New-York tribune., 1902-05-23
TIE "OPEN DOOR" IN THE sULUs.

THE "OPEN DOOR" IN THE SULUS.
What might have been a subject of contro-
| versy between the three great Western powers
in the East appears to have been happily ar
ranged without becoming a matter of public
knowledge until two years after the event. The
publication by Judge MagOon Of some of the
correspondence of the United States, England
and Germany concerning the status of the
Sulu Archipelago first brings 10 attention the
fact that the completeness of our sovereignty
in those islands was questioned. So ably. how
ever. did our government refute the contention
that the United States was bound by any stipu-
latiOns entered into by Spain, or that Spain had
possessed and transmitted only qualified SOW
ereignty, limited by interests which England
and Germany had in the archipelago and sub
ject 10 which those nations acknowledged the
dominion of Spain. that these countries have
apparently abandoned their position and
cepted the doctrine that the United States has
the complete sovereignty in the islands, and is
bound only to observe toward other nations
with regard 10 them the settled rules of inter
national law and its own agreements.
They seem likewise 10 have been convinced
that the necessities of military operations take
precedence of peaceful commercial rights What
ever privileges Englishmen or Germans may be
entitled TO enjoy in the Sulus they cannot ex-
pect to continue trade unrestricted with people
in arms against the United States when that
trade interferes with American military plans
So long as the islands are the seat Of actual in
surrecton it is entirely proper to close their
ports and prevent the inhabitants in arms from
strengthening their resources. Every nation in
the world acts this principle, and even if our
sovereignty in the Sulus were limited, as Ger
many and England at first aSserted-which ii is
MOTT certainly is not much a mere shadow
of sovereignty that the reservations outweigh
that from which they are reserved, and that
the United States cannot enforce its authority
by adequate measures owing TO trade privileges
of other countries. All that Spain acknowI-
edged was the commercial rights of other coun-
tries-nOt merely England and Germany-"in
accordance with the principles Of international
maritime law TO direct traffic with the Sulu
ports and we shall not deny any such rights
which by all civilized countries are granted to
traders Of all nations when peace and order make
such trade proper. Nor will any country claim
that the right to trade under international mari
time law forbds military commander to close
the ports Of region which is the theatre Of
hoStilities.
When, however, ports are thrown open under
normal conditions it will be incumbent on the
United States everywhere in the Philippines TO
give foreign traders entrance on equal terms
which all alike must obey. This is not because
our sovereignty is limited or because old Span
ish grants hamper u.s. but because we have
promised an "Open door IN our Eastern posses
sons TO the worlds commerce The German
Ambassador in his letter OF July, 1900, COM
planned that in Sulu ports open to foreign COM
merce trade was subjected to differenta Gus
toms treatment. As this was nearly two years
ago. and Philippine tariff bill has since been
passed which maintains the "open door and
subjects imports from foreign countries TO the
same duties as imports from the United States
the cause for this complaint has doubtless been
removed. Probably it was aimed at a tenn
porary military order operative only In a limited
area. At any rate, the settled American policy
ever since it was so announced by the Commits
siOners In Paris in 1898 has been to keep an
open door" The Importance of it. If we are to
enjoy equal privileges in the European spheres
of China, cannot be overestimated All traders
American or European, pay the same import
and export duties in the Philippines That is all
other countries can ask or expect, and so much
we are by both honor and self-interest bound
10 give them.