New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-27
CHINA AND GREAT POWERS
PLAN TO DEFINE SPHERES OF INFLUs
ENCE DISCUSSED.
NO GENERAL. TREATY PRoBABLE-wHAT
MINISTER WI SAYS OF THE SCHEME
WITHOUT SECURING CONSENT ~
OF HIS COUNTRY.

WITHOUT SECURING CONSENT ~
OF HIS COUNTRY.
Washington. Nov. 26-In official and dipIoS
matte quarters much interest was manifested
to-day In the plan put forward In London
cable dispatches OF a treaty among the greas
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 the outcome OF the ne
gotations now in progress is not believed here,
though understanding Of a less formal nat
ure is possible These negotiations followed the
frank request Of Secretary Hay to some OF the
governments which had already given him ver-
bal and informal assurance of the continuation
of all our treaty rights in Chinese territory to
have these agreements reduced TO offcia! form.
1t was not regarded as necessary to go peyond
that point, and although 1t frequently happens
as the result of initiating negotiations that tho
scope OF them is broadened far beyond anything
originally in contemplation, 1t Is believed that
such will not be the case now. and that thero
will be no necessity for general ana rornaa
treaty
II would be extremely difficult to frame any
such convention so as TO secure the appro'a' VI
the United States Senate without protrac'eo
struggle that might disclose disagreeapie weak
ressas in the Government's policies, and besides
the effort would be sure to arouse opposition
from the considerable element In the Uniteo
States which is unalterably opposed to any SOFT
of foreign entanglements OF course, TINS state
ment applies only to the United states anu
there could be no objection on our part 10 lne
other Powers joining in treaty covering ioi-
eign rights in China, provided there WAS HUI"
ing in the agreement obnoxious TO our Just ana
proper claims.
On the whole. having in view the highly satis-
factory utterances in the French chambers yes
terday Of NJ. Delcasse, the French Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, respecting the mathematics Y.
the open door" in China, there is felt IN ohclaI
ouerters TO be reason for expecting successlut
outcome of the negotiations on this subject
opened by the United States.
A. sorno ~ the foreign establishments tho
proposition was considered "feeler, resulting
from the recent inquiries made by the American
Government as TO the attitude OF the sreas
Powers Other influential members OF the Dipio"
matte Corps pointed out that the plan was tho
logical consummation of the scheme initiated Dc
tveen Russia and Great Britain whereby spheres
OF influence would be defined. The Chinese Lee
cation views the proposition as purely cohJec'u'
raj. and the Chinese Minister, WI Ting rang
when his attention was directed to the ma''eEs
REGARDED It as preposterous. He said:
This "a ohout the most refreshing suggestion
we have had of late Can II be seriously
proposed that document shaii oe o. ioi oi"a,J ~
drawn up concerning interests III . onia 90 a
China shall not be a party 10 itE IL canhol nase
escaped attention that China is a sovereign na-
tion and when II comes TO writing treaties con-
cerning her interests and territory ,lIs 80
nation is quite likely to have consiuetau,e W 90.
on the subject. I hardy think any OF the eisa'
and sef-respecting Powers would give E eou".. ~
nance to a plan such as Is outlined. n
though party Of your neighDors met anu dstoSS
boy fbsy would occupy your house. one wouio
take the front door, another WouIu seiec. si,o
side doors others would appropriate certain
rooms-and all this without cohsu'iiie 'ON' Wv
oWhel Gmnh - a ' course by individuals would seem
strange Indeed, and IT would amount 70 tne
same thing among nations. Of course al 'tlns
are possible and 1t is difficult to say no" Iar
pan once entered upon may proceed Whlie
the individual may be quite secure IN MS ies,
dence 1t is. Of course. always WITHIN the oouius
of possibility that a band or ROBBERS may a.
range to enter the house and carry away the
belongings. For that reason 1t Is the part pt
wisdom for the individual to be on the outioos
against such moves. But II is not TO be supposed
that a nation stands in any such danger, as
the great nations would not countenaHce SUCH
course So that the suggestions Oh tIea,y
OF this character appear to me TO be entlreiy
visionary.
At one of the embassies It was pointed out
that the United States was hardly likely to be-
come party to treaty defining the spheres
Of influence OF other Powers. while at the same
time no sphere Of American influence was DO
fined and up 10 the present time it has been
definitely understood that the United States
did not seek any sphere Of influence. but merely
untrammelled entrance to all Chinese ports. AS
to the other Powers. the view prevailed that
they would be probably ready to favor such q
comprehensive treaty as the one outlined in the
Lore don advices, as it carried forward the ar
rangement between Great Britain and Russia
by which the former secured sphere OF In
fuence In the Yang TIE Valley and Russia d.
rected her activities to Northeast China.
Since returning from abroad the German Am-
bassador DR.. Won Holleben. has stated that the
German policy in Kiao Chau distinctly that
of "the open door," and Count Cassni the
Russian Ambassador. has stated the same policy
as 10 the Russan port OF Talien Wan. The
British position favorable to open ports Is well
known, and since Lord Pauncefotes return oc-
casiOn has been taken to reterate ii. Beyond
this however, tn ere has been nothing from any
OF the foreign representatives concerning the
future Of China, and without exception the
| representatives of Powers having interests IN
| China state positively that no instructions haVs
| been received to treating with reference 10
| China This applies also TO the japanese Min-
! lister and the French Charge dAnaires' VINO
| while they have made inquiries OF the stats
! Department as TO the basis for current reports,
! have had no instructions TO act respectnS
| China.