Final answer:
The cutting instruments in the Open Door Policy cartoon symbolize trade negotiations and countries carving out their spheres of influence in China. The Open Door Policy allowed all countries equal access to trade with China, which ultimately benefited the U.S. due to its superior goods production. 'Iron curtain' imagery represents Cold War division between the Soviet bloc and the West.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the political cartoon regarding the Open Door Policy, the presence of characters holding something to cut with likely symbolizes trade and negotiations. The cutting instruments such as scissors or knives would represent the nations' active participation in carving out their spheres of influence and ensuring access to Chinese markets.
The Open Door Policy was a principle proposed by the United States that advocated equal privileges for all countries trading with China and was meant to prevent any single nation from monopolizing Chinese trade. In this context, Hay's suggestion of this policy benefited the United States immensely, particularly because American businesses were producing higher-quality goods more efficiently and at lower costs than their counterparts, therefore, the open trade environment allowed the U.S. to dominate the market.
Alternatively, if we are discussing the 'iron curtain' political cartoon, this imagery symbolizes the division between the Soviet bloc and the West. The term iron curtain is often used to describe the barrier to open communication and travel that existed between these two areas during the Cold War.