New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-29

international commissions, including
international shipping and trade COM
missions to handle world problems
concerning shipping, food and raw
materials.
In opening his address. Mr.. Culbcrt-
son said chat tho open door does not
imply free trade or even low or revenue
tariffs. but actual equality and uni
iormity of treatment in import and cX
port duties, harbor dues, customs rcgu-
lations, distribution Of raw materials
and opportunities or concessions. Hc
gave an historic analysis of the
colonial policies of Great Britain,
France. Germany, Portugal, Spain. Iol-
and described the development Of the
open door policy as the antithcsis of
the policy that colonies exist for the
exclusive benefit of the mother country.
He said it established the principle
that no nation. because of political
control or military power, has right
to exclude other nations from partici-
patton in the economic development OF
the less advanced parts of the world
In practice, however, he said, it had
either been cvadcd by secret devices
or modified by so many exceptions that
it has become little more than an as
not always remained open. The secret,
concealed influence of governments.
working in or cooperating with trading
companies and private concerns, which
hold railroad, mining and timber con-
ccssions he said, presented the most
serious menaccs to equality of com
mercial and financial opportunity.
He Deserted the British Empires
preferential tariffs and said:
"Should The British Empire insist on
preferential arrangements between the
self governing parts, there seems no
tenable justification for asking other
parts Of the world to give up their
discriminatory measures"
The highness or lowness Of tariffs,
Mr. Cubertson said, should be deter
mined solely by the interests Of the
people directly affected Preferences
in tariffs and other commercial and
financial matters, he asserted, were
necessarily subjects for international
discussion and decision. They gave
rise to suspicion, retaliation, trade
wars bitterness and hostilities between
nations, and the solution of these diff
fercnces becomes not merely concern
of the rival nations but an interna-
tona problem. No nation, he said
should be asked to act alone in the
abandonment Of preferential or dis
criminatory measures. These SHOULD
ne abandoned by all the powers by gen
oral agreement and by universal appli-
cation He declared the war should
end forever colonial monopoles ant
the exploitation of outlying parts Of
the world by nations which contro
them politically.
"Colonies," he said, "should be re
garded, and are regarded by the most
l.. ioh ho,
are called upon to administer. Prefer
ences enjoyed by the trustee are in
consistent with the trusteeship.'
He advocated the abandonment b,
nations Of their policy of concealed
determinations in violation Of the oper
door principle and the devising o.
machinery to ferret on: and bring intt
the open these Objectionable and con
cealed examinations.
Urges League of Nations
Discussing the machinery of an in
ternational league, he said
Both concealed determinations ant
open exceptions to the general rule o
the open door raise Immediately tn
question Of the machinery to be adopted
by nations for their joint action We
can not here discuss the details of The
League of Nations, but some phases o
its possibilities should be suggested II
relation to preferences and the opei
door No international league will
spring into existence full hedged. 4
plan too ambitious for the presen
time Will destroy itself. Nations viii
not Immediately yield up that degree o
sovereignty which the more pretentiou
plans for League of Nations call for
Years of education and experimental
ton are ahead of the world before thu
tradition, the sanction. and the inter
national Will come into being. whici
are necessary to make a comprehensive
world state a success. The immediat,
problem is to determine the steps which
now should be taken toward interna
Jional government, for real progress
depends on knowing how much thu
world will accept at the present stag
of its development. The following raSo