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THE MONROE AND ANOTHER
DOCTRINE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 4th October). Something like a sensation was produced in Europe by President ROOSEVELT's speech at Augusta, Maine, at the end of August. Yet there was nothing sensational about the speech, and the effect it had, above all in Germany and Austria, seems due to a total misreading of the United States President's meaning. The Neue Freie Press of Vienna," with its talk of a mammoth trumpet- blast," "the thunderbolt,' "ROOSEVELT'S
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bony fist shaken in England's face," is ouly typical of the attitude of a number of the Austro- German newspapers. The Vienna correspondent of the Times puts it down to "the mot d'ordre given to the German Press respecting the United States and Great Britain, to set these two Powers by the cars. If this be so, the scheme has cutirely failed, for the British and American Press did not rise to the occasion as desired. Mr. CHAUNCEY DEPEW, the noted after- dinner orator, probably made an approxi- mately right expression on the situation when he said that England regards the MONROE doctrine as a wise policy, while the Continent of urope spurns it as insolent, arrogant, and untenable. There is, we are well aware, a small section in England which by no means looks with favour on the late developments of the MONROE doctrine; some indeed even see the bony fist" of President ROOSEVELT, as pictured by the Neue Freie Press. But such views find no sympathy in the present Government and even less among the Opposition of to-day The Times in a leading article on President ROOSEVELT'S Augusta speech put forward the view of Monroeism-as the word has been already coined we need not apologise for its use which is most widely held at home. As the doctrine is defined by President ROOSEVELT, says the Times, "it is "a policy to which this country has no "right to take exception, and which we have "no interest in obstructing. The title to "our own possessions on the American con- tinent and our right to colonise them are not, and cannot be, called in question by anybody. We have no reason to object "to the protest of the United States against the acquisition of new territorial rights in North or South America by any European l'owers. That is not a principle of international law, but a question of "policy, and one upon which every Govern- "ment has an indisputable claim to take
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"its own line."
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喜求
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[October 6, 1902
pressure brought to bear on it to consent to in xt step will be the evacuation, by the 8th annex South-eastern Nev Guinea and the October, of Lower Manchuria, which Russia Louisiade Archipelago. The most recent has just reaffirmed her intention of carrying writer on this subject, Mr. A. R. COL- out. Whoever it was that started the tale Pacific: QUHOUN, says in his book The Mastery of the some months ago of Count CASSINI inform- It is usually said that the desire ing the Washington Government that "to protect the natives of New Guinea Manchuria's evacuation had alrea·ly been against foreigners was the chief motive completed, was a humorist whose object, for British annexation, but the real reason
if any, it is impossible to divine. Russia was the pressure brought to hear by the is only bound by her agreement with China Australian colonists, and the story is an --the last of the Manchurian Conventions "instructive one as showing the divergence and the only genuine one-to withdraw her of view in such a question between the troops in the south-western part of Monkden "colonies and the mother country. Now
as far as the Liao River by the eighth "that Australia is practically free to pursue day of next month. The first proof an independent policy we may expect of Russia's good faith will be anxiously some very different line of action. The awaited. We have always been among New Guinea question, coupled with that of those who have preferred to wait for New Caledonia, first gathered the colonies Russia's performances rather than, like the into a Federal Council, and helped greatly champions of close Auglo-Russian friend- to pave the way for the Commonwealth." ship, to be charmed at her promises. The As we have seen recently, the question of past annals of Russian history do not the New Hebrides, at present under joint furcis any ground for the amiable ex- British and French protection, is anxiously pectations of the pro-Russians; very much regarded by the colonists, and any disposi- to the contrary. Nor have there been seen tion at home to allow French energy to go of late indications of a revolution in Russian too far will certainly be checked by the methods. The honest retrocession of the Australians' vigilance. The growth of specified portion of Manchuria on the 8th Australia has entirely altered the situation proximio would do some hing to rehabilitate in south-western Pacific waters, and it the damaged name of Russian diplomacy, must be the voices of Australia and New though it is true that all along there has Zealand that will settle the destiny of that been a hint of secret conditions behind the part of the.Ocean, as certainly as the United Manchurian agreement. It must be re- States must be the predominant voice on membered, too, that in spite of the strength the American continent. And as the of Russia's position in the actual possession MONROE doctrine, interpreted in its best of Manchuria in retaining the territory in sense, makes not for agression on the part defiance, of the other Powers interested she of the United States but against agression would have had a far more difficult task than by European Powers on the search for new colonies, so the Australian version of the across Northern Asia. In 1860, General in the previous record of her advance idea will not seek for the violent disposses- IGNATIEFF, when he negotiated the cession of sion of those who are already established Primorsk, had but an insignificant opponent but for the prevention of further laud-to deal with. Practically Lord ELGIN grabbing in the neighbourhood of the great was a nouentity, whose only anxiety was to Southern continent. the day to be far
We do not believe get away from his post with all the speed distant when the he could, and he troubled himself but little Australians will enunciate their policy in as to what his polite fellow-diplomat was this respect as clearly as the United States about; but even so, the Russian ministry of have put forward that doctrine which owes the day would at once have repudiated its origin to and takes its name from Mr. IGNATIEFF had the slightest_complaint MONROE.
been made. So in 1895, when Russia pre- sumed to dictate to Japan the retrocession of Liaotung, she had already made affairs square with Germany; and the foreign councils of England were guided by the weak-kuced and impressionable Lord KIM- BERLEY. She is confronted by different opponents in 1902, and Count LAMADORFF has had a task very dissimilar from his predecessors'. The advent into the circle of the Great Powers of Japan, whose interest in Manchurit can in no way be denied, and the conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese Agreement alone have radically altered the
MANCHURIA,
(Daily Press, 30th September.) The news of the actual handing over to China by Ru-sia of the Newchwang railway, as the section of the line up to now in Russian possession may be called, will be received with relief, for it seemed almost certain that some new obstacle would be found to lie in the way of the fulfilment of The interest taken by the Far East in the promise.
A Peking telegram less than the MONROE doctrine is only indirect. As a fortnight old reported that M. LESSAR, far as the doctrine affects Great Britain, it the Russian Minister, had put in a clain, may arouse a certain conceru iu all British consisting of seven clauses, for compensa- colonies, but this concern is hardly personal. tion for the restoratio of the line; that the There is, however, an idea analogous to Chinese Government failed to forward an
for the attention at least of all British suggested that the restoration of the railway that of the MONROE doctrine which calls immediate reply ani Russi thereupon possessions in this part of the world, and should be deferred until she got a reply; that is the attitude of the Australian Com- and that the Chinese subsequently acced monwealth with respect to the neighbour to the Russian demand and it was arranged ing Pacific islands. Nor is this exactly a that the document should be signed on the novel idea. It is over twenty years old. 7th October. Of course this story might be The contemplated German annexation of true, but the fact that the railway was New Guinea at the beginning of the restored to China on the 26th instaut is eighties" first gave it definite form. The against it, for it is unlike Russian policy to British Government was then indifferent to give up the substance for the shadow of a such a proceeding on the part of Germany, promise. Moreover, the restoration of the but not so the Australian colonists. Queens-line from Peking was one of the conditions land went so far as to send agents to take possession of New Guinea in the name of Great Britain, and the other colonies approved this step. Though the home Government had no sympathy with the Australians' action, it was forced by the
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which the Powers granted to China when peace was made. The handing over of the British section yesterday, described in our Shanghai telegram to-day, should complete the incident and remove a possible source of friction between the Allies of 1900. The
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whole balance of affairs in North-East Asia. There are, it is true, already both in Britain and Japan people who, never having liked
motives, however, are too plain for their the Alliance, are seeking to make out that it is rapidly lessening in popularity. Their statements to do harm. The effect of the Anglo-Japanese union is as strong as ever, and it is safe to say that a very different state of things would be prevailing now in the North, had the agreement never been brought about.
The Japanese trade commissioners have com- pleted a four months' tour in south Africa, and will sail shortly for England. They anticipate the establishment of a large trade in Japanese goods, especially at Johannesburg. The obstacle being the absence of direct ship- ping facilities, the Japanese Government will, on receipt of the commissioners' report, arrange this matter. Only articles suited to the market will be sent out.
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