UNITED STATES AND THE FAR EAST. AMERICA'S NEW POLICY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 84, 6 October 1909, Page 11

UNITED STATES AND THE FAR EAST. AMERICA'S NEW POLICY.

The New York correspondent of Tho Times, under date 16th August, remarked — It becomes clearer daily that this Government's new policy in China is destined to exert a powerful influence on Anglo-American relations, and an influence by no means favourable, unless the greatest prudence, restraint^ and frankness are displayed on both sides. Great Britain's alliance with Japan and America's friendship with China are two facts which invite .superficial misinterpretation of the -situation ; and, unfortunately, a certain section of the press has already succumbed to the temptation. Together with the Government's' active intervention in Chinese affairs has come a press campaign, led by the New York Hei'ald, which, while adopting exaggerated methods calculated to cause 1 some amusement abroad, has undoubtedly aroused widespread public interest in the' Far East. And this campaign is characterised throughout by a disposition to represent the United States as China's one true friend in the attempt to hold joft' Japan, while England is pictured as alarmed by the threat to her commercial supremacy in the Celestial Empire from across the Pacific. The Japaneso decision >o rebuild thft Antung railway, irrespective of Chinese protests, has not met with favour here. The better informed newspapers refuse to commit themselves, although a tingo of suspicion of Japanese motives is discernible. The tone of others, however, shows which way the wind is blowing. Baron Takahira, before sailing for Tokio, declared that "the jingoes of both countries seem to have exhausted themselves, and we now hear little talk of a conflict." This may be true, but somehow, if there is no talk of war; there is seemingly still small confidence felt in Japanese statesmanship. For instance, one influential American newspaper declares bluntly, "China sees an ambitious rival seeking to drive a wedge further and further into h^r territory through the "employment of subterfuge and pretence." And another, equally influential, speaks of the "little bully of the islands," and foresees a time coming "when neither Japan nor her good friend and ally Britain can safely insult and humiliate tl\e great Chinese Empire." Such language reminds one of the Pacific Slope, though it does not emanate from that quarter. 1 | The New York World contained an example of an attitude which cannot but harm Anglo-American friendship. In an article it foreshadows tho possibility of Mr. Roosevelt's visiting China next summer — the barest possibility, it would seem, in view of his published plans — and then proceeds to give a version of the situation, two quotations from which will suffice: — ''There is one country particularly discomfited over the closor diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and China; this is England. For eight years she has been stubbornly fighting to prevent what has happened. England expected China to be exploited by British gold, and considers it a heavy blow to her_ prestige that America is to take part in financing a great Chinese railroad enterprise, and realises that this is only a beginning for the powerful young country across 'the seas." And again :— "England's diplomacy has beon dark and devious. ... As a result China turns against England to the United States for money and brains to develop her country. She is looking for sympathetic and practical assistance, and wants not any of the kind that England is able to furnish." An American who knows anything of China will take this cum grano, but the bulk of Americans are just beginning to study international affairs, which explains alike the energy with which this campaign is pushed and the dangers to which it may load.