The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-28
THAT "OPEN DOOR" POLICY
The Phrase is Of Limited ApplIeation-Ths
Matter las Been Completely SIIsundsr.
stood by Iho Foreign Newspapers.

The Phrase 10 0f Limlted Applleation-The
Matter las Been Completely 8Ilaunder.
stood by tho Foreign Newspapers.
WASHINGTON. Nov 27.-Adminis-
tratlon officers do not expect that the
so-called open door" policy viii take
an important position In the discussions
OF the coming session of Congress, but
believe debate on this matter will walt
on final disposition of the Philippines.
A prominent official to-day said;
''The phrase open door Is Of limited
application, and has been used only with
reference to the possessions Of the Euro
pean powers on tho east coast Of Asia.
Originating in the treaty or 'opea' port
Of China and Japan, the words have
been extended to cover ports which Chi
ma has leased or surrendered to foreign
powers. The phrase means that in such
ports the allen government has in fact
imposed no determinations In tariff or
navigation charges against imports or
vessels OF other countries, but has treat
ed them on the same plane as Its own
imports and Its own vessels, In other
words foreign powers holding Chinese
ports by seizure or treaty have merely
announced that they will keep open such
ports In the same manner that China
has opened certain free ports to the
commerce OF nations without discrimina-
tlon or favor. The open door policy
has been politically obligatory as the re-
verse policy would be In direct hostility
to the purpose OF civilized nations, stead
lily pursued for years and concurred in
by China, Of opening the Aslatic trade to
commerce.
'The phrase open door has no perth
nence to the western hemisphere and no
relevancy to the West Indies. The mat
ter has been completely misunderstood
by foreign newspapers giving the phrase
an application to this continent. The
United States restricts trade between
ports to American vessels, precisely as
the Dominion of Cahada restricts trade
to British vessels between Canadian
ports Under the British law any ma
tIon which elects to allow British ves-
sells to engage In It's coastinE trade can
obtain the privilege 0f entering the
coasting trade of Canada. The United
States has never availed itself Of this
opportunity, holding that the privilege to
he granted Is very much more valuable
than the privilege TO be obtained.
"The restriction OF trade between the
United States and Porto Rico to Ameri-
can vessels Is based on the policy which
the United States has always followed
under all administrations, fact OVER
looked by the European press. There
seems to be no disposition here to
change this policy In this sphere. from
the mere fact that by the possession OF
the Philippines the United States must
determine whether Il will follow the
open door policy OF other nations with
possessions by seizure or concession on
the east coast OF Asia, Commercially
the restriction OF the trade between the
United States and Porto Rico is OF relh-
lively little moment as the direct COM
merce Is very small and Is absorbed by
American and Canadian vessels. Tho
value Of Porto Rico is as a fulcrum for
the development OF American commerce
In tho West 1ndles,"