Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-19
LoBD BrPFSroPp.S MISSION

The self-appointcd mission Of Lord
Charles BcrcSford-for he dlsclaims bc.
ing either the representative Of his cjun-
try or of any official powcr-appcars to
he to strengthen the policy Of the open
door i'm trade and to promote an alliance
or understanding in support Of that pol
icy between the nations most interested
in maintaining 1t in China, Of which the
United States Is one. In regard to the
open door Lord Bercsford frankly adj
mits that British advocacy of 1t is
prompted wholly by considerations Of
British interest. Having found adyan-
tage in II Great Britain desires not only
that ii shall be maintained but extended.
He would not express an opinion as to
whether or not this policy would be
best for the United states in the Philip
pines, but he implied that inasmuch us
England had found 1t beneficial in China
and elsewhere there was reason to be-
lieve that this country would also find
1t so. 1t is perhaps quite unnecessary
to discuss this question, because If the
United States retains possession of the
Philippines the open door policy will
have TO be observed there In order to
give us any right to ask it elsewhere
in the Orient. There is no controversy
in respect to this. If this country is to
enjoy equality of trade opportunity in
China, as at present, 1t must accord the
same privilege in the Philippine trade
to other nations. We may thus have
TO see the larger part of this trade re-
main in the hands of European coun-
tries, but it is a position that we can
not avoid without running the risk of
having our privileges in the Chinese
market restricted, which we could hardly
afford to do.
In regard to an alliance Lord Beres-
ford said: "Let the four nations which
are most interested in the trade of
China join together; let them come to
an understanding that the treaties are
to remain as they are, that no country
or nation is to claim territory in China
or put on tariffs" The countries re-
to are England, America, Ger
many and Japan and Lord Beresford
that an understanding between
them would make for peace. Perhaps
he is correct in this view, though if he
contemplates anything in the nature of
Il formal alliance it does not appear to
be at all necessary, at least at present.
all intents and purposes there now
exists an understanding between these
that existing treaties shall be
maintained and there is nothing in ey-
listing conditions which requires any
thing more than this. Great Britain's
policy in regard to China is fully and
the United States, Germany and
Japan approve it. Unquestionably mis-
country does. 1t is certain, also, that we
shall insist upon whatever treaty rights
we have in China. But there is we'll !
founded objection to anything in the ma
ture of a formal alliance or understand |
ing for the reason that this country
should not be placed in Il position that
might involve 1t in the entanglcments
Of European powers in Asia. Suck Il
contingency might, indeed, be Very re-
mote, but it is possible and there Is no
necessity at this time for the United
running my such risk. European
alton having designs On China fully
understand u attitude and there is
little danger of any attempt to in
terfere with our rights in that empire.