Evening star., 1899-11-04
Powers Informed That Our Rights
Must Be Respected.
OPPOSED TO APPORTI0NING The PORTS
win Be a Feature Of the Presidents S
Message.
INTERESTS OF THE SOUTH

enforce
'open-door policy in China. The impor-
tance Of the attitude assumed by the
United States in this matter to which at.
| tention has been called in The Star has
begun to force itself upon the attention of
Europe. Since The Star first announced that
the assembling of large vessels of the navy
at Manila had its significance In the Chinese
policy of the administration, and that this
government would insist that whatever
change might occur in the Chinese status
the permanent security of our rights In
the treaty ports must be assured as a con-
dltion precedent to such change there have
been many inquiries and much specula ton
on the subject, with the result that it mas
been discovered that the matter has gone
much further than could readily be be-
lieved by those not informed.
Assurances From Europe Wanted.
When France and Germany and Russia
government served notice that we had
rights that must not be encroached upon
and that there should be no abridgment of
our rights and privileges in the treaty ports
of China by reason of the territory pass
Ing into the sphere of influence of any for
eign power. Verbal assurances were then
given that the permanency of our enjoy
ment of these rights should not be threat
ened
Secretary Hay has deemed it better that
these assurances should be put in written
form. therefore our ambassadors in
france, Germany and Russia have been in
structed 10 take steps for the procurement
OF written agreement securing the per-
mahency of our rights in the Chinese ports
Whlch this government requires.
counter Proposition Of the Powers
There has been an apparent reluctance on
the part OF the powers to put this agree
ment into definite written form, and while
there mas not yet been formal proposition
OF the sort made it is undeRstood that these
powers Will propose that, instead of an
agreement for permanent "open door, to
CHINA, the United States consent to a par
ut!On into spheres Of influence, itself es-
tabhshing such a sphere, each power then
being free to do as 1t pleases within its own
sphere.
The Offer Unacceptable.
rms very adfoit proposition Will not be
accepted for two reasons: First, the open
door Will give the United States all the ad-
vantage of trade desired and 1t will not be
confined to any particular sphere of in
huence; and second, il is not the desire of
TINS government to expand into China and
to assume responsibilities for territorial
possessions in that empire. What we want
is to be assured of all the freedom of the
Chinese ports that is enjoyed by anv other
power and the opportunities, which we in
tend to avail ourselves of. to develop onr
trade in that quarter. With the Philip
pines as a distributing point and ware
mouse, stationed at the gateway of China
ana the ports as free to US for all time as
10 any nation on earth, it is felt that we
VIII be better situated than we would be
confined to d sphere of influence,
Security of Our Rights
This government will therefore, reject
any proposition to participate in a partition
OF China, but will insist upon permanent
treaty rights in whatever spheres of in
nuence may be acquired by foreign DOW
ers, and the security of these rights will be
mad" a prerequisite to our recognition of
any spheres of Influence that comprehend
treaty ports.
cotton Planters Interested.
The President is intently Interested in this
matter of insuring our treaty rights and
expanding our trade with China He fol-
lowed with most profound attention the dis
cuSslon OF this question in the commercial
congress, and is greatly Interested in a tour
through the south that has been made by
MI Barrett, ex-ministef to SIAM who is
actively agitating the question of eastern
'rade. Since the cotton planters and man
uiact"rers VIII be, perhaps, more than any
o'nerS' Immediately benefited by the de-
Velopment of Chinese trade. the President
eAPe|tS u receive support from the south
III MS ehorts at trade expansion. The cot
,f,
ing signs OF awakening to the Importance
vi the movement and are communicating
Win the PRESIDENT on the subject
A Feature of His Messawe.
1t is the intention of tha President 70
make the discussion of the Cbinase o,,as-
ton, including the diplomatic moves that
have been made and a disclosure of tba
poncy OF this government in dealing with
the question internationally q feature of
LIS next annual message to Compress ~.
else, which will probably he found more af-
1ectlVe as well as more convenient to send
10 Congress soon after it is convened a
special message treating exuausttyelv of The
whole subject
Friendly Attitude of the Powers.
"A government official in high station. who
mas hau large experience i'm Chinese oues-
'ioiis' Is authority for the statement that
o"i government does not apprehend any i'm
uit'te INJURY TO American interests from
~ poiitio al moves that are being made in
China. On the contrary, the conditions are
such IN the fiowery kingdom that there is
the pest reason to believe that so far from
restraining the operations of the United
states III the matter of trade extension in
thdt quarter, the European nations which
nave uiiuer one or another pretext seized
upon portions Of the Chinese coast would
actually welcome our advent as calculated
to materially assist their own efforts to
break down Chinese conservatism and open
up vast markets in the interior of China to
the trade of civilized nations The only
possible source of apprehension would be
some action In the distant future on the
part of leaseholders that might tend to re-
strict our freedom of trade, and even this
Would probably be accomplished, not by di-
rect means, such as prohibition of entry
at seaports or discriminating duties, but
rather by means of vexatIous regulations
anu the imposition of such obstacles as
might be afforded to the control of the rail-
roads and political machinery of the coun-
try.