Preliminary to this alliance we must
foster an interchange of the products
of the two countries. We produce
some things that we want, and do not
know but we need your products, and
wish to know more about them."
"Will Japan at once seek control of
the Chinese railways south of Peking?"
was asked.
"For the present, 1 think we have*
enough on our hands with the Man
churian railway which the peace treaty
gives us, and the Korean system which
is being pushed to completion.
"Japan, and the United States will
be strong friends," said the baron.
"Wars are fought for commerce, peace
is made for commerce. A commercial
alliance is the strongest of all al
liances."
Considerable attention is also certain
to be directed by Americans toward
Manchuria and other parts of China,
now that the peace negotiations be
tween Russia and Japan are concluded.
It is the opinion of the government of
ficials that the conclusion of the war in
the far East gives the United States an
excellent opportunity for the extension
of trade in China.
The reasons given fer these hopes in
clude the fact that the United StatW,
through the initiative and active ef
forts of President Rossevelt, has been
placed in an enviable position before
all nations also, the terms of the peace
arrangements are such that the open
door policy, for which the fate secre
tary Hay contended, is to be maintain
ed by both Japan and Russia, in so far
as these nations shall operate in Man
churia.
