Show I CONDITIONS AND TRADE OF ASIA The deeper meaning of Russias apparent ap-parent inconsistent course toward China during the troubles of the past two years is made clear by an article in the Forum by W C Jamieson Herd The Political and Commercial Future of Asia After showing the persistent aggressions and conquests in Asia by Russia for more than 200 years and I thc tremendous extent of them he conies to the attitude of Russia in the recent troubles Russia was always found to be on the side of lenity always al-ways found as the guard and protector of Chinese integrity always wanted to minimize the demands of the powers and to hold China as blameless as possible pos-sible and exempt that country from severe damages or penalties This posture pos-ture of friendship was Inexplicable until it was found that Russia under that guise of friendship was absorbing Manchuria Then the powers entered Into the guarantee of the Integrity of the Chinese empire and the Russian attitude at-titude changed From the friend of China the Czars representatives at once became the most exacting taskmasters they wanted their claims swelled and the terms made rigorous This was evidently for the purpose of forcing a secret treaty assuring RusSian I Rus-sian control of Manchuria in spite of I the guarantee of the powers a guarantee guaran-tee In which Russia Joined But It Is shown that In her long career of conquest con-quest In Asia greed has been Russias motive and duplicity false pretenses and treachery her very good servants She can trust to time and opportunity to abate the effectual opposition of the powers to her designs on the province she has now In practical occupancy and hopes to keep What powers will put themselves out to oust her from Manchuria Man-churia Not the United States which has no reason for armed interference not Germany which could hardly make effective opposition and which could console herself so much easier and more cheaply by further annexation In ShanTung Shan-Tung not France whjoh has no interest I inter-est in Manchuria but which could be rewarded for complaisance by extensions exten-sions of Tonquln boundaries in southern south-ern China not Austria or Italy which < 0 are powerless Japan could do nothing against Russians swarming hosts After the fierceness cools down a little it would be Russia and China face to face with China In no condition to resjot That would leave Great Britain practically practi-cally as the sole guarantor or Chinas integrity But Russia has so many points of approach upon British inter eats In Asia that the defense would be both difficult and at a disadvantage Russia dominant I Jn Persia and must sooner or later absorb that ancient country she is pressing Afghanistan with a force that Is never relaxed and the object In that quarter is obviously an attack upon India Further cast ward Russia has all tho Turkoman and I I North Hln ala n tribes in her service I clear to the Chinese border and could i I loose these either upon India or China Hls i I likely that We shall next hear of Russian aggressions on the western and northwestern provinces owing more or less allegiance to China The failure ot Grejt Britain to uhcclc these advances addxcuormouBly to Ruflaja I lirestlse and dVpVcases correspondingly that of the British and In the final Struggle for India and China prestige Will count cnormoufcly If Russia Is finally 1 able to openly absorb Man r k churl then Mongolia and Chlhll Itself It-self may not escape and finally all Asia except here and there a British German Ger-man or French outpost t will bo Russian Rus-sian But what Interest has the United States In all this A very great stake we have the extension of our trade Wherever Great Britain rules our trade opportunities are open and free Wherever Wher-ever Russia rules there Is an embargo In favor of Russian trade and at anytime any-time we can be restricted barred out altogether that is our interest and In I the Interest of our export trade which should before long dominate the I world we want the nations to remain substantially as they are China Independent Inde-pendent and buying our flour cotton grain and manufactures as soon as her Industries arc revived and extended and India taking our silver our locomotives loco-motives bridges and steel products in every form We are for trade with all and opposed to absorption that will Shut us out from trade that we con and ought legitimately to control I |