Evening star., 1917-09-30
IFAR EAST MONROE
DOCTRINE GUARDS
CHINA, SAYS ISHII


CONTINUED from First Page.)
that our door is open and. while we can
not offer you opportunity equal to this.
for the man from New York and the
man from America.
Japan's Door Always Open.
THE door is always open. It has al
ways been open: IT always must remain
open, not only to the guest who comes
to trot around our little island for
round of pleasure. but to the repre-
sentative of these vast commercial In
terests represented so we'll in this great
gathering of kings of commerce.
"In spite of all the effort to make you
believe that Japan. as she grew stronger.
was always trying to close the door. l
tell you that there never has been an hour
when our common sense or our sense OF
our own responsibility failed us. Why
close our door in violation Of our pledges
or endeavor to close our neighbor'S door,
The opportunity for you to trade in japan
or China has never been an equal oppor-
tunity in its literal sense. AS you went
far afield and brought US knowledge Of
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 no need-there Is no need-to close
that door on you. because we welcome
your fair and honest competition in the
there where we have a natural advantage,
and where, unless we are very stupid or
very inactive, we are bound to succeed,
and we are trading here, where your ad-
oy,fo iesn 1l.y ty,yo
Il am persuaded that the grumblings
and the whisperings about a door closed
in China by the japanese against Amer
lea did not come from the broad and
generous heart of the enterprising Amer-
can in New York or elsewhere. but is the
result of ten years of an enemy's effort to
create prejudice and distrust. Gentlemen
l assure you that closer door in China
has never been and never will be the
policy of my government The door is
open, the field is there. We welcome CO.
operation and competition all tending to
the betterment of the equal opportunity.
Good Will Toward China.
But this propaganda Of ill will has by
no means stopped with the persistent cry
of closed door, Much has been writ
ten about Japan's policy toward China as
being one that sought only the aggran-
dizement of Japan and the confusion.
disruption or oppression of our neiehbor
Here again let me reassure you. The
policy of Japan with regard to China has
always been the same. We want good
government. which means peace, security
and development of opportunity in China
The slightest disturbance in China i'm
mediately reacts upon Japan. Our trade
there is large and increasing; it Is valu-
able to US and China is our friendly neigh
bor-with vast and increasing potentiaii-
ties for trade.
circumstances for which we were in
no sense responsible gave US certain
rights on Chinese territory, but at no
time in the past and at no time in the
future do we or will we seek to take
territory from China or to despoil China
of her rights. We wish to be and to al
ways continue to be the sincere friend
and helper of our neighbor. for we are
more interested than any one else ex-
cept China in good government there.
only we must at all times for self
protection, prevent other nations from
doing what we have no right to do. Not
only will we not seek to aSsail the in
tegrity or the sovereignty Of China.
but will eventually be prepared to de-
fend and maintain the same integrity
aggressor. For we know that cur own
landmarks would be threatened by any
outside invasion or interference in
China.
FOT HdIy years our common GH6Hy
has been the worst enemy Of China. as
Germany Is the worst enemy of all that
is honest and decent and fair. Since the
outbreak Of the war in Europe. China
has been a hotbed of German intrigue.
and in all of this China has perhaps
been the greatest sufferer. l cannot
give you the positive proofs about the
German in the far east as you have had
them placed before you by the alert
in Washington. but 1 can
civ hof no
German in China Is responsible for most
of the unfortunate occurrences and the
malicious. widespread transformation
scattered throughout the world for the
purpose of impairing the relations of
the countries concerned in China and
securing the downfall of China to Ger
many's advantage.
Sinister Rumor at Work.
when Japan or America appeared
to make progress in China we always
have had sinister rumor of oppression
rected against the integrity of that
boycotts which have cost you
first Of all. and then us. millions; revo-
lutfons. disturbances and civil war have
prevented development of which
friends, might profit.
Gentlemen, l ask you in the light of
more recent developments to try out
the history Of the last few years and
find proof for yourselves of how
greatly in this matter, as in much else,
we have been misled.
IT am endeavoring to secure your CO.
operation in this work Of revision of q
situation built upon misconception and
fraud I am asking you to cast out
the devil of suspicion and distrust in
order that we who are allies and part
ners may rebuild the shattered edfhce
Of mutual confidence, which means so
much as a stronghold for US both. We
are neighbors. friends and allies
THE Pacific ocean is our common
highway. These are guarded and the
highway has been swept by our ships
of the pirates of the seas, SO that our
countries trade may continue and our
be uninterrupted. We
guard the Pacific ocean together with
our ships, but more than this and bet
ter than the ships or the men or the
guns, is the assurance of the notes ex-
changed between your Secretary of
State. Elihu Root. and our Ambassador
Takahira in 1908, in which it was mu-
tually agreed and formally resolved to
respect the territorial possessions be-
longing to each other in the region of
the Pacific ocean Gentlemen. Japan
is satisfied with this. Are you? If so,
there is no Pacific ocean question be-
tween us. We will cooperate. We will
help and we will hold. each Of us. what