The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-26
WE ARE A POTENT FACTOR.
CHINESE QUESTION THE PROBLEM
OF THE CENTURY.

Negotiations Entered Upon Looking
to Its SettIement-In View of I'm
satisfactory Replies From Russia
and France, the United States Have
Decided TO Take Up the Matter
sim More VigorOusIy-Choate
Talked to the Emperor.
Copyright. 1889. by the Associated Press.)
London, Nov. 25.-As a result of the
United States request to the Powers for
assurances regarding the maintenance of
the open door in China, the Associated
Press is able to say that negotiations have
been entered into looking 60 a more per-
manent and important International agree
ment than yet mooted
Though the greatest official reticence II
observed at all the capitals regarding this
secret movement, there is good ground
for believing that the negotiations have
reached hopeful stage.
According to reports current here. In
consequence of Russia and France failing
to reply satisfactorily to washington's re-
quest, The United States decided to take up
the Chinese question still more vigorously
TINS
end, it is asserted, was secured, and, upon
the initiative of the United States, eff
forts were SET on foot to secure not only
assurances to the United States, but a
definite agreement between The European
Powers themselves.
Such an understanding, 10 the average
European statesman, has long seemed uto-
plan, yet to-day the Associated Press is
informed on good authority there are fair
chances of Great Britain, Russia, Ger
many and Japan, in conjunction with the
United States. becoming signatories to a
treaty eliminating the spheres of political
influence in China, and determining their
fiscal policy in that quarter of the globe,
based on the open door" principles. Such
is the scope of the negotiations.
sIay BE Important Changes.
The projected arrangement may be ret
roactive as regards territory in other
words. districts now controlled, for in
stance by Russia, may change hands in
return for other privileges. France appar-
emily has exhibited the greatest opposi-
ton to this plan, so far, but assurances
have been received from Russia, and her
apparent willingness to enter into an
agreement with the United states as the
leading factor, has given rise to the belief
that France is not necessarily a stumbling
block, for il Russia entered into the
agreement, France, it is asserted, is al
most bound to follow, or render herself
powerless in the Far East.
1t is understood that the United States,
Great Britain and Japan have already ar
rived at a perfect understanding.
Germanys decision was greatly infu-
enced by the Emperor, who has had fire.
quent conferences on this far-eas fern
probleny while in England, With Mr.. Jo-
seph II. Choate, the United States am
bassadOr.
AT the Queens banquet Mr. Choate con-
versed at length with the Emperor, and, 1t
10 said, chiefly confined himself to the
question of China.
1t is scarcely probable that any official
or semi-officiai reference will be made to
this important undercurrent, which pro-
crosses publicly under the guise of mere
ly giving assurances to the United States
until it has assumed such shape that no
hitch is possible
In the event of the failure of the nego-
tiations through the refusal of Russia or
Germany, 1t is likely the world Will never
know how near the great Powers came
TO settling the greatest problem of the
century.