New-York tribune., 1906-09-10
JAPAN AND THE OPEN DOOR.

So much has been said in the last year, since
the making Of the treaty of Portsmouth-sOme
of IL heedlesSy some ignOrantly and some, IL
is 10 be feared, malciOusy-abOut Japan's al
legged disregard of the open door principle and
her monOpOlizatiOn OF Manchurian trade that
a few facts bearing on the matter may be timely.
There was, It viii be recalled, much apprehen-
sion expressed that Japan, controlling the great
port of Tairen (formerly Dalny), with no Chi
nese custom house yet established there. would
take advantage Of her opportunity TO let her
own goods into Manchuria free. while prohibit
ing or imposing heavy duties on the goods of
other nations. Indeed. we recall some explicit
statements that she was doing so, which appear
10 have been as untrue as they were explicit.
II IS quite true that she controls Tairen, under
treaty with China, just as Russia formerly con-
trolled IL. II is true that no Chinese custom
house has yet been established there, for the
simple reason that Russia has not yet let Gus
tom houses be opened on the Manchu-Siberian
frontier 1t IS true that, pending the establish
ment OF such Chinese custom houses, japanese
goods are being imported through Tairen into
Manchuria free Of duty or at special low
rates Just as Russian goods are at the north.
But il is also the fact and this is what makes
all the difference. that while Russia lets only
Russian goods go In free at special rates at
the north, Japan let's the goods Of all nations
90 in at Tairen on precisely equal terms with
her own. Her open door al Tairen is open for
all the world.
Moreover. that open door is used by other
nations. especially by America, far more than by
Japan herself. There has been a widely circu-
lated story that ever since the outbreak Of the
RuSsO-JapaneSe War and the establishment of
japanese control over the Manchurian coast
Japans trade with Manchuria has been greatly
increasing. at the expense Of all other nations,
and especially of America. 1t would be Diff
cult 10 imagine a statement more at variance
with the truth. Let MS note the volume Of actual
imports into Manchuria for the last three years
preceding the present covering the year before
the war. the period of the war and four months
Of restored peace. The imports from Japan in
1903, the year before the war. were 5029S343
haikwan taels In 1904. including the first
eleven months Of the war, they actually de-
cined q little. 10 J0.1G4,O56 taels. In 1905
with Japan in complete control Of the en-
tire coast and Of all Southern Manchuri6,
and with the war brought 10 a close. they
increased to 6l.3l5.2is taels. Meantime what
came from the United States? In 1903
only 2J,S71.27S taels. or n fraction more than
Onehalf Of Japan'S contribution. In 1904, de-
spite the war. the volume increased To 20 1S0-
946 taeis while. as have seen. Japan's di-
minishcd. And In 1909 IL was Sweled 10 70
eld.S3S taels, or more than % per cent more
than Japan's Thus, while Japan's sales to
Manchuria have increased i'm the three years
by 90 ger cent. those Of the United States have
increased 10y l9S per cent, or have all but
trebled. If that he the result Of Japanese dis
elimination against America by all means let
us have more Of it. Imports into Manchura
from Great Britain have also increased more
rapidly than those from Japan. though not
nearly rapidly those from the United States
ana there has been a healthful increase I'm those
from other countries with the exception OF
British India. whose trade has remained about
stationary.
Beyond doubt. japan ought greatly to increase
her trade with Manchuria and with all China
There is every reason fer her doing 50. But 1t
Is also beyond doubt that America and all
friendly powers are to have and. in fact, do
have an opportunity TO do the same Those
who Imagine otherwise show sad misunderstood
ing Of the japanese character and Of the indus
trial and commercial conditions, needs and am
billions of Japan. That densely populated island
empire aims 10 play such part in Eastern Asia
as Great Britain has played in Western Europe
In order that she may do so it is necessary
and nobody appreciates this fact more than
Japan herself-that China shall become devel-
oped and opened 10 the worlds trade and inter-
course. as Europe IS. Japan abandoned the her
NIT policy many years ago, and she has no mind
10 re-establish il for herself or 10 Impose It
upon China. She realized that her own welfare
requires that China shall be opened to the
world. She cOntended for that principle in her
own war with China dozen years ago and in
the treaty Of peace which she dictated at the
close Of the war she opened the doors OF China
10 the world, but Russia and her allies closed
them again. Now, in her latest and uncha-
lenged triumph, she has once more opened the
doors as far as it is possible for her TO do, and
this time they will remain OPEN
MISDIRECTED MIGRATION.