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er superficial in many cases； had influenced the European powers； particularly since the time of the Holy Alliance。 Accustomed to clothe their actions in the garb of humanitarianism； they were not； when caught thus red…handed； prepared to be a mark of scorn for the rest of the world。 The cult of unabashed might was still a closet philosophy which even Germany； its chief devotee； was not yet ready to avow to the world。 Of course Hay knew that the battle was not won； for the bandits still held the booty。 He was too wise to attempt to wrench it from them； for that indeed would have meant battle for which the United States was not prepared in military strength or popular intention。 He had merely pledged these countries to use their acquisitions for the general good。 Though the promises meant little in themselves； to have exacted them was an initial step toward victory。
In the meantime the penetration of foreign influences into China was producing a reaction。 A wave of protest against the 〃foreign devils〃 swept through the population and acquired intensity from the acts of fanatic religious leaders。 That strange character； the Dowager Empress； yielded to the 〃Boxers；〃 who obtained possession of Pekin； cut off the foreigners from the outside world； and besieged them in the legations。 That some such movement was inevitable must have been apparent to many European statesmen； and that it would give them occasion； by interference and punishment； to solidify their 〃spheres of influence〃 must have occurred to them。 The 〃open door〃 was in as immediate peril as were the diplomats in Pekin。
Secretary Hay did not； however； yield to these altered circumstances。 Instead； he built upon the leadership which he had assumed。 He promptly accepted the international responsibility which the emergency called for。 The United States at once agreed to take its share； in cooperation with the Great Powers； in whatever measures should be judged necessary。 The first obvious measure was to relieve the foreign ministers who were besieged in Pekin。 American assistance was active and immediate。 By the efforts of the American Government； communication with the legations was opened； the American naval forces were soon at Tientsin； the port of Pekin； and five or six thousand troops were hastily sent from the Philippines。 The United States therefore bore its full proportion of the task。 The largest contingent of the land forces was； indeed； from Germany； and the command of the whole undertaking was by agreement given to the German commander； Graf von Waldersee。 Owing； however； to his remoteness from the scene of action； he did not arrive until after Pekin had been reached and the relief of the legations； which was the first if not the main object of the expedition； had been accomplished。 After this； the resistance of the Chinese greatly decreased and the country was practically at the mercy of the concert of powers。
By thus bearing its share in the responsibilities of the situation； the United States had won a vote in determining the result。 Secretary Hay； however； had not waited for the military outcome； and he aimed not at a vote in the concert of powers but at its leadership。 While the international expedition was gathering its forces； he announced in a circular note that 〃the policy of the Government of the United States is to seek a solution which may bring about permanent safety and peace to China； preserve Chinese territorial and administrative entity； protect all rights guaranteed to friendly powers by treaty and international law； and safeguard for the world the principle of equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese Empire。〃 To this position he requested the powers to assent。
Again Hay had hit upon a formula which no self…respecting power could deny。 Receiving from practically all a statement of their purpose to preserve the 〃integrity〃 of China and the 〃Open Door〃 just when they were launching the greatest military movement ever undertaken in the Far East by the western world； he made it impossible to turn punishment into destruction and partition。 The legations were saved and so was China。 After complicated negotiations an agreement was reached which exacted heavy pecuniary penalties； and in the case of Germany； whose minister had been assassinated； a conspicuous and what was intended to be an enduring record of the crime and its punishment。 China； however； remained a nationwith its door open。
Once more in 1904 the fate of China； and in fact that of the whole Far East； was thrown into the ring。 Japan and Russia entered into a war which had practically no cause except the collision of their advancing interests in Chinese territory。 Every land battle of the war； except those of the Saghalien campaign； was fought in China； Chinese ports were blockaded； Chinese waters were filled with enemy mines and torpedoes； and the prize was Chinese territory or territory recently taken from her。 To deny these facts was impossible； to admit them seemed to involve the disintegration of the empire。 Here again Secretary Hay； devising a middle course； gained by his promptness of action the prestige of having been the first to speak。 On February 8； 1904； he asked Germany； Great Britain； and France to join with the United States in requesting Japan and Russia to recognize the neutrality of China； and to localize hostilities within fixed limits。 On January 10； 1905； remembering how the victory of Japan in 1894 had brought compensatory grants to all the powers； he sent out a circular note expressing the hope on the part of the American Government that the war would not result in any 〃concession of Chinese territory to neutral powers。〃 Accustomed now to these invitations which decency forbade them to refuse； all the powers assented to this suggestion。 The results of the war； therefore； were confined to Manchuria； and Japan promised that her occupation of that province should be temporary and that commercial opportunity therein should be the same for all。 The culmination of American prestige came with President Roosevelt's offer of the good offices of the United States； on June 8； 1905。 As a result； peace negotiations were concluded in the Treaty of Portsmouth （New Hampshire） in 1905。 For this conspicuous service to the cause of peace President Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel prize。
Secretary Hay had therefore； in the seven years following the real arrival of the United States in the Far East； evolved a policy which was clear and definite； and one which appealed to the American people。 While it constituted a variation from the precise methods laid down by President Monroe in 1823； in that it involved concerted and equal cooperation with the great powers of the world； Hay's policy rested upon the same fundamental bases： a belief in the fundamental right of nations to determine their own government； and the reduction to a minimum of intervention by foreign powers。 To have refused to recognize intervention at all would have been； under the circumstances； to abandon China to her fate。 In protecting its own right to trade with her； the United States protected the integrity of China。 Hay had； moreover； so ably conducted the actual negotiations that the United States enjoyed for the moment the leadership in the concert of powers and exercised an authority more in accord with her potential than with her actual strength。 Secretary Hay's death in 1905 brought American leadership to an end； for； though his policies continued to be avowed by all concerned； their application was thereafter restricted。 The integrity of Chinese territory was threatened； though not actually violated； by the action of Great Britain in Tibet and of Japan in Manchuria。 Japan； recognized as a major power since her war with Russia； seemed in the opinion of many to leave but a crack of the door open in Manchuria； and her relationship with the United States grew difficult as she resented more and more certain discriminations against her citizens which she professed to find in the laws of some of the American States； particularly in those of California。
In 1908 Elihu Root； who succeeded Hay as Secretary of State； effected an understanding with Japan。 Adopting a method which has become rather habitual in the relationship between the United States and Japan； Root and the Japanese ambassador exchanged notes。 In these they both pointed out that their object was the peaceful development of their commerce in the Pacific； that 〃the policy of both governments； uninfluenced by any aggressive tendencies； is directed to the maintenance of the existing status quo in the region above mentioned； and to the defense of the principle of equal opportunity for commerce and industry in China〃； that they both stood for the independence and integrity of China； and that； should any event threaten the stability of existing conditions； 〃it remained for the two governments to communicate with each other in order to arrive at an understanding as to what measures they may consider it useful to take。〃
The immigration problem between Japan and the United States was even more serious than that of the open door and the integrity of China。 The teeming population of Japan was swarming beyond her island empire； and Korea and Manchu