The morning news., 1899-12-31
ALL BUT ITALY HEARD FROM.
POWERS AGREE TO MAINTAIN AN
OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.

many, France, Russia and Japan.
Believed Italy VIII Give "A Favor
able RepIy-rhis Important Ver-
diet Concerns Future Commerce
of the world with China.
Washington. Dec. So-The negotiations
opened by Secretary Hay with the Great
Powers of Europe and with Japan. to-
wards securing a common understanding
for a continued open door policy through-
out China, have met with most gratifying
results.
The state department is unwilling al
present TO make public the nature of ere
replies received, as this information will
he embodied in "A special message to Con-
sress. But in other quarters, thoroughly
reliable, and in a position to have trust-
worthy and accurate information, 1t is
| learned that favorable responses have
| been made by Great Britain, Germany,
France. Russia the Russian communica-
| tion coming as late as yesterday, and
Japan.
There is no doubt. 1t is thought here.
that Italy, the remaining country adj
dressed, win make favorable answer, if.
indeed, IL has not already done So The
position of Europe Is felt TO be assured
by the favorable course adopted by the
other four great Powers of Europe.
| The importance of this unanimous ver-
! dict by all the tirst-class Powers OF ths
world-Great Britain, Russia Germany
France, Italy and Japan. In conjunction
with the United States--can hardly be
overestimated so far as 1t relates to the
| future OF China, and the commerce of the
world Ia that empire. The state depart
ment IL loath to discuss the far-reaching
results to be secured when the agreement
advances to the stage of formal consum-
nation, for each favorable response Is con-
! ditional on the favorable action of all the
other parties. so that In each case the
negotia tions may be regarded as short of
absolute hnality. But while the depart-
| nent Is silent, the details come from
sources believed to be fully conversans
with what has occurred.
British Answer First.
According to this information. the Britt
1 ish answer was the first 20 be submitt ed.
and was exceptionally comprehensive and
| explicit In yielding 20 every suggestion
/ made by the United States relative to
| maintaining the freest entry 10 the ports
of China.
The British answer is said to emphasize
| the concurrence with the United States
| by adopting, word for word, much of the
| phraseology employed by Secretary Hay
when ne addressed his original note 10
/ Great Britain and the other Powers.
/ The wording Is such as 10 make II plain,
1 that the British government concurs, for
| the present and hereafter without limila-
tion IN policy OF free access 10 China.
| Although much secrecy was observed Inv
| the transmission of the British answer. its
! general purport soon became known at
| the other European capitals, and there
was not a little irritation at what was re-
! garded as a precipitate response, pur-
| posey designed to embarrass the conti-
mental Powers by showing Great Britain
| and the United States acting In concert
while the rest OF the world held aloof.
| But this situation was made much more
| satisfactory to the continental Powers by
! their determination TO act for themselves.
| Germany is eaid to have been the next
| Power 10 answer in the affirmative. Ac-
! cordng 10 the Information already refers
| red to- the German answer was rather
more vague than the one which had pre-
ceded n, but It's general tendency was
favorable, the only condition being that
| any arrangement as to free access 10
| China should be universal, and assented
10 by an OF the Powers.
How France Replied.
The French answer is understood to havs
/ come next, and the circumstances attends
| ing II were rather peculiar and not IN tho
| nature OF a direct answer, although the
| result was regarded as most satisfactory.
Secretary Hays note had been forward
| ed to Cen. Horace Porter, the United
| States ambassador TO France, who prompt
| ly called upon M. Delcasse, minister on
| foreign affairs in the French cabinet. GEN.
/
upon M. Delcasse showed the most SYM
pathetic spirit and stated that he had al-
| ready made ample answer to Just such
a communication, although at the time
he had not intended II as an answer to
the American note. This answer M Del-
casse explained, was given in speech
made by him on Nov. "a. in the French
chamber. The main point of that speech
In its references to China, was that France
desired the most ample freedom OF COM
merce. NJ. Delcasse referred Gen. Porter
| to this speech and told him that II fully
gave the assurance which the United
States desired IL is said that the meet
| Ing was gratifying on both sides and thar
| the results we're considered to be a fav-
orable acceptance from France.
Russia Has Joined I'm, Too.
The Russian negotiations have proceeded
| less briskly so that IL seemed for time
that Russia's attitude might not be IA
vorable This was dissipated, however, by
| TIE Russian ambassador Count Cassini.
| in the course OF interviews with Secretary
| Hay On these occasions, Count Casstnt
| rolnted out that hurried answer was by
no means the best evidence of favorable
| attitude toward the American proposition.
/ but that Russia was proceeding with due
! deliberation in order 70 arrive at some
solid ground for a permanent understands
| ing The Russians were desirous or weigh
| ing the many incidental questions invOlv-
| cd, such as The effect of the understanding
OF the territory known as spheres OF in
| huence;" as well as on the territory act
ually leased 20 the foreign powers, such
as Wan, Kiao-Chou, and the Britt
/ ish and French ports
Besides giving these assurances. Count
| Cassinl showed personally the most friend
Is spirit toward the American proposition
as well as being dsirous OF giving an an
swer IN this case which would be anoth-
er Instance OF the friendly cooperation
long observed between Russia and this
| United states.
The Russian position u IL understood.
u similar 20 those preceding Il, with the
same condition that Russia alone shall
not be bound, but that all Of the interesi-
| Cd countries shall join IN the agreement
TO keep the ports Of China forever open.
In what order In the negotiations Ja-
| PANS favorable attitude was made known
/ nnnnni LIZ sInlnl. hnI n smlllce. tint ia