Page:Dramatic Moments in American Diplomacy (1918).djvu/207

Rh ate and reasonable interpretation of the old ones. The existing treaties had been gained by force and threats. It was obvious that they would be executed by the same methods, over the dead bodies of a million Chinese. True to his trust he was representing China but his statesmanlike conception went much further than that. Even from the selfish point of view of "National Interest," the one maxim of diplomacy of the era, the practice of encroaching upon China held a deadly peril. It insured ultimate friction and war between the boodlers. The "Harpie Nations" would shortly and surely come to blows over the booty—ending in none could guess what wide conflagration.

Of course this argument and policy produced a storm of protest, ridicule, and fight from those depending upon guns to expand their business, and also from the "Imperialists" of all nations. Dreams of great "spheres of influence" in the East filled the minds of continental statesmen.