New-York tribune., 1898-12-26
"OPEN AND SHUT" IN CHINA

Announcement was made last week that Mr..
Conger. the United States Minister at Picking.
had made a vigorous protest to the Chinese
Government against the proposed extension Of
French jurisdiction at Shanghai The British
Government has done the same and thus it
is hoped the Pekng Administration will be
persuaded, encouraged or what not, to keep
at least the great central door of the empire
open on equal terms to all friendly callers. The
French are not, OF course, to be excluded from
Shanghai. But the material extension Of any
exclusive holding or jurisdiction by any one
Power there could scarcely fail to be detrimen-
tai TO the interests Of all others. The partition
of China has already proceeded far enough In
present circumstances If II is to be carried
further. the two Powers whose interests there
are by far the greatest are surely entitled to
speak their words and to take their shares.
But it does not seem either necessary or de-
sirablc that there should be any further par
tition. The Chinese Empire, if justly treated,
is well able to stand alone. and we believe 1t
will be to the interest Of Europe and America
thus to let 1t stand.
The northern part Of China is already pretty
well disposed Of. Practically IL belongs 10
Russia. and there Is little hope That the open
door policy Will be maintained there In fact,
notice of the closing Of the door is already
practically given. The great port of Taen-
Wan has become a Russian port. with exclusive
privileges for Russia. Ncw-Chwang. although
a treaty port. seems destined to the same fate
All through Leao-Tong, Sheng King Kirin and
Manchuria Russia Is to have monopoly OF con-
troll. OF occupation and Of business develop
mcnt. With that policy there Is no disposition
to quarrel. Russia needed an ice-free outlet
on the Pacific. and she has got it, II In get
ting It she closes all doors north and east Of
Ten-Tsin the latter circumstance may be re-
grettcd. but it Is cause for quarrel nor for
serious concern. There Is n good deal left OF
China south Of the Pei-Ho. And If such ex
elusive acquisition Of Northeastern China shall
satisfy Russia's by no means unreasonable de-
sire for access to the open sea, and thus mark
4 cessation Of aggression and an access Of pros
perity on the part Of the Northern Empire those
will be results in which we may all rejoice.
Upon the peninsula between the Gulf of Pc
Chi-Ii and the Yellow Sea. two other Powers
are planted. Great Britain has Wel-Hai-We
She Will not close the door there. But then
that door is small and unmportant one.
Wci-Hai-Wel Is not and never can become a
great commercial port such as Shanghai is and
such as Tallen-Wan will be. 1t may be made
an important naval station. n sort OF second
Gibraltar, but that is all. Germany has taken
Kao-C hau, and will not close the door there
And II is a large and important door, and may
one OF these days rank among the best In all
China. That Germany has seized the place is
cause for hearty satisfaction. The Kaiser has
been criticised unfavorably for 1t, but we be-
lleve without good reason. BY stretching forth
his mailed hand" and wrestling n port. n city
and bit Of territory from China by way Of
reprisals for n crime against humanity he
taught the Chinese Government a sautary and
much needed lesson. and made the lives and
property of all foreigners in Chna-t;ermans
and Americans, missionaries and traders, all
alike-far safer than they were before. For
that service he is entitled not TO grudgings, but
to gratitude.
| II now turn TO the far south find the
island Of Hong Kong and the adjacent main
| land under the British flag. Mncao belonging
TO Portugal: and then all south and west as
far as the Saiwin River. within the French
sphere Of influence. II Will not be surprising
TO see Hainan and the southern parts OF Yum
Nan and Kwang-Si practically annexed TO Ton
! auin; nor does It at present appear that any
strenuous objection would bs made thereto.