Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-30
copyrighted by Associated Press

dAce ol the open door III emma, the AS
ISOLATED Press is able to say that nego-
tiations have been entered into look
ing to more permanent important in
ternational agreement than has yet
been noted. Though the greatest Off
cial reticence is observed at all CAPT
tails regarding this secret movement,
there is good ground for believing that
negotiations have reached hopeful
stage. According to reports current
here, in consequence of Russia and
France failing to reply satisfactorily 10
Washington request, the United
States has decided to take up the Chin
csc question still more vigorously. The
cooperation of Great Britain to this
end, it is asserted, was secured upon
the initiative of the United States. Eff
forts have been set on foot to secure
not only assurances to the United
tween European powers themselves.
Such an understanding, to the average
European statesman, has long seemed
utopian, yet there is a fair chance
of Great Britain, Russia, Germany and
Japan, in conjunction with the United
States, becoming signatories to treaty
defining spheres of political influence
in China and determining their fiscal
policy in that quarter of the globe,
based on the open door principle. Such
is the scope of the negotiations. The
projected arrangement may be retro
active as regards territory, in other
words, districts now controlled
may change hands in return for other
privileges. France, apparently, has
exhibited the greatest opposition to
this plan but assurance received from
Russia of her apparent willingness to
enter into an agreement with the
United States as leading factor has
given rise to the belief that France IS
not necessarily a stumbling block for,
if Russia enters into an agreement,
France. it is asserted, is almost bound
to follow or render herself powerless
in the far east. 1t is understood that
the United States, Great Britain and
Japan have already arrived at per-
| feet understanding. GermaIy's deci-
emperor, who has had frequent confer
ences on this far eastern problem,
while in England, with Joseph FL.
Choate, United States ambassador. At
the queens banquet, Mr.. Choate con-
versed at length with the emperor, and,
| it is said, chiefly confined himself to
the question of China. It is scarcely
probable that any official or semi Of
| fetal reference will be made to this
| important under-current, which pro-
crosses publicly under the guise OF
merely giving assurances to the United
States, until it has assumed such shape
that no hitch will be possible. In
| the event of the failure of the negOti-
atoms through the refusal of Russia
or Germany, it is likely that the
world will never know how near the
great powers came to settling the
greatest problem of the century. The
| Transvaal war becomes a matter Of
momentary interest compared with the
| tremendous possibilities dependent on
| these eXertionS, which are now occupy
ing the diplomats of Europe, and the
war itself has reached a stage where
even British interest somewhat lags.
The advance of troops to the relief Of
Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking
is necessarily clothed in a secrecy
which has only been broken by news
of desultory engagements. The past
week seems to have altered but little
conditions described in these dis
patches. Even if Gen. White holds out
until relieved, it will only remove
picturesque phase of the campaign but
does not mean it will hasten it's speedy
end The beers, it is claimed, are not
likely to risk a deciding battle Of the
war until they have got Gen. Buffers
invading force into position believed
to be favorable to them or until they
are driven into a corner, which prom
Uses to be a matter of months. Criti-
cism of the methods Of British army
org aniZation has led several writer's to
again seriously consider the advisable
ity of adopting some form of conscrip-
ton but, although a preponderation of
military experts might favor such a
step, the British nation has not yet
reached a stage where it would submit
to such militarism.
Quiet at Ladysmith.
Pretoria, Nov. 26.-An official dis
patch from the boer head lager out
side Ladysmith, dated Friday, says:
''The garrison at Ladysmith was
strangely quiet yesterday. The can
nonade hardly evoked a response. The
balloon no longer scars. The third
big cannon, which the beers have bap-
tized Suezrainty, was placed in posi-
ton. The German officers arrived last
night. The boer generals think they
will encompass the fall of Ladysmith
if the army attends to it's work. In a
terrific thunderstorm last night, four
boers@ guarding cannon were struck.
Rumors Of Relief.
London, Nov. ga special dispatch
from Durham, dated Friday, says news
is received, by way of Delagoa bay
that both Mafeking and Kimberley
have been relieved. This is not only i'm
probable but it is discredited by spe-
cial dispatch from Capetown which
states that Gen. Methuen is in hello
graphic communication with Kimber-
ley which indicates that the relieving
force pushed forward after the battle
at Belmont.