The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-21
\ GCA0AITEE.



TME oPEN-DOOR POLICY.
The opsn-door policy. as to which 20
much has been said within the past few
months. In very clearly treated by Lord
Charles Beresford In the current num-
Der Of the North American Review. Not
even Great Britain IL more deeply con-
cerned In the future commercial policy
Of China than the United States. and
the article by the clear headed English
man who recently passed through this
country. making friends wherever he
went by his unmistakabis admiration
for the institutions Of this country. will
De accepted - an authority on the sub
ject.
BY the open door is meant equal OPP
portunity Tor all. II is In harmony with
the policy Of Great Britain for many
years. Russia is seeking to exclude all
other powers from participation In the
trade Of that part OF China. which she
n evidently corrailing for herself. Ger
many would be likely to follow the same
selfish course. but Lord Charles points
out that the United States and Great
Britain must In self-interest unite
against this procedure. He says that
even In a prDtectionist country. sueh as
the United States. no on> VIII deny the
advantages OF such "a policy as applied
to American exports To China. and that
whether the American manufacturer
prefers to have preferential rights at
home or not. IL must be to his advan-
tage that he has an equal opportunity
with the foreigner abroad, ana that no
foreigner secures preferential rights In
China which would leave American
trade In the cold.
The Engishman very courteously
takes up the arguments OK those Amer
leans who seem opposed to the country
exercising any influence In Oriental az
fairs He denies that the proposed pol
icy can lead 10 war or tina. IL will cost
the United States a angle cent or q sell
sary soldier To carry Ii out, lie warns Us.
however. that procrastinasion viii be
very serious. He insists tha, now Is the
time 20 make = move. because at pres
ent there are only two powers ready to
g. to war In China. with any chance u
success. but as time soes on this Will
be altered. According - Lord Charles
Beresford. Great Britain. with her enor-
NOUS feet In far Eastern waters. and
the ieo,no native troops she can bring
ue from India within shorter time
than any other power can land an army,
combined with her possession 81 the
chief ceallnS stations. IL e-eminentiy
In a position "a deal with the Chinese
question ~ war n she SO desired. Next
~ her comes Japan. with FIRE dee, in
close proximity IL the scene OF opera
tons, ana a capacity 10 Land eco. co..
troops In China at any moment
The Cnlsea States should Join these
Interested Ia promoting Oriental trade
nv she United States. Pssae Is ~ the
highest Importance 20 a commercial ma
t,on. bat there are occasions m which
Il Is necessary 70 pgosec. commercial In
sercsts hy going 10 Mar. art ,here
are occasions when an s,gcrxes:c rslicy
Is necessary 80 prevent war and o.
avoid irrerarssse damage Z, trade an!
commerce.
eucs Ia TIRE situation VITA regard 60
China nags. II - were merely u sue@tfoy,
Of the present value & American "a
nesr trade besnx involved vs.. osaA a..
sec with Lord Herpsfoft, that 7, wauGs.
pay the United States - remain an an
cSFes spectator ~ events ~ sNe "a
Fsss Eas this IS ret tsc cas~. Chsns :.
sas; oseaa,Fy ~isA as enerruaas pcaa,
sA'ien ara riea nata-~l resaeresS. al q.
which can - Developed Hussls - 10,