New-York tribune., 1908-02-20
JAPAN IN MANCHURlA
WHY I'VE LOSE TRADE.
Due TO Court Decisions Here
"Open Door Helps Japanese.

Washington. Feb 19-Information from u1-
official and individual sources showing the ag-
gressiveness of Japan in Manchuria has been
accommodating in the State Department for some
time. That this condition is irritating In in
creasng degrees TO China is also matter Of
knowledge here. 1t is stated with authority.
however. that in has the Chinese
government brought the matter to the attention
of the American government. and no representa-
tion the subject is looked for.
n remarkable explanation of the attitude OF
government in this important matter is de
veoped the result Of inquiry directed toward
officials who cannot be quoted. but In post
tions to direct policies. In effect il Is as fol-
lows:
It is frankly admitted that America is losing
her commercial foothod in the Orient This loss,
however, is not charged to Japan. Rather il is
asserted to be the effect of the growing ten
dency toward internal governmental regulation
in the United States. AS an illustration OF this
attention is called to the fact that five years
ago flour in barrels was being slipped to the
Orient from the Northwest, steel rails from
Pittsburg and cotton in bales from Texas These
shipments were made possible because OF an
exceedingly low ocean freight rate arrived at by
railroad combination. This rate has been con-
demned by the courts as a conspiracy against
trade, and the development of this trade has
been abandoned The domestic war. as II is
characterized. against the Standard Oil Com
pany. which IS credited with the largest Oriental
trade Of any American enterprise is declared to
have been disastrous1y effective in the Orient
while the tobacco and cotton goods trades are
said TO have received heavy blows through the
operation OF railroad regulation here
From this point 1t seems easy for government
officials here couversant with foreign matters
to view Japanese commercial aggression in Man
churia with greater degree Of complafsauce
than would be the case in the face Of an urgent
domestic demand for governmental assistance
Japan. it IS asserted, without great diff
Guilty justify everything she has done in Man
churia sanctioned by the open door policy
initiated by the late Secretary HAY and nd
hered 10 by the greater nations, including
Japan While Japan may justify these things
in the strctest sense under the open door
policy it has been charged that there exists evf-
denCes Of her use Of many methods and prac-
tices which might not bear the light of impartial
investigation. Besides her claim 10 an eoral
footing with other nations in Manchuria on the
open door basis. she has it is asserted OBJ
which her control of the railroad and telegraphic
facilities is practically complete This control
is known to be used primarily in the interest OF
Japanese tradesmen and to the detriment OF all
foreign competitors. These disadvantages are
Of course, being felt by American tradesmen. ds
we'll as by those of other foreign nations. AS
the trade Of Germany. England and other na-
tions is more valuable than the American trade
and these nations are what is termed highly
commercially organized. ii would not be a great
surprise to American diplomacy hear of pro
tests from these quarters against Japan's ag-
gression.
tary Hays PRONUNCIATION Of the open door
policy which partakes of the nature OF an agree
ment with any nation looking to its 1nainte-
nance. For this reason it is predicted that
should combination Of protests be made and
any movement be initiated by foreign nations
the support which IL would receive from this
country would be more than moral