New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-25
GERMAN COMMERCIAL poLrcr.

We said the other day i'll commenting upon
the Anglo-German alliance that Germany, in
seeking to build up a great commerce with
China, had decided to adopt therein the British
and American policy Of the open door. This
idea has evidently taken a general hold of the
German nation as we'll as of the statesmen of
the Foreign Office An article in a recent num-
Der of the Cologne Gazette" the writer of
which is practically interested in German indus
try. is as outspOken for the open door in China
as any American could be. Referring to the
German Governments adoption of the open
door principle as the cardinal point Of it's policy
the writer says: 1--WE entirely approve its
action. But we desire that this policy should
mot be a phrase, but that in the approaching
negotiations for peace the object in view
should be not merely to open the door, but to
lift the gates out of their sockets and to burn
them. so as to prevent them from ever again
being set up and closed" 1t is, of course. a
question how that is to be done whether by
China herself through suasion or through COM
pulsion or by the Powers in permanent inter
vention That China should do it, voluntarily
or through suasion. would seem from the Amer
lean point Of view decidedly preferable. But
the end aimed at, the permanently open door
for all. is the same in both cases.
It is not unlikely that such views have been
impressed more forcibly upon the German COM
mercial and industrial mind by the general con-
dition Of trade and finance in that Empire. That
condition is regarded as not altogether satisfac-
tory. The recent placing of German public
loan in the American market for the sake Of
drawing gold into that country If possible was
to most Germans an unpleasant incident. 1t
was remembered that Germany has hitherto
maintained toward the United States the atti-
tude of creditor, and n reversal of that atti-
tude though 10 only a small degree, was I'M
welcome. This was due. Germans declare to
the hampering laws which have been imposed
upon the German banking system by the Agra
rian and reactionary elements in the Reichstag.
Had the German bourses heen free from vex-
atious restrictions they would have been able to
manage the loan without delay or difficulty.
This has no direct connection with the Chinese
question, but forms part of the same general
theme. and emphasizes the need of q more
liberal and advanced policy in fiscal and COM
mercial matters Another phase of the subject
is found in the fact, now officially declared.
that the German Empire is incapable of pro-
dUcing its own food. Nearly so per cent of
wheat more than 80 per cent of barley. more
than per cent of rye. more than per cent of
oats ana 3 per cent of meat must be imported
TO meet the needs Of the people
Germany is at the present time in O transition
state She is becoming less an agricultural
country and more a manufacturing and COM
mercial country. Her policy, therefore is peace
and freedom of trade in all the markets of the
world. She sees that the greatest market of
the future for manufactured goods such as she
produces so plentifully is China 1t is to her
interest, therefore, AZ once to conserve and to
develop the Chinese market. This she cannot
do exclusively for her own individual profit
and so she accepts the alternative of MAKING
China open to all the world on equal terms.
In that Germany shows a confidence which IS
doubtless well founded in her ability TO compete
successfully with all rivals. That does not
mean that her rivals will be crowded to the
wall however, for there is in China room for all
the commercial nations to enter and TO urosner