New-York tribune., 1902-05-22
SAYS OPEN DOOR is SURE.
WILLIAM w ROCKHIIL DECLARES
AMERICAN CHINESE POLICY AT
PRESENT SHOULD BE TO WAIT.

Members of the American Asiatic Association
gave their fourth annual dinner last evening
at DelmonicOs, the guest of honor being Will
lam w. ROCkhill, who was commissioner of the
United States to China. He responded to the
toast. THE Open Door to Commerce in China"
About two hundred were present nearly all of
whom are interested directly or indirectly in
Asiatic commerce. a. ID. Webb president of
the association. presided and John Foord. of
The Journal of Commerce. acted as toastmas-
ter. Several dishes peculiar to the Far East
served
Letters of regret read from President
Roosevelt. Secretary Hay Wu-Ting-fang the
Chinese Minister kogoro Takahra, the Japa-
nese Minister: Senators Platt and Depew, of
New-York; Platt. of Connecticut; Hanna, Of
Ohio; Culom. of Illinois: Dillingham; of Yer
mont. and Representative Hit of Illinois:
Bishop Potter, Major General Brooke and James
j. Hill.
In responding to the toast of The President"
Senator Pritchard. of North Carolina, said in
part
fraI ahough the President Of the United States halls
from rom horth % OF the Mason and Dixon line ii is his
desire and honest purpose 10 do that which will
Ne Ne has taken up & the york Of the late President
" MMcKhlhiey M which had for its object the extension
Mr.. RockhilI in his speech said in part:
me open door TO commerce in China. which the
better insured in 1902 than feared it would
be. The experience acquired by the foreign powers
In l%D-lSol has taught them that whatever may be
the defects Of the Chinese plan of government. it
Is the best suited to that peculiar people. To try
20 change the present regime and substitute some
thing more In conformity with Western ideas would
he folly, and entail responsibilities which nation
could afford to assume The powers have also real
zed that administrative reform in China only
result from constant and general pressure from
without. and that sudden changes must in
evttably bring revolution and be followed by
years of chaos. In other words they feel
that patience and pcrSey eranCe alone effeffCt
toIerahlN satisfactory solution OF the problem or
Chna's future. II is not surprising. therefore that
within the last few months this general expression
shall have found EXPRESSION in solemn assurances
by he great military mowers Of he. world
ing themselves 10 uphold the independence and ter
TitOrial integrity of China and reaSSerttng their
open door throughout the empire Spheres Of in
terest frighten more for the powers claiming
them no longer assert exclusive rights within them
the integrity or china Is now said 10 be the cor
nerstone of European policy in the Far East Peace
in China. and time. are now all that the powers
ask to accomplish their particular ends
As matters now stand. il iS evidently TO our in
teTest let the British negotiations continue at
Shanghai Let what the outcome Will be.
British treaty under the most favored nation
clause" II they fall short OF our expectations We
China must develop or decay; she has reached
the parting Of the ways; she cannot remain sta
tionary
Senator John L. McLaurin. Of South Carolina.
who followed Mr. Rockhiu. spoke to the toast
The New South. and the Trade in the Far
East"
sponded To the toast, The Guardians of the
open Door in China, Japan, Great Britain and
the United States"