ABSTRACT
The attitude of the British Government as presented by Mr. Chamberlain was a compromise of the policy which Mr. Curzon had put forward in the House of Commons as the Government's policy on March 1, 1898. Mr. Chamberlain made his admission by pointing out the distinction between trade and concessions. Mr. Chamberlain stated that Britain wanted "a better guarantee than any paper agreement to ensure the policy of the open door. Mr. Chamberlain had directed the foregoing general remarks to the Germans and Japanese, but primarily to the Americans. The American Press, on the other hand, received the Guildhall speech favourably. British interests and American interests had at about this time agreed to share their enterprises in China, and to win for these the support of their respective Governments. It was a policy that was calculated to appeal to the trading nations in China, and to win their approval and support because of its universality.
