Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-13

JOHN Hal icy in China. On the Sd
of May, if We may trust reports, that door
was slammed in the face Of John Hays
immortal spirit.
In 1900 the words open door" were as
familiar as "strict accountability" was five
months ago, mobilization" was in
August, 1914. We all remember that in Sep
tember the football players were not gath
cred, but ''mobilized," and later that Yale
was thinking of holding Harvard to "strict
accountability" Every one in 1900 spoke about
the open door," because John Hay made them
think about it. In his own words, the pol
icy of the open door meant simply that the
United States and of all other nations were to
receive perfect equality Of treatment within
the limits of the Chinese Empire for their
trade and navigation, especially within the
so-called Spheres, of influence or interest"
claimed by certain European interests in
China. After the Chinese-Japanese War Of
1894 China was like a great unprotected min
ing district, and nation after nation of Europe
came and staked claims. The defeated and
distracted Government was compelled to
grant concessions, and presently these very
concessions began to make trouble. 1t seemed
that the nations of Europe, Great Britain,
Germany France and Russia, as we'll as
Japan, might come tol blows about their
China would be torn limb from limb.
The Thorny Path of Diplomacy
The United States, meanwhile had de-
veloped large commercial and Industrial in.
terests in China. 1t had reasons, apart from
altruistic sentiments, for wishing China to
remain intact. John Hay, perhaps alone in
his time thought internationally. He plunged
boldly into foreign entanglements and an
ticipated the vast change in American senti-
ment toward the outer world which is now
beginning to dominate our international re-
lations. Early in 1899 he refused to help
Italy take over a part of China, and even
looked upon the necessity of aiding China
with force to repel an attempt on her in
tegrity. But the European Powers continued
to bargain with one another and to threaten
China throughout that year, and Hay was
forced to act. In September. 1899, he ad-
dressed circular note TO London, Berlin and
st. Petersburg. In that note the words "open
door," already familiar, became famous
The difficulties in Hays path were enormous
Each nation was Jealous of the other Each
one knew that 1t would be to her own ad-
vantage to refuse, and each one did not dare
to refuse alone. Hays method had all the
trickery of a fox. He asked each country to
accept the principle of freedom for all in
China, provided all the others accented. From
the letters written by Hay at the time, and
recently published, some idea of the annoy.
ances he suffered can be Imagined. Russia
was, of course. prime object. yet Russia re-
fused to accede. Count Muravien gave oral
promises that his country would do what
France did. Later he few into passion and |
denied his words. Hay wrote:
He did say it, he did promise. ana he did
enter into just that engagement II is possl-
BILE that he did so thinking that France
would not come In. and that other Powers
would not If now they choose 10 take a
stand In opposition TO the entire civilized
world we shall then make up our minds
what to do about 1t.
Eventually every nation addressed (France,
Italy and Japan had been added to the pre-
vious list) agreed Professionally to the open
door. They agreed TO respect the arrange
ment u eUery other country tgoHld respect r.
Then Hay played his boldest trick. He an
nounced to each that all the others had ae
eepted and that therefore he would consider
their provisional aceeptances as final 1t was
the most magnificent blum in the world ana
It worked!
Immediately after came the Boxer rebellion.
with its murder OF foreigners and the arrival
OF troops from Europe and from America. n