Georg Lehner, Monika Lehner (Hrsg.): Sonderband 6. Österreich-Ungarn und der „Boxeraufstand” in China (2002)

Die „Friedensverhandlungen“ zwischen China und den Mächten - Verlauf, Abschluss und Unmittelbare Folgen

Georg Lehner - Monika Lehner

Unter dem Schlagwort „Open Door“ hatte US-Außenminister John Hay zwischen September und November 1899 durch die Botschafter der USA in London, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Rom und Tökyö den jeweiligen Regierungen die so genannten „Open Door Notes“ zugehen lassen:

[...] The present moment seems a particularly opportune one for informing [...] Government of the desire of the United States to see it make a formal declaration and to lend its support in obtaining similar declarations from the various powers claiming ‘spheres of interest’ in China , to the effect that each in its respect spheres of interest or influence.

First. Will in no wise interfere with any treaty port or any vested interest within any so-called „sphere of interest” or leased territory it may have in China.

Second. That the Chinese treaty tariff of the time being shall apply to all merchandise landed or shipped to all such ports as are within said „sphere of interest” (unless they be „free ports”), no matter to what nationality it may belong, and that duties so levialbe shall be collected by the Chinese Government.

Third. That it will levy no higher harbor duties on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port in such „sphere” than shall be levied on similar merchandise belonging to its own nationals transported over equal distances.1961

Die „Politik der Offenen Tür“, die im Allgemeinen Hay zugeschrieben wird, war erstmals in einem Memorandum von Alfred E. Hippisley, einem Mitarbeiter des State Departement am 17. August 1899 gefordert worden.1962 Ergebnis des

1961 The China White Paper, August 1949. Originally issued as „United States Relations with China. With special Reference to the Period 1944-1949.“ Department of State Publication 3573. Far Eastern Series 30. Reissued with the original letter of transmittal to president Truman from secretary of state Dean Acheson and with a new introduction by Lyman P. Van Slyke, Stanford 1967, Nr. 4: Secretary Hay to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Choate); cf. auch: FRUS 1899, S. 131 f. Nach der Unterdrückung der Yihetuan-Bewegung folgte am 3.7.1900 eine „zweite“ Open Door-Note.

1962 „The mercantile communities of the United States and Gr[eat] Britain, realising the important field for their enterprise which under existing conditions is afforded by China, and the vastly extended field for it which they might legitimately look forward to under improved conditions in the future, earnestly desire the maintenance of the ‘open door’, i. e., of the rights possessed under the existing treaties of Tientsin. In other words, they ask that they be assured the equality of opportunities which all nations alike have hitherto enjoyed under those treaties for (a) commerce, (b) navigation, and (c) exploitation of mines and railroads. [...].

Equality of opportunity as regards (c) having practically then already gone by the board, it would seem that the utmost that can now be attempted is to safeguard equality of opportunity as regards (a) and (b) commerce and navigation. To do this it appears essential that the nations in favour of the ‘open door’ policy should bind themselves, and secure undertakings from the other powers, to the effect that each in its respective spheres of interest or influence (1) will in no way interfere with any treaty port in such sphere or with the interests vested in it; (2) will promise that, unless the ports opened to trade in it are declared free ports, the Chinese treaty tariff as existing or as hereafter am- mended shall apply to all merchandise landed or shipped, no matter to what nationality such merchandise may belong; and that the dues and duties so levialble shall be collected by the Chinese Govt.: and (3) will levy no higher harbour dues on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port in such sphere than shall be levied on vessels of its own nationality, and no higher railroad charges on merchandise belonging to subjects of other Powers transported through such sphere than shall be levied on similar merchandise belonging to its own nationals transported over equal distances.“ (=„Hippisley-Memorandum“, siehe A. Whitney Griswold, The Far Eastern Policy of the United States, New Haven/London, 4. Druck 1964, zuerst 1938, Neuauflage 1962, S. 475-487.

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