Open Door Policy in China
U.S. trade opportunities promised in the Far East
Were threatened by the impending dissolution of
China and its partition among imperial powers.
A group of American exporters and Great Britain Lobbied the State Dept. into action.
Secretary of State Hay – sent “Open door” notes to
Great Britain
Germany
& Russia
In Sept. 1899 and later to Japan, Italy and France
Open Door Notes invited these countries to:
1. no power would interfere with the trading
rights of other nations within its sphere of
influence
2. that Chinese tariff duties should be collected
on all merchandise by Chinese officials
3. no power should levy discriminatory harbor
duties or railroad charges against other powers
within its sphere.
No country came out and gave it a thumbs up.