To the Editor of the Sin,—Having been invited to take part in the discussion of the open meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on 'Thursday, the 10th inst., I desire to express tay appreciation of the courtesy shown me as an American, and of the deep interest manifested in' the con.mercial development of China. It would have been out of place, us well as futile, on my part to have thrown in a discordant note. Through the free channels of the Press, and your own forbearance, I may now be allowed to give expression to my convictions, which at least are the result of much study and a long experience among the governing classes of Chins Lam heartily in favour of the promotion of British trade in the Far East. I prefer the success of British methods of commercial enterprise. I wish well to my kinsman according tu the flesh," but I an equally opposed to even the smallest tendency to injure the autonomy of the Chinese Government, I would be false to the friendly relations T have secured with the Chinese authorities if I kept silent when men around me argued for what is detrimental to China, The first article in the regulations of the International Institute, as sanctioned by the Imperial Board of Foreign Affairs, declares that all the persons and all the work of the Institute would seck the prosperity of the Chinese people, and the well-being of the Chinese Govern: ment. I want no ce-operation or contri-Vutions from those aiming xt the downfall of China, I intend to be loyally true to Chinese interes lo ready to promote British and American interests.
This "confession of faith" is owing to the trend of all the speakers that day towards the policy of securing a British sphere of itiluence, which would mean, as Sir Richard Temple declared an area populated by about 200,000,000 people "the lion's share." I believe this policy i terests, while calampetuity. But," it A we do not seek, as' Mr.
gh remarked, any territorial aconly an open door in our own If se, why content ourselves with an open door in a limited sphere? Why not seek an open door in the whole of China, as guaranteed by the treaties which all the Powers have made with China? "True, but the other Powers are closing the open' door." Not yet, I reply. Russia has ed some closed dours for herself exclusively, but not closed any open door. If she threatens this in Newchwang, then make a stand there on the clear principle of right and law.
The British claim a sphere of influence in the Yangtze Valley, and that means north to Shansi and south to Burma, and then east to Hongkong. Who gave you this sphere? The Chinese Gorernment will recognise no sphere of influence for any outside country. If you ignore them, You must arrange it with other foreign owers, ani when that comes, France, as an equal Power, has an ambition for a share equal to yours, and Germany will Let Great Britain stand up for her not be content with only half of Shantung rights, which mean the welfare of China,—some 20,000,000 people—or Russia with and she will link to herself the goodwill Manchuria—some 25,000,000 people; and and support of the United States. Aban-other countries will need to be consulted, don these rights, destroy the possibility of When grab comes in, the rivalries intensify. preserving Chins, and agitate for a quartet Ie is easier to secure ce-operation, at sphere, and there will come no sympathy, least from the United States and Japan. no respect or support from the United to maintain fair competition over the States. To thy own self be true, and it whole of China—than to secure spheres of will follow, as the night the day, thou influence for Great Britain, Germany, can't not then be false to any man."—France, and Russia.
Yours, etc., 'A sphere of influence inherently denotes Guazar Rew. political interference with China's sover-eighty. Even Mr. Yerburgh claimed for the Blockley, Worcestershire. ritish sphere "preferential rights in regard to railway construction and mining." That hardly means an open door within the Miscellaneous.
British sphere. At least, all the nations not of this quartet would be excluded in these matters from the four spheres. But, even as thus designed, it is already im-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.