Evening star., 1921-12-06
China's Open Door Swings Out
ward.

The unanimous agreement Sin prfn-
ciple' among the nations Of the
Washington conference to China's
plea for independence from foreign
domination, as embodied in the four
resolutions of Mr.. Root. has been fol-
lowed by certain amount Of re-
Election in editorial columns as to
what this agreement may develop in
practice. To determine this, I'VE
shall have to await further explana-
tions," thinks the Vancouver (B. Co
Province, since the conversations
leading to this report were not made
public, but If it is agreed that China
is to have full political and admins
trative authority the convention need
not trouble itself about the open
door in China. That nation will have
the same right over her doorways as
Britain or the United States. The
gates will be hers to open and hers
to close"
Whether China is qualified to be her
own doorkeeper, however. is an open
question in much of the comment.
the Canton (Ohio) News (democratic)
thinks the concessions" of the con
ference may be somewhat remote in
their application" because. to quote
the Ithaca IN. " Journal-News ln-
dependent), "only a strong govern.
ment can cope with the situation"
and all that has befallen China OF
foreign domination has been because
China was too weak to resist, IN
the opinion of the Wilkes-Barre Rec
ord (republican). The San Antonio
Light (independent) notes that China
admits the possibility that she
may be unable. at present. to ad-
minister her own government affairs
properly, but she applies to the con-
ference for exact specifications of her
obligations, SO that she may go
However. sin order that this policy
may be put in effect" says the Port
land Oregonian independent repub-
lican), "the whole network of spheres.
concessions and privileges held by
other nations should be swept away"
but until orderly government Is es-
tablished, independence and restored
integrity would be of small value. for
foreign enterprise and capital would
shun the country"
That this consideration would not
be of paramount importance to China.
once foreign restrictions were lifted
from her commerce, is implied by the
publican), which states that Chinese
merchants have shown the ability to
drive out competition wherever they
found it." "As matters stand" OBJ
serves the San Antonio Express (in-
dependent democraticl, "the republic
any nation" which is mot only an
injustice to China. but q disadvantage
to other countries" For a period
Of nearly eighty years" says the
Topeka Capital (republican). "China
has. been under an enforced agree
70 TOW ApNtfn In
cess of per cent" and "up to this
time" says the Fort Wayne Journal
Gazette (democratic), 1.-The only thing
that has been definitely granted
China is that she shall be permitted
by the United States. ENGLAND.
her tariff duties from 5 to 12 per
cent" Thus having prevented China
from raising "the revenue necessary
to maintain the government" this
paper continues, they "force loans
upon her that other nations would
learn, as many persons did for .he
1democratic), athat these foreign
governments had assumed to enforce
upon China a provision that that
country could not impose a tariff
duty exceeding per cent upon any
nese." and "this was DONE" explains
the Sioux City Tribune independently,
.to protect business. men of the pow
ers from competition with Chinese
labor and enterprise" In their diff
ferent spheres of influence" where's
in the foreign country holding it is
guaranteed for ninety-ninety or more
years freedom from all competition
within specified boundaries, with all
other nations, including the Chinese
resident therein" with the result
smallpox of such monopolies."
But in the matter of customs con-,
troll, the Reno Gazette (republican)
feels that it sis quite natural" that
there should be some exasperation
on the part of the British delega.
ton" since the British have admin
istered the Chinese customs =
Tor many years and no money has