The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-11
LORD BERESFORD TALKS
HE ARRIVES IN AMERICA AND Dis
CUSSES CHINESE AFFAIRS.
His Reasons for Believing This COun-
try should support an "Open-DOOr"
Policy in the Orient.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.-The new
Japanese liner America Maru arrived here
to-day from China and Japan via Honolulu,
one day ahead of time. on board the YES
sci was Lord Charles Beresford, admiral of
the British navy The America Maru was
met at the heads by a government tugboat,
bearing a party of distinguished citizens,
who went to welcome the visiting admiral,
who comes to this country in a three-fold
capacity, viz.-as a British statesman, an
officer of the royal navy and commission
er from the Associated Chambers of Com
merce of England. The party landed be-
fore the vessel locked by special permis-
sion, and the admiral was driven to the
Palace Hotel.
Lord Beresford's proposal of an open
door, policy in the Orient has been re-
ceived with great attention throughout the
world and it will likely play a most impor-
tant part in the settlement of the far East
question. In an interview to-day Lord
Beresford said: 1T means simply that, in
stead of spheres of influence, which means
the breaking up of the Chinese empire.
that England America. Germany and
Japan shall by agreement maintain free and
equal commercial relations for all in the
Orient. 1t includes the reorganization of
the Chinese army, differed both as to COM
missioned and nnocommissioned officers by
Europeans; that the Chinese empire may
be properly policed and life and property
made safe. AS it is now, mobs and re-
bellions are liable at any time to destroy
both lives and property, as actually hap
pened not long ago, when about 6,00O,0)0
taels' worth Of property belonging TO the
French mission in western China was de-
stroyed
China must have a revenue, and the
'open-door policy, by guaranteeing order
and uniformity in customs regulations and
tariffs, will provide it in greater abundance
than IL has ever been provided before, be-
sides insuring that it shall not be wasted,
as 1t is now 1t will mean the opening up
of the empire in all its provinces and the
development of it's wonderful resources of
mining and commerce. The returns from
concessions of these natural resources now
lying idle will be a source of great revenue
to the empire.
IF the spheres Of influence policy is al
lowed TO be adopted Russia will, of course.
become all powerful in the north. France
in the south. England, of course, cannot get
everything. Germany will get what she can.
While America will probably get nothing,
for though / think she is destined to be a
great trading nation in the Orient, greater
than Great Britain any other country,
her interests there are now Comparatively
slight and in the scamble it is not likely
that the American people would feel their
interests demanding q struggle for a pOr-
ton of it at this time. But with the open
door equal opportunity for all nations her
commerce is bound to grow. With the
spheres of influence, of course, Russia
would put on preferential tariffs in the
regions she dominated and France would do
the same in her territory. / don't know
whether Germany and England would or
not Thus America would be cut out alto
| gether. or practically SO, from the China
trade and England from all but that she
| dominated. So that America really has more
| interest in the open door than England
| has.
Il go from here to Chicago and New York
| and Washington to get the sentiments of
the boards of trade and chambers of COM
merce there the proposal.
Lord Beresford will remain here for some
time and many receptions have been
| planned for his entertainment On next
| Monday the Chamber of Commerce will give
| the distinguished gentleman u reception and
| he will probably be invited to give his views
| on some of the questions of the day. par
ticular of the condition of the commerce
| in the far East and an opportunity for in
vestment of American money Mayor
Phelan will deliver the address of welcome
! and other well-known San Franciscoans
| will speak.