Connecticut western news., 1907-10-10
CHINESE GREET TAFT
MongoIians Welcome Secretary and Give Him Punch Bowl.
WOMEN ATTEND RECEPTION.
Visitor Hints That American Govern ment Would View With Deep Con- corn Any Political Obstacle to Main tenance of the Open Door Policy.

tenance of the Open Door Policy.
 Shanghai, Oct. 9.-When Secretary of War William H. Taft ana the mem- bers of his party arrived here en route to Manila the Chinese and foreign resi- dents of Shanghai united in giving the distinguished visitor the heartiest well come that ever has been extended to a foreign statesman.
 MT. Taft dedicated the building of the Young Mems Christian association and made brief address, in which he said that the work of the association among the Chinese was great step in the interests of civilization. He was followed by several Chinese officials, who spoke in approval of the under taking.
 Later the secretary was given an elaborate reception by the Chinese res idents out of doors in a native garden. The decorations were picturesque.
 Presented With Punch Bowl.
 Speeches of welcome were made fn English by local Chinese business men, officials and the representative of the viceroy. The Chinamen emphasized the cordial relations existing today be- tween China and the United States, saying the friendship of America had been evidenced by sending relief to the famine sufferers, the support of schools and hospitals and the waiving by the United States of her part of the Boxer indemnity.
 In reply Secretary Taft thanked the Chinese for their reception, which, he said, gratified him as an evidence of their friendship toward the American people and government. At the conclu- sion of his address the secretary was presented with a handsome silver punch bowl This reception marked an epoch in the matter of the status of women in China, for many Chinese women of aristocratic families were present at the reception and even pre- sided at tables whence they served refreshments. This is the first time such thing has happened in China.
 Entertained by Americans.
 Subsequently the American residents gave a banquet in the secretarys hon. or. The foreign consuls and number of prominent foreign business men were present, and 1t was in every re- spect the largest and most representa- tive banquet ever given in Shanghai. In reply to an address of welcome Sec retary Taft made speech which was listened to with deep interest. He pref
 l.s ,,1y I,x, fvrr hot hn spoke as an American citizen, not as a representative of the government.
 He renewed his assurances that the United States had no intention of sell ing the Philippine Islands, saying that the country was in honor bound to re- tain them or give the Filipinos their independence. He praised the islands and their inhabitants and then turned his attention to the open door in Chi na He declared that American trade was now second in China and that cer tain branches of this trade were suffi ciently important to make 1t incumbent upon the American government to lis ten to the protest of every legitimate business man against dimin'Aion in or injury to this business or political pre- fer1nent for any competitor. we do not complain" the secretary continued, "of loss of trade that results from the employment of greater enterprise, in genuity or attention to the demands of the Chinese market or the greater busi- ness acumen shown by our competi- tors.
 The Open Door Policy.
 ''We would have the right to protest at being excluded from the trade of China by reason of our insistence up on the policy of the open door. The acquiescence in this policy of all the nations interested has been so unhesi- tating and emphatic that it is hardly worth while to speculate upon the probable action of the United States in case the interests of American mer- chants were placed in jeopardy, and how far the United States would go in the protection of it's Chinese trade l cannot say. 1t is clear, however, that our merchants are being reused to the importance of the Chinese export trade, and they would view with deep concern any and all political obstacles to its maintenance and expansion. This feeling is likely to find expression in the action of the American govern ment
 "China has no territory we desire" " MT. Taft went on, land she can have no prosperity that we will begrudge, nor will we resent any degree of politi- cal power or independence as an en- pire that is justly exerciNed. It is pleasant to note the improvement in our relations with China that have re- suited from the efforts made by Presi- dent Roosevelt.
 Boycott Thing of Past.
 "The harshness hitherto exercised in the administra tion of our immigration laws has been mitigated without i'm pairing their efficiency, and the boy colt, which resulted in more or less ill feeling and injured China as much as 1t did us, is now thing of the past We gave evidence of our desire to do full justice to China by the return of our share of the Boxer indemnity. In that case we did only what we should