PRESENT PROSPECT OF CHINA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12536, 6 May 1915, Page 3

PRESENT PROSPECT OF CHINA.

Xowhere has the precarious position of China among the .nations been more clearly set forth than by Dr Gilbert Keid, in the Open Court (Chicago). Dr Keid begins his article with the statement that there are two policies in dealing with the affairs of China which are mutually antagonistic, the one known as the ''open door" policy, or that of equal opportunity, and the other that of domination by some one outside power. A third policy is also conceivable between the two already named, but more akin to the latter. " That is, the policy of combination on the part of several nations tn retard the advance ol others and to gain the. control of China.

The "open door" doctrine, promulgated bv the United States, has been accepted by all the outside powers. Theie has been for many years little talk of the break-up of China, hot insinuations have been made, from time to time, that one nation or another was plotting such a break-up. It has been contrary to the spirit of the American people and also inconsistent with the very idea of equal opportunity for helpfulness to China to use force for the carrying out of the "open door" doctrine. Thus Dr Keid assumes that if China is to have her integrity preserved, the United States alone cannot be relied upon to see that it is done. All the powers, on an equal basis and in an equal spirit, must work for its consummation. But, as Dr Reid points out, equality of opportunity, equality of influence, and equality of helpfulness have no meaning when any one outside nation is dominant, or even predominant. "The only predominant influence in China should be China."

But what up to the present time has been the predominant influence in China; at least among outside nations? Dr Keid maintains that it has been Great Britain. "Even when theorising in her most persuasive tones for fair play and equality to all, she has unconsciously affected the predominant attitude. This war has brought much into the light of day. Woe to the man that thinks differently from an Englishman, whether such an one lives 'in merrie England' or out here in the foreign communities of the Far East! Down with the nation that is a rival of old England!" War has been made not only on German militarism, but on German trade, German culture, German character. British business houses have not relished German competition, and even in educational matters German technical schools have caused some worry to English residents in China. Life in treaty ports has been predominantly .English. "The average American coming to China, bo he merchant or missionary, instinctively lines up with the British portion of the community. In times of crisis, as the present, when Britain's predominance throughout the world is put to the test, to venture an opinion other than that tc which the predominant elementhas given its stamp, its anathema. A good word for the Germans, even as they are in China, deserves martial law. Not to speak the good word for the English and their part in the drama does not merit martial law; a social boycott is sufficient."

Outside of Manchuria the greatest menace to Britain's dominance in China has come, of late, from Germany. Thus, as Dr Reid sees it, the war has proved a veritable god-send to Great Britain since it has given her a chance to crush a dangerous rival and thatchance has been eagerly seized. By China herself, however, the eradication of this German rival is not looked upon as an unmixed blessing. China feared too great one-sidedaess on the part, of the other powers, and Germany afforded a kind of cheek on that tendency. Now, hy the elimination of Germany, China finds herself in the hands of the five Britain. France, Russia, Japan, and Belgium. ''Anything that a neutral nation, like America, can do to help China is realised as almost futile in the face of this combination. China thus views the future with feelings of trepidation. Both one-sided domination and dismemberment have heretofore been warded off by the presence of a strong and active competitor like Germany. For the future the question is, whether the old

policy of the 'open door' can be maintnined. with America's pious blessing, or whether the five remaining powers will again advocate between them China's dismemberment, or whether Japan will succeed in becoming dominant, as well as predominant, and treat big China as she ha* treated little; Korea."

In any case, Dr Keid declares that the predominance in China once held by (treat Britain and threatened by Germany has now passed to Japan.