New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
s.v. That Neighbor Will
2. Defended From
Aggression
J.pan Will Adopt
Role of Protector

vo,ro. Doctrine Of the Far East
"a, Japan in the role Of the protector
chinese independence, Was pro-
- last night by Viscount lshii,
- the Japanese Imperial Mission
:. N. United States.
rr..,rnt Ishi's address, delivered at
,,nouet given in honor Of the ENJOYS
:, Mayor Mitchell at the waidort,A'-
,s the eliminating event Of their
~, here. is regarded as the most I'M
,ort.nt utterance he has made since ar
living in this country
q. denounced the persistent cry OF
=. closed door" as propaganda Of Ger
~, III will, and pledged his word that
,.,,n does not seek to assail the IN
..sri,v or sovereignty of China. On
=. other hand, he declared, Japan
-. ready to defend Chinese indie
..d.pee against any aggressor.
70 Japan has sought the trade OF
c,;,, ne explained. it was but the IN
-;,,ble result of the natural ad'
..,,,ses offered, which his nation
~ be stupid" not TO avail itself OIL
American Trade Welcome
q. welcomed America to trade in
a., an 9 fair competitive basis with
,.,.r and pledged the cooperation OF
A., nation in maintaining the Pacific
common highway. He declared
hat sine. the outbreak of the Euro
var War, China has been "a hotoed
:, Canaan intrigue" and probably the
.o,st sufferer of all nations In that
respect. -,
81, Is with no light appreciation of
-. honor you have done US and the ma
sop represent--no lack of knowledge
!. nv own shortcomings-that l ac-
t,ovledge your courtesy and hospi-
,,lity throughout our visit to the City
:, New York. l cannot hope to meet
a.. ALLEGATION or to find words fitting
a.. occasion. can only hope that as
time goes on other opportunities may
came 70 me and TO my countrynen TO
demonstrate our appreciation in some
small degree Let me assure you thst
our door is open, and while we cannot
offer YOU opportunity equal to this the
latch string hangs outside always for
the man from New York and the men
from America.
"Tbe door is always open; it has al
WAYS been open; it always must remain
omen, not only to the guest, but to the
representative Of these vast CONNER
ejsl interests represented so well IN
this great gathering Of kings OF com
merce.
Never Sought to 'Close Door"
an spite of all the effort to make
YOU believe that Japan as she grew
stronger was always trying to close
the door, tell you that there never
has been an hour when our common
sense or our sense Of our own respon-
sibility failed US. Why close our door
in violation OF our pledges, or endesvor
TO close our neighbor's door, when we
are in honor bound to protect IL?
"The opportunity for you to trade IN
Japan or China has never been an
equal opportunity in its literal sense
As YOU went far afield and brought US
knowledge of the West, taught us how
to grow and how to trade, so we, as we
gained wisdom, knowledge and strength
went into other fields to trade and to
learn. We went to China, where the
door was open to US as to you, and we
have always realized that there nature
gave US an advantage. There was nc
nsed-there is no need-tO close tna'
door on you, because we welcome your
fair and honest competition IN ths
markets everywhere. We are trading
there where we have natural ad
vantage, and where, unless we are yer!
stupid or very inactive. We are bonno
70 succeed, and we are trading here
! where your advantage is equally ane
naturally as great.
No Closed Door in China
Il am persuaded that the grumbling'
3 nd the whisperings about door closed
D. China by the Japanese agains'
america did not come from the broat
and generous heart of the enterprlsini
American in New York or elsewhere
4 but is the result of ten years OF al
i enemy's effort TO create prejudice ant
II iistrust. Gentlemen, | assure you ina
a closed door in China has never beer
and never will be the policy of my gov
eminent The door is open, the held II
4 here. We welcome cooperation ant
. cOmpetition, all tending to the better
! ment Of the equal opportunity.
"But this propaganda Of i'll will ha
= by no means stopped with the. per
4 sistert cry of closed door Much ha
been written about Japans policy tow
ard China as being one that sough
only the sggrandizement of Japan AM
the confusion, disruption or oppression