AMERICA AND THE CHINESE OPEN DOOR

The aggressive policy of President Roosevelt continued throughout the four years succeeding March 4, 1905, when he again took the oath of office as President.  In his suggested reforms he continued to be a real leader of the people.  John Hay, who for seven years had so efficiently performed his duties as Secretary of State, was continued in that office.  William H. Taft, after his return from the Philippine Islands, where he had held the office of first civil governor, succeeded Elihu Root as Secretary of War.

The United States, having become a world power after the war with Spain, assumed leadership in the adjustment of Chinese problems.  At the close of the century American manufacturers had built up in China a market for their cotton goods which they desired to extend.  At the same time strife arose among some of the European nations for trade advantages in that empire.  Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Italy were demanding for their citizens concessions, leases, franchises, and special trade privileges in various parts of that country.  Gradually, spheres of influence covering certain regions were acquired and it seemed probable that China would be partitioned among the European Powers as Africa had been in the previous decade.  This would be a blow to American export trade.  Now the acquisition of the Philippine Islands gave us a vantage point from which we could consistently exert influence in Oriental affairs.  In September, 1899, John Hay addressed a note to the European Powers interested, asking recognition of the policy of the “open door,” which means that no power should exclude the citizens of other nations from equal trade rights, within its sphere of influence, in China.  Without winning complete acceptance from all the nations, the justice of this policy was, in the main, approved.

During the following year came the Boxer Rebellion in which there were massacres of Europeans and Americans.  When the foreign legations were besieged in Peking, United States troops took part in the expedition which marched to their relief.  Seizure of Chinese territory, as indemnity, might have followed, but Secretary Hay brought the influence of this country to bear in securing guarantees of the territorial integrity of China and equal trade rights in its ports.

Friendly relations between the Chinese Empire and the United States were still further strengthened by the liberal attitude of our government relative to the indemnity growing out of the Boxer uprising.  The total amount which China had obligated itself to pay the governments, societies, and private individuals was $333,000,000.  Of this sum, $24,400,778 was allotted to the United States.  As a mark of friendship for China, Congress upon the recommendation of President Roosevelt, 1907, cancelled the obligation of China to pay that part of the stipulated indemnity in excess of $11,655,492, or an amount adequate to cover the actual amount of the claims.  This generous conduct prompted the Chinese government to devote the funds thus remitted to the sending of Chinese students to this country for their education.  About one hundred of these students have entered our schools and colleges each year since 1907.  American institutions will, as a consequence, have a great influence on the progressive development of China.

For some time Russia had been extending her influence over the Chinese tributary province of Manchuria.  In 1903 negotiations for a new commercial treaty were begun between China and the United States.  There were numerous delays on account of an agreement relative to opening the Manchurian ports.  For a time it seemed probable that the American demand that her trading rights should be restored in Manchuria would bring on serious complications with Russia.  Upon the completion of the treaty, however, the request was renewed and China acquiesced by opening the ports of Mukden and Ta Tung Kao to the ships of all nations.  At the same time Russia agreed that she would in no way oppose this action.

At the outbreak of the war between Japan and Russia, in 1904, Secretary Hay took another step toward maintaining the administrative entity of the Chinese Empire.  At the suggestion of Germany he addressed a note to the powers which had taken part in the treaty of Peking, asking them to pledge themselves to limit the area of the war; keep China from becoming involved, and use their best endeavors to prevent the violation of Chinese interests by either belligerent, provided China should maintain absolute neutrality.  These proposals were agreed to by the signatory nations, and both Russia and Japan promised to respect Chinese neutrality.

Meantime a new national spirit had been developing rapidly in China and a greater sensitiveness was manifest toward the treatment of Chinese outside the empire.  The strict interpretation of the Chinese Exclusion act had caused many Chinese entering the ports of the United States unwarranted hardships.  A crisis was reached in 1905.

According to the rules adopted by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, neither the immigration acts nor the Chinese exclusion acts apply to a Chinese person born in the United States.  Under the laws, all Chinese laborers, both skilled and unskilled, are prohibited from entering the United States, but this prohibition does not extend to merchants, teachers, students, and travellers who are to be granted all the rights, privileges, and exemptions accorded the citizens of any other nation.  In spite of these rulings, Ju Toy, who claimed to have been born in the United States, was deported.  Three Chinamen, with their sister, who had been studying in the English schools came to Boston.  Notwithstanding they had a letter from Mr. Choate, former United States ambassador to Great Britain, they were not allowed to land with other passengers, and were otherwise humiliated by the formalities to which they were subjected.  Men of influence throughout the Chinese Empire were aroused and a circular was issued, in May, 1905, which was widely disseminated in the chief cities, calling for agreement not to buy any more American goods.  Newspapers urged students to leave schools where American teachers were employed or American text-books or supplies were used.  At this juncture President Roosevelt was appealed to by the American members of the Chinese Educational Association.  Acting with his accustomed vigor, he issued instructions to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to send a letter to all immigration officials, instructing them that “any discourtesy shown to Chinese persons by any officials of the Government will be the cause for immediate dismissal from the service.”  In his message to Congress he declared that it was Chinese laborers alone who are undesirable, and that other Chinamen-students, professional men, merchants-should be encouraged to come to the United States.  “We have no right,” he wrote, “to claim the open door in China unless we do equity to the Chinese.”