Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-31
Chairman Hit on the "Open Door"
Negotiations.
ONLY TO A NEUTRAL POWER
Fair Field Assured for Our Trade
in China.
SHOULD GREATLY INCREASE

The transmission to Congress of the cor
respondence relating to the Chinese open
door negotiations has not aroused the inter-
est which the Importance of the matter
might warrant The fact that the infor-
nation conveyed to Congress has all been
anticipated, except as to the exact purport
Of some OF the letters Of commitment from
the powers, and that there was nothing
threatening nor dramatic attending the
gotiations, has led to the matter passing
without much comment. Yet men who
make study of international questions
look upon the successful negotiations OF the
open door as perhaps the greatest triumph
of this administration.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois. chairman of the
House committee on foreign affairs. says
he regards 1t as the greatest event OF the
year.
What fs Secured to Us.
BY this negotiation" he said. speaking
of the matter today, lis accomplished what
none but a great neutral power like the
United States could bring about. Ii is a
matter of greatest importance TO the whole
world. and opens to us fair field for de-
velopment of our trade in the east and Will
inevitably result in the building up of 4
great commerce for us on the Pacific. With
out sacrificing anything, without paying
of all the commercial privileges granted ia
early treaties with China, and We are guar
anteed the recognition of equal privileges
with other nations within the so-called
spheres of influence acquired or to be ac-
qured by the several powers, and the en-
joyment of whatever privileges are granted
other nations in the future. 1t is broad
favored nation clause with reference TO
oriental trade, guaranteed to us by the
great powers. 1t is not like a mere treaty
with some weak government which might
not be able to maintain its own independ-
ence of action; it is a compact with the
great powers of the world.
Equal Transportation Facilities.
1.-The guarantee of equal transportation
facilities, without discrimination, over the
lines of transportation into the interior Is
of immense value. 1t means the opening up
of that vast field to our trade. The magni-
tude of the thing accomplished is hardly
appreciated, on account Of the apparent ease
with which k was done. 1t WAS not at
tended with hostility or contention, but was
brought about with no more shock OF erup-
tion than attends the rising OF the tide. 1t
is a mighty movement upward. No other
nation could have secured the agreement,
for the other powers are contendinE for
spheres of influence and eagerly watching
each otner lest one should secure an advan-
tage in the struggle for possession. Only
a neutral power like the United States
could propose such an agreement without
exciting suspicion and doubts to the
motive, and Mr.. Hay has managed the mat
ter with great ability. The reserve ana
caution with which the several governments
committed themselves is merely evil
dence of the magnitude of the question and
the great consequences involved, and the
agreement was possible only because Of the
confidence the other powers have in the
frankness and openness of purpose of this
government.
II remember John Russell Young saying
to me that being admitted into the council
of the Chinese government the Chinese Of
ficials said to him that they could discuss
matters with him and frankly disclose their
policy because the United States was not
seeking to find something of value in China
to seize and claim possession of.
Checked by Own Legislation.
AT one time our trade with China was
developing rapidly and we had a valuable
commerce, bit this development was check
ed by our own legislation. 1t is again re-
viving and through the operation of this
agreement vast trade should open up to
us, and the commerce Of the Pacific be-
come of great value. Hawaii is the half
way house The possession Of this island
and of the Philippines should give COM
mand of the eastern trade There has
been a considerable development OF our
Pacific commerce since the acquisition of
Hawaii. The growth of Honolulu since the
islands were annexed to the United States
has been phenomenal The plague has re-
tarded II a little for the moment, but
recent census showed that that little city
had grown to 1900 population. Inc i'm
petus given to the Pacific commerce ana
the guarantee of equal commercial prfvi-
leees in China, secured by the assent OF the
powers should give us a trade in that
quarter of inestimable value