Open Door

an expre ion used to designate an arrangement, binding by general consent rather than by treaty, between European Powers and the United States, for allowing all nations to trade in China upon equal terms. In other words, the powers which control spheres of influence in the Celestial Empire have indicated their willingne to admit the United States traders into their spheres on the same terms as the traders of their own country are admitted. This agreement, so far as the United States are concerned and apparently so far as other Powers are concerned, places China, commercially, in the same relation to the rest of the world that she had before the spheres of influence were recegnized. Her tariff rates are to be uniform to all nations with which she enjoys trade treaties. Of course, the Powers have not agreed to force China to respect her treaties with the United States. They were not asked to do that. But they have, on their own part, agreed to respect those treaties and to put no obstacle in the way of the expansion of our commerce under them. This is a distinct gain for us and for China, and, indeed, for the Powers involved, for the exchange of mutual a urances has fixed their policy in China for the immediate future. 54