In 1899, Secretary of State John Hay sent a series of diplomatic notes to the major imperial powers proposing what became known as the Open Door Policy toward China. The idea sounded reasonable enough: rather than allowing any single nation to carve China into exclusive colonies, all countries would have equal trading access throughout the country. It was presented as a principled stand for free commerce and Chinese sovereignty. In reality, it was a clever maneuver by a latecomer to the imperial game, and its long-term consequences proved disastrous for virtually everyone involved. The United States at the turn of the century found itself in an awkward position. American businesses wanted access to the enormous Chinese market, but the European powers and Japan had already staked out spheres of influence across the country. Britain controlled the Ya ...