The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-08
At Determination Of United States to Keen
Hands Off Chinese Territory.
Believed, Though, That This Coun-
try, Great Britain, Germany
and Japan Should Unite to Pro-
tect Their Interests by Insurinr
to China q Stable Government
Free From Constant Embarrass-
ment.

| Wv ASHlNGTON, March e The
Chinese Minister, WI Ting Fan. ex-
presses himself as highly gratified at
the definite determination of the Unit
ca states to keep hands off China, and
10 resist the intimations of other Pow
efs that the time is ripe for this coun-
try to take for itself a part of the
coast line of China, as made known
W an authorized statement given out
yesterday.
I am sure the Chinese Government
ana people will not fail to observe this
slIong evidence of good will,'' said Mr..
wa to-day. 1t is not only another
bond of friendship between the two
countries, but has a special signifi-
canoe. While the old world Powers
seem moved by rapacity, the United
states takes the lofty position of equity.
justice and humanity which has char
acterized her dealings with other in
ternational questions of late instead
| OF joining the encroachments on China.
assumes an attitude of strict neu-
| trality."
The Minister had a. long conference
yesterday with Secretary Hay as to
the situation in China While he will
not discuss the conference, he un-
doubtedly learned in an official way
what was made known to the PUBLIC
later in the day and communicated
the information to Pekin. 1t is ex-
pected that the position of the United
States in refusing to seize any terri
tory will have an important influence
on aHalrs in China, Strengthening the
hands Of those in authority.
Speaking of Italys action in seeking
an open door" on the Chinese coast
by the acquisition of San Nun Bay,
Mr.. WI says he was much surprised
at this move, as Italy has practically
no trade with China. He said he had
never seen more than two or three
Italians in China; there are no Italian
commercial houses that he recalls, and
no Italian colonies. Under such cir
cumstances the Minister is inclined to
believe Italy would not have acted un>
less some other Power had influenced it.
What China will do as to accepting
or rejecting the Italian claims, Mr. WI
has not advised. He says, however,
that the reports that the Tsung Ii
Yamen has returned the Italian re-
quest should not be construed to mean
that any summary course has been
adopted. All this information ind-
Gates that the return of the request
was in no offensive spirit, but was
merely to explain the difficulties of
complying with such a request.
Mr. WI points out that China con-
tinues to have a great stretch of coast,
with a number of large ports, includ-
ing Canton and some twenty five treaty
ports, through which the commerce of
the world can flow uninterruptedly.
The Russian port at Port Arthur and
hot of J,n Prif icn Iyof nj;
are more particularly naval and mill
tary posts Kiao Chou, the German
port, is better adapted for commerce.
as well as naval uses, although Mr..
WI says his understanding is that the
''open door, policy is to be maintained
by the Germans at Kiao Chou, so that
all countries would share alike in it's
advantages. In any event, he says
the free entry of goods would relate
only to Kiao Chou and it's Hinterland.
and that when these goods passed into
China the Chinese customs would be
levied
The recent visit of Admiral Lord
Beresford afforded an opportunity for
exchange of views between him and
Count Cassini, the Russian Embassa-
dor, and Mr.. WI, all of whom are in
timately familiar with the large ques-
tons engrossing China Lord Beres-
ford had conferred with officials of
the Tsung Ii Yamen and with the
Viceroys and leaders. The result CT
all this study Of the Chinese question
was summed up in the belief openly
announced that Great Britain, Ger
many and the United States and Japan
have the bulk of commerce and inter-
est in China and should unite to pro-
tect these interests by 1nsuring to
China stable government free from .
constant harassment
Mr. WI does not commit himself on
the wisdom of Lord Beresfords plan
of solving the Chinese problem, but he
is inclined to believe that his Lord
ships MISSION which thus far is UNI
official and in behalf of the Chambers
of Commerce of England, after his re-
turn to England will have official re-
suits.