Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-29

have first call on tho trade and de-
Ne!opment OF the province. and only In
mo event OF Germany's declining to do
the work is China "at liberty to act az
she p!cases. II was this particular
clause that moved the farsighted John
Hay 10 build up tho intricate series OF
aerecinen which constitute the open
door in China. Now this privilege ~
tcrmany's passes TO Japan.
IN the case Of Germany the prefor.
cht!al rights involved In tho CLAUSE
were not much OF a menace 70 Amer
lea or 70 European powers, because
Germany soon found that they consti
tutcd a doubtful! benefit II She tried
10 smut the door in Shantung England
shut the door III the rich Yangtze VAL
ley. France closed her out of the far
south ana Russia and Japan could ex-
trcis. their similar privileges agaiu.t
he! Ia the north. So the door was kept
open all around. TO tho great hcncnt OF
III" United States. whose merchants
ask nothing more than n fair field and
40 favors II is highly improbable
mat Japan VIII continue the German
ioicy III the matter, II she succeeds
permanently 10 Gcrmanys privileges
japan guaranteed the territorial in
tcErity and sovereignty OF Korea in
an her treaties and procIamations ND
TO the second renewa! OF the Anglo
japanese alliance Then the point was
HHoDiruSiNslE dropped, and to-day Eo-
re" ~ an intcgfa! part o! the Japan
empire. Japan also guaranteed the
territorial Integrity OF China and the
open door doctrine III Chinese territory:
to-day The grra, Chinese province or
Aianchusia is absolutely dominated by
Japan. and American trade is falling
on rapidly. Judging the future by m.
past, II - only reasonable 70 deduce
that the door viii! be closed in shan
tunG also.
United suites Grn>eIy Affected.
Such course Affects the United
states grarc!y in two ways. In the
irsc p!a cc. the stability OF an arrange
McHt such a. the open door doctrine
by which all o! the powers agree 70
treat foreigners on an equal basis with
their own nationals, even in those Chi
HcSc provinces which they dominate
depends FOR It's stability entirely on
the good faith OF all concerned. IL
one OF the parties violates the spirit
ot tho contract, self -defeuse compels
all the others 10 do likewise. II
number OF merchants establish dNcd
price Tor -four and agree not TO sell
below that price. the scheme works so
long as they AL hold by il. II one OF
them cuts the price. al! the others have
TO follow suit,
So in China. If one power again sets
up sphere OF influence the others
VIII have 10 drop the open door and
20 back to their own respective
spheres.
China Has Nothing Left.
Even If the United States should
make virtue Of necessity and enter
the scramble for 1t sphere OF her own
China has practically nothing left TO
give. Russia and Japan in Manchu-
ria and Mongolia. now Japan in shan
tuuC, England in central China France
in the south, leave nothing but the
metrop oitan Province OF Chih-h the
heart Of the Chinese government, tho
seat OF Picking. over which China can
certainly not be expected to give UP
any rights. So return to the sphere
Of influence doctrine would be "A death
blow to American commerce in China.
one other aspect OF the Shantung
situation is worth careful cons!dera-
ton. Japan's course points to an
elimination of Germany from the trado
of the Orient The allies have already
declared their intention of forcing Ger
man trade from all their dominions
That means India, Australia, Canada.
most OF Africa. There is nothing left
but South America. In other words.
II Germany is 10 be eliminated from
the Orient. the merchants of the United
States in building up their carefully
planned and much desired trade with
the Latin American republics will have
of the most efficient and scientific ex-
port organization of the modern world.
Germany will put UP A terrific fight
for trade wherever she can get il when
the war is over.