Digital History

In 1899, Secretary of State John Hay issued a statement addressing the U.S. policy toward China. The U.S. sent notes to Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Russia to explain the Open Door Policy. The policy supported the principle that foreign countries have equal access to commercial and industrial trade rights in China and requested that no nations create a sphere of influence in China. The replies from each country were evasive. They skirted the issue by taking the position that they could not commit themselves unless other nations complied first. Hay concluded that the evasiveness meant that each was willing to comply with the policy. Economic tensions were high. Countries continued to compete for railroad and mining rights and foreign trade within China. Subsequent events lead to the failure of the Open Door principle. Document: John Hay to Andrew D. White United States Department of State Washington, September 6, 1899 At the time when the Government of the United States

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• Alex Jiang