The times., 1899-02-23
BERESFoRD'S MISSION.
Advocating the "Open Door, Policy
as Concerns China.


Lord Charles Beresford one of England,s
greatest naval commanders and ablest
dlpiomats whose trip across the continent
from San Francisco to Washington has
made for him more friends than any fell
low-countryman OF his ever acquired dur
ing a similar tour, gave an interview to a
Times reporter yesterday afternoon in his
apartments in the Shoreham Hotel Lord
Charles desired to correct certain err
roneous impressions which had been given
by previously published interviews in the
East
Briefly stated, Lord Charles said his
mission was, first, to enquire into Brit
lsh trade and commerce in China; second
to see how British trade could be devel-
oped; third, to see what security there was
in the way of army and police protection
for present British trade and its further
development
As / found out that the Chinese trade
was held by the four countries, Great Brit
ain. America, Germany, and Japan" he
said. i concluded that those four nations
should help China to maintain her in
tegrity and prevent her dissolution by aid
ing in the reorganization of her army and
the restoration of conditions which will
insure the preservation of law and order
Those two things are the first essentials
in the preservation of a nation, and they
are rapidly disappearing in China because
there is no army and no efficient police.
Il suggest those four countries because
they possess the trade of China. do not
exclude France and Russia from partici-
patton in the championship OF the open
door in China for any other reason than
that they do not possess any trade there.
There is no question of taking charge in
China. We should look TO our own trade
and commerce, and | do not pit the four
nations against France and Russia. My
proposal. which will necessitate the open
ing up of China. will give France and
Russia a trade which they do not now pos
sess | have suggested that the four coun-
tries go to the help of China and aid her
to get on her feet again, that Russia. Ger
many. and France, as well as America,
might not say that England wants to ar
rogate to herself any undue share of the
prosperity TO all nations which will be the
result of the open door The object OF
it is the trade Of all nations. and there is
no selfish motive.
so far as the partition of China by
France and Russia is concerned. | have
never intimated that such a thing is possi-
BILE. 1t could not happen. for. if China
should fall to pieces by reason of her own
effeteness all the nations OF Europe would
take part in her division; all would jump
after territory, and then there would be
war. II is to prevent this that | advocate
the open door
Il wish TO correct the impression that
l am here as representative Of the Brit
ish government. / am not an accredited
agent of Great Britain in this matter. and
| only speak of these conditions as one
man to many. The chambers of commerce
of England gave me carte blanche to find
out what could be done to further Brit
ish trade. and as | found out that the Chi
nese trade was held by the four countries
named. / came home through Japan and
America to ascertain what the CONNER
cial communities thought of the open door.
Although | came to this country to get
their views. they made me give mine, and
| have suggested this thing way out
of difficult problem