Question

" Will in no way interfere with any treaty port or any vested interest within any so-called 'sphere of interest' or leased territory it may have in China." - Secretary of State John Hay, "The First Open Door Note," 1899

What does this excerpt reveal about the Open Door policy? Use simple words and write 1 paragraph

Answer 1

The excerpt from Secretary of State John Hay's "First Open Door Note" shows that the Open Door policy aimed to ensure that all countries would have equal access to trade in China. It highlights that the United States wanted to protect the rights of other nations and their interests in China, meaning it did not want to disrupt what other countries had already established there. This approach was meant to support free trade and prevent any single country from dominating China, making sure that everyone could participate fairly in its economy.