Reiteration of Open Door Policy by Secretary of State Washington, Feb, 25.
Col, Henry L, Stimson, the Seoretary of State, in aletter to Senator Borah, upholding the "open door" policy in China, alludes to! hhis note on the Far-East situation written on January 7. Mr. Stimson' then adds that "if a' similar position would be taken by other Gov-jemments of the world, a caveat, would be placed on the' violations fof Pacts. which would eventually bar the subsequent legality of any title or right which it sought to} maintain by pressure through treaty Mr. Stimson avoids placing the blame either on China or Japan but, points out that the Nine-Power Treaty was one of several interrelated interdependent instruments.
Text of Letter The full text of Colonel Stim. son's reply, as issued by the United Legation last night, fol THe Honourame Wotan E.
Boraw, CHAIRMAN, ComMrtTee On Poteion RELATIONS, UNITED Staves SENATE
My kan SENATOR Bona:
You have saked my opinion when thera lis been sorelies rece Iy'shugested, present conditions China have in any way. indicated the so-called" Nine-Power Treaty hes become inapplicable or Ineffective of rightly' im) meed for Imodifeation and if so, what 1 con-Sidered should be the' policy of this Goverment.
This Treaty, as you of course Tegal basis' upon pal Cee. pokey lat policy tnuneiated by John Hay in 1899 Brought to an end the" struggle Among various Powers for so-called Spheres of interest in China which Threatening the dismemberment of that Ein) Mr. Hay ive To accomplish this fnvaked two. principle ay quality of commercial oppor-among all nations in dei ing and as necessary 2) the preservati Strative integrity. These principles fof America, They. had been the tore not new im the foreign policy principles upon which it rested its Realings. with" other' nations, for many years, In the case of China they' were Tnvoked to save a situa ion which not only threatened the future development and cover fof that. great Asiatic people, so threatened to create dangerous find constantly, increasing rivalries between the other nations of the world, War had already Place between Japan and Chins The close of that war three other nations interfered to Prevent from obtaining some of the results of that war, "Other nations bought fand had obtained spheres of interest, "Partly as a result of these fe tions a serious "uprising had Broken out in China which—en~ dangered the legations of all of the powers at Peking while the attack those legations was in progress. Mr. Hay made an announcement in aspect to this policy as the prin. Ciple upon which the powers should sce inthe settlement' of the rebel-fon. "He said, "The policy of the government of the United States Eek station which may bring about permanent. safety and peace fo°China, preserve. Chinese. territorial and administrative entity, protect all rights. guaranteed. Friendly powers. by treaty and international law, and safeguard for {heer the prinepe of equal and impartial trade with all parts ihe Chinese Empire." He was suecessful in obtaining the concent. the ether powers t© the policy thas
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.