The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-24
Question of Carrying Out of
Four Root Proposals
Adopted by Powers
Now Discussed.
AGREEMENT NOT TREATY
New Diplomatic Convention Is
Suggested 10 Take Place
of Executive De.
claration.
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Eoni1ishk lQ2l

WASHINGTON. Nov 2i-Who will keep
the open toor' in China open? How
will the four principles written by Elihu
Root and now adopted by all the nine
powers interested ia the Far East be en-
f0rced2
These questions touch the most deli
cate phase of the whole Far Eastern
problem. and on their settlement. il now
is admitted by some Of the spokesnen
of the foreign governments, depends the
success Of the conference.
Number one Of Mr.. Roofs principles
carries i mutual pledge that ii is the
firm intention of the powers attending
the conference 10 respect the sovereign.
". the independence and the territorial
and administrative integrity Of China"
The famous Articl eTcn Of the coyen-
ant of the League Of Nations was wreck
ed in the United States Senate because
ii carried mutual pledge 10 respect
and preserve the territorial integrity of
the powers who signed il and contained
moreover a promise that these powers
would consult wi,h each other and ad-
wise upon the means of carrying out the
pledge. The Chinese delegates origin
ally proposed that the first principle
should read: "To respect and observe"
the territorial integrity of China. but Mr..
Root carefully eliminated the word ob-
serve" as perhaps too close 10 the word
preserve
now ABOUT ENFORCEMENT?
There is much comment in conference
quarters on the significant omission of
all reference TO means of compelling an
enforcement of the four Roo, principles. |
which include not merely respect for
China's territorial integrity and indie
pendence but promise of the powers
TO use their inference for the purpose
of effectually establishing and maintain
ing the principle Of equal opportunity /
for the commerce and industry Of all ma.
iions Throughout the territory of China"
No specific merton is made as TO
What the word influence" means. though
ii is commonly interpreted as diplomatic
and moral influence rather than physical
roecion. The United States govern
ment through John Hay secured the same
pledge from all the powers TO respec,
=nd preserve the open door in China. but
The archives Of the Department of State
are full Of protests sent by this govern
meni to Japan and other countries al. !
ieging violations OF the Hay open door"
principle
What is proposed, moreover. in this
conference is Simply an executive decla.
ration and not solemn treaty and the
sesesal~ foreign cihcials here have al.
ready asked what value such an execu.
tive statement of policy by the United
States will have under succeeding ad. |
ministraiion, for il is true that some of |
he Knox-Tafi policies and declarations
about China were upset by the Bryan
Wilson administration and were later re. |
voised by the Lansing Wilson policies.
The Harding. Hughes expressions are not
TO be submitted IL the Senate and as |
such have a value only as long as the |
present administration is in power. Some |
OF the foreign delegations have raised
the point. therefore, as TO whether it
would not be better TO have treaty or
convention drawn up, which would be
more formidable than a mere executive
declaration.
The White House has made il clear
that the President feels there is a diff |
ference between understanding" on
policy reached by the executive with 9th.
Ter governments and an agreement car
ring in ii ''an obligation" The latter
would be submitted by Mr.. Harding to
the Senate but ii will be noted that the
Root principles carefully refrain from
including any obligation on the part Of
the United States 10 preserve either the
Territorial integrity and administrative
independence of China, or the "open
door" therein.
COMPROMISE SUGGESTED
Some Of the British spokesmen are
suggesting that perhaps a new form Of
diplomatic convention may be worked
out which will satisfy the United States
governments hesitancy to submit any.
thing 10 the Senate and will at the same
time carry greater weight in iniernaf
iional councils than simple executive
declaration, for the European powers
saw the executives of the United States
sign a treaty at Paris, and several other
conventions and agreements which were
fepudiated by the Senate. They are de.
termined to avoid similar dilemma.
But If the agreement about the Far
East carries with it no specific pledge
ior enforcement and no penalties for
violation, how will the principles be en-.
forced? The talk now is Of organizing
TN international body composed of the
sme nine powers who we're invited here
to consider Far Eastern questions. This
organization, il is suggested, would meet
periodically and would examine protests
as TO whether the principles had been
violated ard would report its decisions
e the world so that public opinion and
moral force would compel respect and
obedience. Some such move is in contem.
plation not merely because Of the the.
pry that the American people are not
sufficiently interested in China to 20 to