future Of China constr
tutes one Of Americas most sinister sources
of danger Our relations with Japan are stili
amicable-on the surface, at least. Neverthe'
less, they seem at times TO have been some
! how infected with q growing sense Of mutual
distrust, and during the last few years TOO
many disauieting murmurs have been heard
| Now, il seems to me that whenever potter
TALLY dangerous contiguity Of interests exis"
the alternative TO friction is eooperau0"'
| One or the other of the parties must come
forward and extend clean right hand OF SIN
cerity
| Our opportunity is at the door. Now Is me
time-before emotional race hatred has oe''
crystallized, along with the other symptoms
of perverted patriotism which follow IN 'n'
train of economic conflict between nations
for our financiers and our diplomats 70 snow
their foresight.
Let those who hold sway over The destinie'
of nations inaugurate new era OF intern'
tionalism By setting an example OF in'efn''
tional cooperation in the Development o.
economically backward land.
Let America and Japan, instead OF 'e"'
toward inevitable conflict in the Far Esst snG
in the Pacific by pursuing head-on poie'esV ',
economic invasion in coveted territories ~
together and adopt methods which may P'N
vent such catastrophe.
Let there be joint administration, JOINT CO..
ferences, joint profits. Let JOINT hha'I Ihr
committees and joint boards Of directors ~. W.
no means excluding Representatives Of ~.
other interested powers when these shAl. 0.,.
more have time and capital 10 devote 70 -
ternal affairs carry on the WORK oil ou..s
I'D China in a safe and sane manner VIZ VIZ,
community Of interests instead OF d'sPA ~
and with sincerity the watehword ih'''"
suspicion. zig.
There will be much to learn from Ve' .;se.
orous and clever neighbor across the aN 40.
let US teach him in return the wa! " IN.
emirencc without the horrid necessiH ,n,.r.
quest. and let us show the world tha' n' an.
lea. at least. knows how TO abstain from 81 ~
ping UP its commercial aspirations S1S r.st.
dearest. worthiest traditions IN one ,.T
ment of blood! SAMUEL W. 81 H"
New York, Oct. 1. 1910.