Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-10
TAFT STANDS
IN OPEN DOOR
AMERICAN TRADE IS SECOND IN
CHINA
SHOULD PROTECT BUSINESS, he
ASSERTS
Secretary Of War Speaks at Banquet
Il, Shanghai and Expresses Hope
for unhroken Friendly
Relations
Associated Press.

SHANGHAI, China, Oct 9.-In a
speech delivered at a banquet given
by american residents last night Sec
refary Taft said he spoke as an Amer
ican citizen and not as 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 is honor bound to retain
them or give them their Independence
He praised the islands and their i'm
habitants, and then turned his atten-
tion to the open door in China
He declared that Americas trade is
now second in China and that certain
branches Of this trade are sufficiently
important to make it incumbent upon
the American government to listen to
the protest of every legitimate BUSINESS
man against dimunition or injury TO
this business, or political preferment
for any competitor
9We do not complain the secretary
continued "of loss of trade that results
from the employment of greater enter
prise. ingenuity or attention to the de-
mands of the Chinese government, or
the greater business acumen shown by
our competitors. We would have the
right to protest at being excluded from
the trade of China by reason of our in
sistence upon the policy of the open
door However. how far the United
States would go in the protection of-its
Cl}inese trade I cannot say. 1t is clear
that our merchants are being reused
tokst1le Importance of the Chinese ex-
In arzd
alarm any and all political obstacles
tostts maintenance and expansion.
Favor Open Door
&There is no reason to complain Of
this governmental indifference. The
United States and the other powers
favor the open door, and If they are
wise they will encourage the empire to
take long. steps in administrative and
governmental REFORM the development
of the resources, of China and the inn
provement OFF the welfare of the peo-
Pile To do this will add to Chinas
strength and position as a self-respect-
ing government, and aid her in pre-
pairing to resist possible foreign ag
gressions in the seeking of undue adj
vantage or exclusive proprietary priv
ileges.
''Thus no foreign aid will be required
LOrenIOTce the open uOOT, anu the pOllcy
Of equal opportunities for ALL
Continuing the secretary said that
the gold standard for China would re-
dound to the benefit OF the empire. and
that the cry of China for the Chinese"
need not frighten any man.
every Improvement aimed at has
the deep sympathy of America" he
said. "There is no jealousy to fear on
account of China's development from
the United States, but this progress
must be directed always along lines of
peaceful prosperity, the maintenance of
law and order and the proper observ-
ance of the rights of foreigners.
t.China has no territory we desire,
and she can have no prosperity that we
will begrudge nor will we resent any
degree of political power or independ-
ence as an empire that is justly ex-
ercised.
1T is pleasant to note the improves.
ment in our relations with China that
have resulted from the efforts made
by President Roosevelt. The harsh
ness in the administration of our immi-
grafton laws has been mitigated with
out in1pairing! their efficiency, and the
boycott. which resulted in more or less
i'll feeling and injured China as much
as it did us is now a 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
Chinese Press Friendly
The comment of the Chinese press, Of
ficials and people on the visit to Shanghai
of Secretary of War Taft is encouraging.
The reports published in the newspapers
on this subject have been telegrapfed to
all parts of China.
The general feeling of the Chinese on
the utterances of Mr.. Taft may be sum
married. as follows: The United States
will not sell the Philippine islands, an
assurance which is welcomed, as it means
that there will be no extension Of jap
anese influence. The Chinese desire to
interpret Mr.. Taft's statement reiterating
that the United States favors the open
door policy in China as being unofficial, but
at the same time made on high authority
and indicating that the United States will
support China and maintain the policy in
Manchuria, the only place where the open
door Is threatened.
Mr.. Taft's Endorsement of the United
States court for China over which Judge
Wiley presides is looked upon as mean
ing continuance of new era of justice
and demonstrating that the United States
is really interested in China.
The enthusiastic welcome accorded Mr..
Taft here atones for the boycott of
American goods and demonstrates China's S
friendship for America
The assurances given in regard to fair
treatment of the emigration question are
accepted In good faith. China trusts in
the United States and believes in her as
true friend.