The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-02
CHINA AND THE TREATY.
THE SENATE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
EXCITED DiSTRUSF

No Official Information Yet Received
by the Department of State That 1t
Has Been Rejected-A Belief That
British influence Was Used to Pre-
vent Ratification.
WASHINGTON, Sept. NO official infor-
nation OF the rejection of the Chinese
treaty has been received at the state depart
n.ent, ami nothing beyond The press dispatch
cab.el last night from London and pub
Iisbed this morning is known on the subject.
The friends of the administration say that
the treaty obtained arrangements with
China which the British government was
most anxious to make, and British in
fiuence TO the extent of the power
of that government to secure
the rejection of the treaty by
China has been apprehended by them. For
this reason the amendments to the treaty,
after it had received the deliberate ap-
proval of the Chinese government through
II minister here, although regar ded as en-
tirelv unnec sssery and useless, were vet
believed to be dangerous and mischievous
and to imperil the great objects sought to
be obtained on our side in long pending
negotiations to settle an important question.
AN EXCITED STATE OF AFFAIRS.
When President Cleveland came into
power a very excited and unsatisfactory
sta of things existed OH the Pacific coast
regarding the c inese question, aud one of
the earliest tasks which Secretary Bayard
set for himself upon assuming the duties of
his present office was to secure the negotia-
ii n of a new treaty. After months OF
negotiation the result was one which
was believed by the negotiat'rs
on both sides TO meet the substantial
requirements of the governments they
represented. The treaty was at once trans
niitted to China for approval Qn March
last, and nothing was heard from that
government to indicate any lack of entire
approval. FiftY-seven days alter the senate
received the treaty it was ratified, but with
amendments which the friends of the ad
ministration regarded as super1uous.
ASSENT SECURED.
The Secretary of State reopened negotia-
tons and succeeded, after some correspond
ence, in securing from the Chinese minister
his assent to the amendments, the assent
being in the form of an exchange of notes,
which embodied in substance an acknowl
edgment that the amendments did not sub
stantally alter the text of the treaty as it
had been originally signed. There seemed
to be, however, in the mind of the minister
an impression that the senate trihed, and
when the amendments were sent out to
China, the proceedings were not understood
by the high authorities of that government.
About month ago an inquiry was received
from the Chinese government by cable, ask
ing if power still remained with the senate
to fur5her amend the treaty. The Chinese
authorities wishing to know if they were
dealing with finality.
NOTHING FURTHER HEARD
To this the Secretary of State replied at
once that the treaty could not be further
amended Nothing further has been heard
Oh the subject, but it is thought by friends
Of the administration that in the natural
course of events the stringent measures in
PRODUCED into congress, designed to carry
into effect by anticipation the provisions of
the treaty, have been brought to the attea-
bion of the Chinese government, and it has
Leen appreheuded that these steps respect
ing treaty not yet formally agreed to and
consequently not in force, have
served to add further embarrassments and
led to further doubts on the part of the
Chinese authorities as to our ultimate pur-
pose. An interview was sought with Sec
rotary Bayard this morning on the subject,
but the secretary declined to express him
self for publication beyond stating that no
Information has been received upon the
subject by the department. If it is true
that China has rejected the treaty" the
secretary added. why we have the former
treaty still in force with restrictive legisla-
ton on our statute books