27th August.
In the New York "Nation" of the 28rd of July last there is an article with the above heading in which Mr. Hay, the U.S. Secretary of State, is highly praised for his success' in securing from the Russian Charge d'Affaires at Washington a definite remise that Moukden and Tatung-on in Manchuria shall be made open ports. The agreement come to by these two diplomatists has been sent, we are told, to Peking for confirmation by the Emperor, whose assent is taken for granted. "In other words, who cried " Shame," ile asserting the integrity of the out of the court, Mr, Saxly here T'd order him hi Chinese Empire, Mr. Hay practically rose and said he was the man recognises Russia as suzerain of all who cried "Shame." The Mayor: northern China." The "Nation" Then leave the court at once. goes on to say that as Russia is now As Mr. Saxly left there were in full possession of Manchuria, the cries of disapproval at the back question has become merely a com-of the court, The Mayor ordered the mercial one. We have done, this many people went out and others whole court to be cleared. A great means, with any sentimental reluctance to see the cradle of the ruling had to be requested by the Police to dynasty in China handed over to the leave.
There was much confusion) Cossack, and are only concerned now and the proceedings were suspended with protecting our trade from differ-till order was restored. Many had|ential tariffs. "Unless Japan wishes 2 whispered consultation with, the the Russian claim, and strikes quickly, persisted in remaining in Court, and] to take the great hazard of challenging police showed that the Mayor did not Manchuria will soon be more Russian relish using force in expelling those than the Duchy of Finland." who would not go.
Meanwhile a Mr. Hay, however, maintains, crowd had gathered outside the Town we are told, the diplomatic fiction Hall, and cheered those who hadjof 2 Chinese Manchuria "as a been evicted.
The report con-technical advantage in dealing cludes with this sentence. "There{with the most slippery of Foreign are likely to be scenes at the dis- Offices." By insisting, that is, trains and sale of the ratepayers'|that Manchuria still belongs to goods."
China, he is able to insist that Such incidents as this, repeated|Russia shall give the trade of the over the length and breadth of the-world all the freedom and facilities that China is obliged by her commercial treaties to give. The Russians are thoroughly committed to this fiction. "In 1901 they cheerfully withdrew, largely owing to Mr. Hay's protest, the treaty which would have given their lease' the value of a deed in fee simple. Again, in the Manchurian Convention of April 1902, they agreed successively to withdraw from the various Manchurian provinces. They have shown every disposition to humour those who were stiff on the point of Chinese suzerainty. but have quietly built railroas erected—Customhouses, and discriminated against non-Russian imports by railway rates, and by collecting u kind of likin tax on goods in transport. Content with the substance of a trade monopoly and political control, they have gladly allowed it to be called a mere extension of their sphere of influence; but the various protests in behalf of Chinese sovereignty have been incidentally the means of pinning Russia down to trade agreements." Mr. Hay's unwearied importunity for the "open door" in Manchuria has resulted in obtaining one more promise from Russia, "Tt is a considerable gain," says the "Nation," "to bring the Russians to so definite an action as that of naming two free ports, even if no time has been set for the actual opening." After some remarks on the value of Moukden and Tatungkou as open ports—"free" ports is obviously a mistake on the part of the "Nation,'—it. is pointed out that the opening of the latter will compel the Russians to build a railway from the estuary of the Yalu to Moukden—this should be Liaoyang,—which will put Russia (where she is already) "in a comfortable position of control at the mouth of the Yalu, and at a strategic vantage point as regards Corea."
While hinting a doubt of Russia's intention to open these two ports after all, the " Nation" says that Mr. Hay is to be heartily congratulated on the conclusion of a most difficult and vexatious negotiation. The other Powers have rather shabbily thrown the case on his hands; " where Germany has been cynical and England despairing, they have left the difficult role of optimistic endeavour to Mr. Hay. His failure he would have had to bear alone, his success was certain to be their profit."
We must confess that, sharing ax we do most fully the "Nation's" confidence in Mr. Hay's ability and determination, we are a little doubtful whether he will in the end get anything solid out of his reliance on "fictions." We fear that China's and Russia's promises will be found alike conditional. China will say to Mr. Hay: "You recognise that Manchuria is virtually Russian, and will see that we cannot open. ports there without her consent." Ruasia will
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.