The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-19
China TRADE POLICY
LORD BEREsFORD OUTLINES PLANS
FOR OPENING THE
ORIENT
PURELY A COMMERCIAL IDEA
No Suggestion of an Alliance, Of
fensive and Defensive, Between
America and Great Britain-En-
glishman Admits the FaIIacy of
Such a Proposition, and Is Greet
ed With Cheers.

CHICAGO, Feb. 18.-Lord Charles
Beresford was tonight. the guest of
honor at banquet given by the Com
merclal club, at which 600 Of the lead
ing business and professional men of
the city were present, The banquet
was one of the most elegant affairs of
the kind Chicago has ever seen, and
the visitor was given a welcome such
as has seldom been extended to any
visitor. Lord Charles was introduced
by Cyrus H. Mccormick, in a neat
speech, and when the distinguished
Englishman rose to make his address
he was for moment overcome by the
cheers that greeted him. He recovered
quickly, however, and bowling repeat
edly in acknowledgment Of the warmth
Of the welcome extended to him. spoke
as follows:
My suggestion is this: First and foremost,
1t Is necessary for commercial enterprise and
Industry and investment that China should
hold open the door all through that empire.
The open door means merely that the treaties
as they exist should be held to now as ait
this moment. and not altered. All existing
treaties are that no country is to annex ter
ritory, no country is to have sovereign rights
know, fair field and no favor to all nations.
That policy has always been the policy of
Great Britain.
Now as to the quality of the Chinese as
soldlers-I don't think there are any people
in the world who have got as good char
acteT1St1cS es soldiers the Chinese But
they have only got in the whole of China
1000 men who can be called disciplined men.
and they are drilled by the Germans. They
are all that can be called an army at all
The Others would be all right If drilled by
competent instructors. They could have q
most efficient army in every detail or an
army OF 20o000 men on the money now spent
ARMY OF DEFENSE.
My proposition is merely that we should
lend officers and men to put this army in
order as Chinese army for the benefit Of the
Chinese for the benefit of their trade and the
security OF the trade Of those countries that
at present do trade with China, and also to
help the future development Of trade with
those countries who now trade with China.
There have been remarks made as to this
question OF AN alliance. I have never said
nor Will l say or think of saying that Amer
lea and Great Britain should have an alliance
for offense or defense. 1t would be a most
stupid thing to say. Fancy If Great Britain
had some bother in Europe. What business
is that the Americans? do not suppose you
people would think Of going to war about
some question like that What | meant was
sort of commercial understanding with re-
garo to China alone, and with regard to the
trade and commerce in China alone. In order
that we should keep the open door and in
order that we should help China herself, and
help us In helping China. That is ALL The
question OF creating the fleets and the armies
and all that sort Of thing and making re-
marks that might be held as Irritating to
the ether two great powere is very far IRON
my wish.
GREETED WITH APPLAUSE.
The speech was received with fire.
quent outbursts of applause, and as
he resumed his seat the cheering con-
tinued some minutes.
Hon: George e. Adams, Of Chicago,
then rose to make the formal reply to
the address Of Lord Charles. The talk
Of Mr.. Adams was filled with neat
things addressed personally to theguest
of the evening, and although advocat-
Ing the open door, In China, and I'LL
ed with expressions Of friendship to-
ward England, was against the idea
of formal alliance between the Unit
ed States and any power of the old
world
After Mr-Adams had spoken several
other addresses were made, nearly all
of them in the same general trend as
that Of Mr.. Adams.
This morning Sir Charles paid visit
to the board Of trade. where he was
given welcome that exceeded in noise
anything that he has heard since ar
irving in the United States. Business
was suspended on the floor, and he was
escorted by President Lyon to the visi-
tors gallery, between two lines Of
cheering and shouting brokers.