The Open Door and its Possibilities "Tue Oren Door RELATION 10 CuiNa."" By Ming-chien Joshua" Bau, rx.v.—The Macmillan Company, New York.
(Chinese American Publishing Ca., Nanking Road, $5.0).
The appearance of this volume is decidedly opportune in view of the present political state of China.
The doctrine may be defined as one of equal opportunity for all to a share in, the trade of China and of the integrity of this country.
The author first deals with the history of the doctrine and the dangers threatening the integrity of China, and shows how it was enunciated to neutralize these dangers. Though the doctrine is not a new one—the genesis of the idea appears in the earliest China treaties—it was first brought into prominence in_1899 by My. John Hay, then U. S. Secretary of State. This portion of the volume is very well written and is an accepted and comprehensive history of certain phases of Chinese affairs within the last 30 years down to and including the Washington Conference and the Nine Power Treaty. It is pleasant to say that no bias or partiality is shown by the author in his historical review.
tne vest of the volume is devoted to chapters on particular subjects referred to and bearing on the subject and sunimarizes succinctly the matter dealt with in each chapter.
As has been said, the appearance of the volume is opportune, for the author offers a suggestion to China which, if properly appreciated, should prove a means of alleviating the present de plorable state of affairs. Furthermore, there is a serious warning expressed that unless China does appreciate the position, ib may end in international control of her finances and practical destruction of her administrative integrity. Never was more favourable opportunity given to China to save herself. aided by the sanctions imposed on the nations by the Nine Power Treaty. Protected by the Treaty from outside interference, China's salvation rests in her own hands. Will she avail herself of this, perhaps her jast, chance?
We would commend this volume te our readers as an accurate and scholarly study of doctrine akin to a subject very prominent to-day—the rebuilding of world trade after the late Great War.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.