The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-24
Great Britain and China.

The British Government Is still hating
between the two policies that threaten to
divide the world on the Chinese question.
The Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs
declared in the House OF Commons few
days ago that it had neither abandoned the
open door nor adopted u sphere OF influ-
ence; and, in a sense, this IL true. So far
no market has been closed to British or
American goods. On the contrary, tho
tumult ~ the last two years has opened
new markets and allowed trade to 20
where it never went before. In spite OF the
decrease in opium and the unsettled condi-
tion OF the Celestial Empire, the imports
for 1898 show an increase Of about
$4,000, 900 over the returns OF the preced-
ing year. Looking merely at the statistics
of the matter, Mr.. BRODRICK could easily
maintain that the policy or lack OF policy
of the Government has borne good fruit.
Nevertheless, it IL obvious that British
Ministers speak less confidently now OF
maintaining an open door than they did
when Sir MICHAEL. HICKS BEACH threat
ened war upon any power that should at
tempt TO close It, Lord CHARLES BEREs-
FORD said that he went to China with all
England insisting on equality OF oppor-
tunity," and returned to find all England
busted with spheres Of influence" Lord
CHARLES hns his own telling way Of put
ting things, but there is good deal OF truth
In what he says. It Is fact that the Brit
ish Government, il it has not forsaken the
policy Of an open door, has at least gone
some way toward rountenaucing the policy
OF spheres of Influence. 1t has marked
the provinces bordering on the Yangtse
and practically announced that il will not
allow them to fall into the hands OF another
power. Its recent arrangement with Rus.
sla, whatever may DO its worth, is a move
in the same direction. 1t virtually binds
the British Government not to seek rail
road or mining concessions In Manchura
and lays u similar embargo upon Russian
enterprise in Central China Moreover
England Is taking steps to make her con,
troll OF tho iangtS" an assured reality
pointed with gunboats and river police.
II was this last development Of British
policy that Mr. BRoDRICK dwelt upon with
especial emphasis. As Lord CHARLES BEREs
FORD has proved In his admirable book
tine great need OF merchants trading with
China is security security against pirates
Internal rebe!lions, undue taxation anC
the helpessncss or animosity Of provincial
Niceroys. This security the British Govern
mont has set itself TO obtain by system 81
gunboat gendarmere. The Yangtse is tC
he patroNed regularly both above and be
low the gorgcs by light-draught vessels fol
the protection Of British commerce. Tn,
step we believe to be quite essential II tn,
interior ofChina ever To beopened but |,
is hard to see how 1t can be reconciled will
the negative attitude OF the open dooI
policy. 1t is much more likely to be tn,
beginning of an Intervention that will no
cease till the fangtse Valley becomes al
much British possession as Egypt
1t is clear that even after these man,
months OF agitation We are still only OF
The threshold OF the Chinese difficulty. Tn,
real crisis Is still to come. and whatever b.
i's outcome no country can afford to re