New-York tribune., 1899-06-10
DOOR TO CHINA STILL OPEN
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE BRITISH
POLICY IN THE FLOWERY KINGDOM.

London, June 9.-Whe the House OF Com
mons was in Committee of Supply on the For
eign Office vote to-day Rear-Admiral Lord
Charles Beresford. Conservative member for
York City, delivered a scathing criticism Of the
Governments policy Of drifting in China,
during which he said the Government had de-
ceived the people and allowed the open door
policy to be finally killed by permitting Russia
to interfere In a purely commercial enterprise
like the Shanghai Kwan Railroad. The Admiral
then proposed that the four countries most in
terested-Great Britain, the United States, Japan
and Germany-go TO China and offer to take
over and organize her army, adding that II
Great Britain took the lead he was sure the
United States would follow. and asserted that
he also had a distinct intmation that Japan
would Join in such movement
HIS LORDsHIP OvERsANGUINE
The Parliamentary Secretary Of the Foreign
Office, the Right Hon. William ST. John Brodrick
replied, pointing out the difficulties in meeting
Lord Charles Beresford's desire that Great Brit
ain take control Of the government of China, add
ing that he thought His Lordshp was oversan-
guine in believing the United States would follow
the lead of Great Britain. Germany, he continued.
had great interests in China, but she had a
thousand times greater interests in Europe. AS
to treating the Yang tse- Kiang Valley like the
Shan-Tung Peninsula, Her Majestys Govern
ment was not prepared to undertake the I'M
monse responsibility of governing such large
territory. Continuing Mr.. Brodrick said
up to the present the treaty Of Tien-Tsn has
been observed. No door has been shut.
"As regards the Yang-tse we could send gun
boats drawing six feet thousand miles from
its mouth. Although we are not prepared to
undertake policing this province. constituting
One-third of China. prepared to control
the Yang-tse in order TO protect our trade, and
Il is an essential part Of the Governments policy
that changes occurring in China the protec-
tion OF our trade assured. Although 1t can
not undertake to relieve the Tsung-i-fam
Of the responsibility Of governing China, the
Government is not prepared to let British trade
suffer or pass into other hands. Therefore 1t is
proposed to take the following steps:
WILL PROTECT THE YANG-TSE VALLEY.
with regard to the Yang-tse we shall hold
the Chinese Government responsible for its un-
dertaking not to ALLEVIATE 20 any other Power
the provinces bordering thereon, and that
connection should be made with the Burmah
Railway.
"T'he Government will also see. whenever II
IS desired that the force the Yang-tse is
sufficiently strong to protect our merchants and
their trade
Mr. Rrodrick also referred to the Anglo Rms
sian agreement as being happy augury and
fair compromise, and he doubted II the demand
for a Russian railway connection to Peking was
ever made; but, In effect, the Government, In no
Spirit CT jealousy but simply In the interests or
China. must declare, II the demand is pressed,
that it will be forced TO advise the Chinese Gov
ernment against a concession calculated to
transfer the Government of Pekng to another
Power.
In conclusion Mr.. Brodrck expressed the hone
that there would be concord between the Pow
ers In carving out their great work in Chlna