We reprint from the New York Times an interview with Mr. J. S, Fearon. The following is the same journal's leading article on the subject Mr. Fearon's long experience in business and residence in China and his official Gouneit in Shanghai give his statements sition as President of the Munitipal
authority. The statements themselves are of the highest interest and value. clearness. Sno is the marked advance in Two things stand out with particular
the market for American manufactures; the other is Mr. Fearon's assurance of the keen desire manifested by British merchants to ce-operate with Americans and of the conviction of both Americans and British residing in China that the interests of the two nations are identical, and that their advantage lies in keeping China open to the trade of both. The growth of American trade—though it has as yet reached but modest proportions—is very striking. It has been at an advancing ratio for the past five years; it has embraced not only the American goods with which the markets were fa-millar, but a number of entirely new branches; and especially in cotton domestic goods it has taken the place of British exports, which had many initial advantages in the competition. An advance still more significant for American enterprise is the undertaking entered into by syndicate of American capitalists to build by far the longest line of railroad yet pro} in China—that which is to run from Hankow to Canton, some 900 miles, "through the rich and densely populated provinces of Hunan, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung." 'This means not only' the employment of American capital and the use of American supplies for construction and equipment, but the active participation in the business of China of a body of keen, intelligent, and energetic Americans of various callings. When we consider how great are the native resources of the country, we can see what an opening is afforded by such an incursion of American brains and vigour.
"The second point to which we have called attention—Mr. Fearon's assurance of the cordial ce-operation of Americans and British in opening up and developing the trade of China—is of great importance for the future. Certainly no two policies could be more opposed in character than that practised by England and that of the United States with regard to foreign trade during the last half-century. England has sought to extend it in every quarter of the globe; the United States has tried to bar it from our own markets and has made no effort to share in it elsewhere. But the conditions that dictated the policy of this country no longer exist. We have all necessary control of our home markets and we have a capacity for production that makes foreign markets not only profitable but in a progressive ratio necessary. In China the substantial and permanent interests of the two nations, in one important regard, are undoubtedly the same, for both require the greatest possible freedom of trade,- as opposed to the monopolies sought by Russia and France. Nor is the difference between the principles governing. the United States and Great Britain. and. those of the rival powers in. China confined to this. It is a fair general statement that, on the one hand} the Anglo-Americans look upon the Chinese not as consumers only, but as producers, while on the other hand our competitors regard them almost wholly as buyers. The latter would restrict their production for fear of their rivalry, the former, as is shown by Mr. Fearon's statement as to the industrial development of Shanghai, welcome* all development, realising that trade is for mutual advantage and cannot grow when all the profit is on one side.
Unquestionably, if the Anglo-Saxon principle prevails and China is opened to general corimerce, there will be keen competition between Americans and English. Each nationality will have to yield where the other excels it in quality or cheapness. As the Lancashire cotton goods have given place to those from the mills of our Southern States, American goods will have to give way whenever those of the British are better or lower-priced, or both. But it is the secret of Anglo-Saxon pi the world-over, in trade and in war, that the struggle of the race lies not in' avoiding conflict, but in developing' the elements of success on the lines taught by failure. The Briton and the American can afford to unite a struggle for a fair field and un open one, relying each on his capacity to take care of himself when that is gained.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.