The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-26
OPEN DOOR IN PHILIPPINES.
ENGLAND AND GERMANY SAY We
FAIL TO MAINTAIN 1T.


WASHINGTON. dec. 2s.-England and
states against what they declare TO be-
the failure to maintain ali open door In the
Philippines The case in point involves
the export duty Of $50 a ton on Manila
hemp and fibre. which is imposed upon
the product shipped to England and Ger
many. but which is remitted on that which
il sent To the United States These pro-
tests, which came to the State Depart
ment and were then referred to Secretary
Root. because the War Department has
direct supervision over the Philippines,
have been transmitted to the Senate Philip
pine Committee, to he considered in con-
ncction with the measure proposing to
reduce the tariff on Philippine goods COM
ing into the United States from rs per cent
to rs per cent of the Dingley rates.
The question is somewhat perplexing
TO the Republican leaders. and they are
undecided as to the best course to pursue.
The protest of Germany mentions the note
addressed by William r. Day, then United
States Peace Commissioner in Paris, to
the Spanish Peace Commissioner, Nov %,
lhas, in which he declared that ii war the
intention of the United States to maintain
an open door in the Philippines. 1t adds
that sthe Imperial Government rests it's
claim on the principle of equal treatment
for all nations. which the United States
has always invoked in eastern Asia and
elsewhere" and requests that the privi-
leges now enjoyed by the United States
be extended to Germany.
The matter was brought to the attention
of the Marquis of La1sdowne by the Assoc
nlted Kingdom, and was followed by a
note from the British Ambassador to the
State Department, in which mention was
made of the note of the Secretary of State
of Nov. %, 1899. declaring that this Govern
ment would maintain the open door in the
Philippines to the worlds commerce. The
British note then adds significantly, with
which such preferential treatment of Manila
fibre exported to the United States appears
to he Inconsistent
Secretary Hay turned the correspondence
over to Secretary Root, who in reply said
that the matter wac one for Congressional
sction, Congress having in its Philippine
tarif bill. passed at the last session. legal
lied and sanctioned the tariff enacted by
the Philippine Commission. which imposed
the export duty on hemp.
The effect Of the present export duty is
W divert the bulk of shipments Of Manila
hemp from England and Germany, which
were large purchasers before the Spanish
American War, to the United States, where
the tax is RENTED and the hemp imported
fSee Of duty. English and German rope
manufacturers have suffered greatly by
reason of this condition. This situation
now confronts the Philippine Committee
to which the protests have been referred
The export duty in the Philippines is neces-
sary to maintain the revenues Of the islands,
. corresponding import duty cannot we'll
be added without destroying the rope in
dustry in this country, which now enjoys
q great advantage over its European COM
peSftors At the same time, il is evident that
the United States il not adhering to the
policy Of an open door in the Philippines
and England and Germany may find a
means Of retaliation.