File No. 893.00/1154.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Peking, February 12, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the international situation here is critical, and at times very much strained. Despite the concerted action agreed upon, there is much jealousy and suspicion of each other manifested by the representatives of the six leading powers. The tendency seems to be for the English and Japanese to work together, and the intimacy between the French and Russians is marked. These combinations are, for many reasons, to be expected, but they leave the Germans and the Americans very much to them selves. * * *
All of the powers are more or less suspicious of the Americans. They seem to think we have some exclusive or personal policy in mind; that our professions of altruism are a mere blind; and that we hope or intend, somehow or somewhere, to secure an advantage, either in prestige or substance, in which the rest will have no share. * * * It was all right so long as we released indemnities, educated Chinese youth at home, and sent missionaries to China. But when we rather forcibly injected ourselves into the Hukuang loan, tried to neutralize the Manchurian railways, proposed to build the Chinchow-Aigun railway, and finally negotiated a preliminary contract for the currency loan, we were then and are now believed to entertain an [Page 65] active and aggressive policy, which is competitive if not hostile to all other foreign interests in China. * * *
It is therefore probable that for some time to come American influence in China will be obstructed in every way possible. It is not enough that the Chinese people may be friendly to us. They have been, and doubtless will continue to be, the subject of foreign coercion of one kind and another that deprives them of freedom of action. They will not dare to oppose either Russia or Japan. They know that all the support we can give them is sentimental and philanthropical in its character. * * *
If the necessities of market conditions once came home to the American people in such a way as to make them support a national policy in the Far East that insured the “open door” and equal opportunities, the attitude of other nations toward us might be very different. As it is, we are comparatively helpless. Diplomacy, however astute, however beneficent and altruistic it may be, if it is not supported by the force which not only commands but demands respect and consideration, will avail but little.
I have [etc.]