The Washington herald., 1921-07-15
The Disarmament Conference.

Inc DtSdfmdmcHt SOUe efcnCe.
Your reference TO the principle of the
open door affords me the opportunity to
you OF this governments continuance
in its wholehearted support of that princi-
pie, which il has trsditionally regarded as
fundamental both IN the interests OF China
Itself and to the common interests of all
~ powers in China and indispensable to the
10 free and peaceful development of their
- commerce the Pacific Ocean The gov
- sernment OF the United States has never
~ -sociated itself with any arrangements which
sought to establish any special rights
-. privileges in China which would abridge
90 the rights of the subjects citizens OF
,s other friendly states; and | am happy to
N assure you that it is the purpose of this
n government neither to participate to
q" acquiesce in any arrangement which might
~ purport to establish in favor, of foreign in
'H tcrests any superiority OF rights with
n slect to commercial or economic develop
M ment in designated regions OF the terrific
ries OF China, which might seek to
any such monopoly preference
~ would exclude other nationals from under
taking any legitimate trade industry
Z from participating with the Chinese gov
i, ernment in any category OF public enter
~ prise.
THIS is from Secretary Hughes latest note to
China. 1t would to be the most i'm
portant statement that has come from the
State Department in this period of international
reconstruction. 1t apparently states what is to be
the international policy of this government and
foretells its program at the coming conference on
disarmament only to Far East, but world
affairs. 1t points the OF the prolonged
prelimnaries leading to the conference call and
doyetails with the changed British attitude toward
renewal of the British Japanese pact.
z 1t indicates how far Japan has gone in the
acceptance OF the invitation to the conference and
in The triangle of conversations understood as
having taken place between her. Great Britain and
The United States. No government goes blindly
to Such meeting. There is always a clear advance
understanding as 10 the scope of the intended dis
eussions and a measure of agreement to the
Subject matter. Japan quite surely knows what
is expected, and that she is in a receptive mood,
indicates the sharp reversal there OF public opinion,
that such public opinion has new power and that
Japan intends continue her position Of harmony
with the great white powers.
e. When President Mckinley announced in his
message of 1900. the acceptance of the open
Door policy in China, it stated as assuming
ihe benefits of equality OF treatment of all foreign
trade throughout China" and proof OF the
friendly spirit which animates the various powers
interested in the untrammeled development of
commerce and industry in the Chinese Empire as a
source of vast benefit to the whole commercial
world" After that Korea.
1t is a long way from the open door" OF
Mckinley to the open door" of Harding. 1t is
long way from the equality OF treatment OF
trade industry and commerce in the Chinese En-
pire of John Hay to the Hughes statement against
any arrangement to establish any special rights or
ptfyieges in China which would abridge the rights
ofhe subjects citizens OF other friendly states
OF establish in favor of foreign interests any
pe1iorty of rights with respect to commercial or
economic development. This is decidedly
plihed open door" and would block it open as
against the acquiring OF political preference
thority OF exclusive privilege always based upon po-
Etical action and rights, or OF such modern leases
as-carry governing powers.
isThis note is notice enough to all the powers
as 10 what will be the position OF this govern
nrent to the Far East and elsewhere not only
to bring agreement on disarmament, but to make
armament unnecessary. Much has been said of the
probable inclusion Of military as we'll as naval
disarmament but nothing of forti6cations air and
Submarine bases Why halt naval building to re-
lase funds for these other uses? Why halt navies
IL Japan is to fortify, in every way her Pacific
islands, and this country is to do the same? The
one is no threat and no more disuuieting
and may be no less burden than the other.
The farseeing wisdom OF this administration
may be seen in broad a policy that it reaches
to the foundations of armaments and would remove
their causes. In removing all economic advantage
to- replace it with equal economic opportunity,
there must be end to political authority which
IS. the root cause of all That China is to
have place at the conference table, that Secre-
tary Hughes has given notice in advance that this
governments policy directly antagonizes the trans
fer OF the German lease in Shantung to Japan, is
sufficient evidence that no more important con-
ference OF league supreme council has been
sequence of the II successful it may well
lead to such changes in international relations as
wiil form basis for American entrance to the
league or in the forming of the new association.
"
1t would be harder to give up the excess