The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-27
COMING DIVISION OF CHINA.
TREATIES AND SPHERES OF INFLU-
ENCE STILL TALKED OF.

AARhAH ~ Ia NoA nc
fered Widh-Minister Wu Is Sur
prised That Treaties should lie
Talked of and China Not Consult
ed In the Matter.
Washington, Nov. 26.-In official and
diplomatic quarters much interest was
manifested to-day In the plan put forward
in London cables of treaty among the
great Powers defining spheres of influence
in China.
That anything in the shape of formal
treaty Is to be made between the Powers
interested in the future Of China as to
the outcome of the negotiations now In
progress, Is not believed here, though an
understanding of less formal nature Is
possible.
These negotiations followed the frank
request of Secretary Hay upon some OF
the governments which had already given
him verbal and informal assurance of the
continuation of all our treaty rights In
Chinese territory, to have these agreements
reduced to form. 1t was NOT regarded as
necessary to go beyond that point, and al
though 1t frequently happens as the re-
suit of initiating negotiations that the
scope of them is broadened far beyond
anything originally in contemplation IL
10 believed that such will not be the case
now and that there will be no necessity
for a general and formal treaty.
1t would be extremely difficult to frame
any such convention so as to secure the
approval of tho United States Senate
without a protracted struggle that might
disclose disagreeable weaknesses in the
governments policies, and besides the ef-
fort would be sure to arouse opposition
from the considerable element in the
United States which Is unalterably op-
posed to any sort of foreign entangle-
ments. OF course this statement applied
only to the United States, and there
could be no objection on our part to the
other Powers joining in a treaty covering
foreign rights in China, provided there
was nothing in the agreement obnoxious
to our just and proper claims.
A Successful Outcome.
On the whole, having in view the highly
satisfactory utterances In the French
chambers yesterday of NJ. Delcasse the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs, re-
spectlng the maintenance of the "open
door in China. there is felt In official
ApfAAttIS 10 bt reason LOT expecting sue
cessful outcome of the negotiations on
this subject opened by the United States.
At some of the foreign establishments
the proposition was considered as feel
er" resulting from the recent inquiries
made by the American government as to
the attitude of the great powers. Other
influential members of the diplomatic, circle
pointed out that the plan was the logi-
cal consummation of the scheme Initiated
between Russia and Great Britain, where
spheres of influence would be defined
Minister Wu Surprised.
The Chinese legation views the propo-
sition as purely conjectural, and the Chi
nese minister, Mr.. WI Ting Fang, when
his attention was directed to the matter,
regarded il as preposterous
This Is about the most refreshing sug-
gestion we have had of late" remarked
Mr.. WI. what! Can II be seriously pro-
posed that a document shall be formally
drawn up concerning interests in China,
and China shall not be a party to it? 1t
| cannot have escaped attention that China
is sovereign nation, and when It comes
10 writing treaties concerning her inter
ests and territory this sovereign nation Is
quite likely to have considerable to say
on the subject. ] hardly think any of the
great and self-respecting Powers would
| give countenance to a plan such as Is
outlined. So that the suggestion of a
| treaty OF tnlS character appear to me 10
be entirely visionary"
At one of the embassies ID was pointed
| out that the United States was hardly
| likely TO become party to defining the
| spheres Of influence of other Powers, while
at the same time no sphere of American
| influence was defined and up to the pres
/ ent time II has been definitely understood
that the United States did not seek any
| sphere of influence, but merely untram-
meled entrance to all Chinese ports.
AS to the other Powers, the view pre-
vailed that they would be quite likely TO
favor such q comprehensive treaty as the
one outlined In the London advices, as il
carried forward the arrangement between
Great Britain and Russia by which the
former secured a sphere of influence in
the Yang-Tse valley and Russia directed
her activeness to Northeast China.
Favorable 10 Open Ports.
Since returning from abroad the German
| ambassador, DR.. Won Iiolleben, has stated
that the German policy in ISiao Chau was
distinctly that of the open door" and
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador,
has stated the same policy as to the RUS
sian port OF Talien-Wan.
The British position favorable to open
ports is well known, and since Lord
Pauncefotes return occasion has been
taken 70 reiterate It. Beyond this, how
ever, there has been nothing from any for
cign representatives concerning tne tu-
ture of China, and without exception the
| representatives Of Powers having inter-
ests in China state positively that no in
structions have been received as TO treat
ing with reference 10 China. This ap-
plies also to the japanese minister and
the French charge daffalres who, while
they have made Inquiries of the state de-
| partment as to the basis for current re-
ports. have had no instructions 10 act re-
| specting China.