Evening star., 1933-05-13

Recent statements from ofdcial
sources en- the maintenance Of the
open door" in China have created
American interest because that policy,
formulated by Secretary of State
Hay, Is held to have been q tri-
umph of American diplomacy. State
ment by an official that recognition OF
Manchukuo would be the price Of main
tanning the open door has been followed
by a Toxic announcement to the con-
trary. 1t is held that the present dis
pute over the Chinese Eastern Railway
is involved in commercial plans in the
Orient
1T is satisfactory to know" says the
Providence Journal, that the japanese
government has officially notified the
United States Government that the
open door of trade and commerce in
Manchuria will be maintained, not
withstanding a contrary announcement
Spokesman" The Journal concludes:
The American Government and peo-
pie have reason to welcome the present
announcement from Tokio that the new
state of Manchukuo does not propose
to shut John Hays open door In our
faces. The open door represents fine
triumph for American diplomacy. The
shut door would have been a serious
blow at that diplomacy, as well as at
the commercial rights it has sought to
protect"
A statement by former President
Theodore Roosevelt Is quoted by the
Oakland Tribune, that former leader
having declared that this policy, 'as q
matter of fact, completely disappears
rs soon as a powerful nation determines
TO disregard it, and Is willing to run
the risk Of war rather than forego its
intention" The Tribune holds that
the recent alleged threat was "an eco
nomic one, which might in measure
Offset any embargo other nations placed
upon the shipment Of war materials to
Toxic. In dollars and cents" con-
tinues the Tribune, "the United States
is but mildly interested, inasmuch as Its
total investment in what was Man
churia is no more than $l2 900 600.
There is a principle involved. The
open door policy, giving all nations
equal right to trade in the Orient, was
frst formulated by Secretary Hay In
1899 It has been frequently con-
firmed. To it Japan made pledge ~
the Root-Takahira agreement IN 1913
and in the Lansing agreement OF 1917.
It is incorporated in the nine-poWer
treaty Of 1922, signed by all the prln-
cipal powers, including Japan"
IF Japan intends to maintain the
policy of the open door," thinks the
Baltimore Sun, "Russia's interest in the
Chinese Eastern will have to be scrupu-
lously protected. On the other hand. II
Japan does not protect the Russian In
terest In the railway, It will be an indi-
cation Of her disinclination to adhere
to the open-door policy In general.
There have been hints that the open
door would be closed. The action of
Japan with respect to the Chinese
Eastern will 60 rather a long way
toward showing what the japanese
policy will really be. All nations which
are interested In the open door may
be said, therefore, to have an indirect
stake IN the negotiations to settle the
lines status"
Japan will be held responsible" de-
clares the Buffalo Evening News, by
the outside governments for any action
allegedly taken by Manchukuo which
works to the injury Of foreign inter-
estS." As to occasional runors that
the open door might be closed, the
Evening News offers the comment:
"O9ncial cognizance Of the threat has
been taken by the British government.
Recently q member of the House Of
Commons asked the cabinet what
steps. II any, were to be taken to pro-
tect British trade interests In Man.
churia, In view Of the statement