Evening star., 1922-01-18
EXPLAINS j. S.:V|EW
I OF THE open DOOR
Policy in China Proposed by
Mr.. Hughes Surprises Far
East Committee.

Americas proposal to define again
and make application of the open
door policy" in China, submitted to
the committee on the far east of
the Washington conference, was ex-
planned by Secretary Hughes during
three-hour session of the committee
yesterday afternoon.
In the course of the discussion of
this important proposal, which wouli
bring about review by an interna-
tional commission of existing as
WeH as future -concessions-Whi
nlisnt De IN violation of the open
door policy-the American plan was
acSsPted IN principle both by the
BRUSH and Italian delegations.
.. france raised the question as to
view existing commitments. Japan
declared that the American proposal
as contained in the Hughes resolu-
elon laid before the committee was
IN consonance with the views of the
japanese relating to the open door,
ouI desired to examine the resolution
and advise with Toxic before taking
action upon it.
American Plan Disclosed.
me American plan is to link up the
United States. Great Britain. France
ita!y. Japan, the Netherlands. Belgium
ana Portugal in an agreement not to
seek special spheres of influence in
Chlna or to obtain concessions or
monepolies which would be viola tive
III the open door, At the same time
emma " to agree to cooperate in
maintaining the open door policy. as
defined in the resolution,
Members of the Chinese delegation
expressed the opinion after the meet
ing that the American plan for the
practical establishment of the open
ooor was long step in the right
direction and would go far to relieve
China of the burdens which she car
ries today because of spheres of in
huence and concessions wrung from
her in the past.
Surprises the Delegates,
The American proposal for dealing
with the open door took the dele
! gates SO by surprise that there was
concluded reading the resolution
which became embarrassing. 1t was
hnally broken by Senator Schanzer.
head of the Italian delegation. rising
10 ask question of Mr.. Hughes re-
! followed
The principle of the open door.
Senator SchanZer said, and of the
proposed resolution. was fully in
dorsed by the Italian government.
put its delegation did not feel at
liberty to go further than accept the
! American plan in substance. The
British made a similar expression
and the Japanese. in turn. declared
| they desired to cooperate in the open
| door policy, but must cable the text
| OF the American proposal to Toxic
! before they could give it approval
Speaking for the French. Albert
| Sarraut also Endorsed in principle the
! open door. but declared he had some
! misgivings as to the effect of article
~ of the American resolution.
which would authorize an inquiry
| into the validity of existing conces-
| sions. He asked Chairman Hughes if
| that article referred also to conces-
| sions in the past. Mr.. Hughes re-
| piled that it did.
NJ. Sarraut's Comment.
| n. Sarraut remarked in substance.
! hat the article would seem to raise
| the validity of any or all Chinese
! concessions of the past. He ques-
! toned whether that would not lead
| to interminable discussion and con-
| tention before the board of reference.
VI. Sarraut said after the committee
meeting that he was thinking as a
! iurist of assisting the committee to
clarity the subject so that the pre-
else consequences of the resolution
| might be foreseen and provided for.
! One of the important questions in
| volved in the general discussion was
said to have been whether the prin-
| .iples set forth would apply to pub
| 'ic enterprises and private enter
! prises alike. or only the former. 1t
was suggested in some quarters that
this feature would have to be def
nitely determined before the agree
| mcnt could be subscribed to by the
| British. although they are understood
TO have accepted the entire scheme in
| principle, because of the millions in
vested by private British corporations
| in China, notably in coal mines
| among which are some of the largest
and most valuable in China proper.
! Japan's Interests Explained.
| On the other hand. the japanese
| interests in China were said to be
mostly public enterprises. and these
would be directly affected. The
| British have government as well as
private railroad interests there. 1,
! was also recalled that the French
have private commercial interests and
the Yunnan railroad. one of the i'm