The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-15
THE OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.
Lord Bcresford's Report to the As
sociated Chambers of Commerce.

III Y tnt udtN OF AHiS year the fiHllUk ulSH-
ed British nobleman and member of Par
Lament, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford.
passed through the United states on his
way from China TO England. He had been
studying the questions of commerce and
trade OF Great Britain and the whole An
glo-Saxon race with China, at the request
of the Associated Chambers of Commerce
of Great Britain He landed in San Fran
| cisco on Feb 10, and sailed from New York
on March 3. During this short months
| stay in this country he was entertained
by the Chambers of Commerce and the
| commercial clubs of San Francisco. Chi
cago Buffalo and New York, aud was in
vited TO visit most of the important cities
of this country by the business men OF
these commercial centers His limited
| time, however, prevented this.
| Since his return to England he has been
| employed upon the work of drawing up
! his report to the Associated Chambers Of
Commerce, and this work is Just now pub
lished under the title of THE Break-Up
of China, in one volume, by Messrs. Har.
| per q Bros. Without question, this book
marks a new epoch in the much-discussed
| question of trade in the Far East because
for the first time the people of the United
| States have set before them "A calm
straightforward statement of the situation
| in the East to-day of che difficulties that
| beset the foreign merchant in China, ana
! of the close connection that exists there
! between diplomatic and politca. affairs.
Lord Beresford visited the principal cit
| les along the Chinese coast. In almost eV-
cry instance he was received by the vice
roy of the province. who not only ex-
| pressed his opinion on commercial and ro-
! litcial matters, but almost Invariably al
lowed the British admiral 10 visit the ar
| senals naVyyards, and barrack of the
| Chinese troops, and requested him to write
| his opinion of the condition of the army
and navy. The author, after making in
| quiries, receiving opinions, and talking
with British, American, and German mer-
| chants In the different cities is of the
| opinion that unless the policy of "the
| open door" Is enforced In China i'm the
near future, IL is more than probable that
| the Chinese empire win be completely
| broken up ana partitioned among the Eu-
| ropean powers. The Observation-Disclosures
method of partiuoning China is, in his
opinion dangerous, since 1t constantly
| causes international complications which
| disturb trade To-day France Germany.
! and Russia are all In possession of GER
tain portions of the Chinese empire, each
! OF which portion is under what is called
! the Influence of its government-that is
! trade with that particular territory is
/
! slams. as the case may be. If this policy
is enlarged, there are many difficulties
| likely TO follow, not the least OF will be
strained relations between the E,uropean
powers, not only in regard to commerce
and trade, but in the matters of bounda-
ries and of government on the other
hand is the integrity Of the Chinese en-
plre is maintained, and the entire country
thrown open to the trade OF ali nations,
| the resources of China are likely to bene-
fit the whole world
The authors recommendation is. there
fore that some method be adopted by
which the Chinese army shall be organ
lied under one head, drilled and trained
| by European officers, and fitted to main
tain order and protect personal property
and life, whether of foreigners or natives,
within the Empire, and that the mer-
chants Of any or all nations be allowed
equal rights 10 carry on commerce and
trade with al others as in the Civilized
countries Of the earth. He sees less need
for the increase and training of the navy
as the difficulties and hinderances to com
merce in China to-day are Internal rather
than external. These hinderances are
classified by the reports received from
Chinese officials and foreign residents I'M
der the general heads of antiquated Chi
nese systems of duties and tolls exacied
on all The rivers. running from one prov
ince to another and along the coast; the
extraordinary amount of piracy which
fourishes on all Ihe waterways; the diff
hculty Of receiving fair treatment at the
hands of the Chinese inhabitants, who dis
trust any plans for increasing trade; and
the political complications arising from
the control Of special territories by Euro
pean powers. At Marking, for instance
the Viceroy, Liu Kwen VI, gave the fol-
lowing reasons for the difficulty Of trade
under the present situation, and the prob
abihty OF disturbances In the future:
l. That the iikn collectorates had been
taken away from the finances necessary
for provincial administration and were
now devoted 10 paying the interests on a
foreign loan; further taxation would be
necessary 70 carry on the government
q That the people were annoyed at their
taxes being paid 10 The foreigner
g. Because IL was necessary to reduce
his military forces owing to want of
money.
He added that there were a very large
number of poor and homeless refugees
coming into his province from the north
ern part of Kiang-Su Hooded out bv the
Yellow river, and that he had not enough
troops 70 maintain order among them.
without specifically going into the mo.
ton of the increasing Russian inanence
In China, Lord Beresford shows In fhe
reports received by him from different
viceroys. that, although some wears ago
Americans and Englishmen were resnecf-
ed more than any other foreigners TO-
day Anglo-Saxon influence has weakened
materially, and Russian influence has be-
come all Important For instance. the
Viceroy of Marking intimated "that for
merly In the province under his control the
name of Britain was better respected than
that of any other but that now the nanoa