The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-27
SENT OUT As A fEELER
No Formal Treaty n Relation TO
China Is Expected.
SPHERES or INFLUENCE
Consouust.on Of she SSilsnse llf.EsSssei
by Russia and Gresh Ess.iasaf-~g ae
Chinese M!aRssr Says Ia
Ls Absurd,

Washington, Nov 26-In 8fiictat &stf
diplomatic quarters much interest @a3S
manifested to-day in the plan gar Tor
ward in London cables Of B treEag
among the great powers aS3antAs
spheres Of influences. in China. ef@E
anything in the shape OF formal
treaty is to be made between the DOW
ers interested IN the future Of China
as the outcome o. the negotiations NOW
in progress IS m: believed here though
an understanding 81 less formal ma
sure is possible. Ths negotiations fol-
lowing frank request Of Secretary
Hay upon some of the governments
which had already given him verbal
and informal assurances Of the contin-
uation of all our treaty rights in Chi
nese territory are to the end to have
those agreements reduced to form. 1t
was not regarded as necessary to go
beyond that point, and, although 1T
frequently happens as the result of mi
tiating negotiations that the scope Of
them is broadened far beyond anything
originally in contemplation, it is be-
lieved that such will not be the case
now, and that there will be 10 neces-
sity for a general and formal treaty.
1t would be difficult to frame any
such convention so as to secure the
approval of the United States without
a protracted struggle that might dis
close disagreeable weakness in the gov
ermnent's policy, and besides the effort
would be sure to arouse opposition from
the considerable element in the United
States, which is opposed to any sort Of
foreign entanglements. OF course. this
statement applies only to the United
States, and there could be no objection
on our part to the other powers join
ing in a treaty covering foreign rights
in China provided there was nothing
In the agreement obnoxious to our just
and proper claims. On the whole. hav-
ing in view the highly satisfactory ut
terances in the French chamber yes.
terday of NJ. Del Case, the French min
lister of foreign affairs, respecting the
maintenance of the 'open door" in Chi.
ma, there is felt in official quarters te
be reason for expecting successful
outcome Of the negotiations on this
subject opened by the United States.
At some foreign establishments the
proposition was considered a "feeler.'
resulting from the recent inquiries made
by the American government as to the
attitude Of the great powers, Other
influential members of the diplomatic
corps pointed out that the plan was the
logical consu111mation Of the scheme
initiated between Russia and Grea
Britain, where the spheres Of infiuenc
es. would be defined. The Chinese lie
cation views the proposition as purel.
conjectural and the Chinese minister
WI Ting Fang, when his attention wa
directed to the matter, regarded it al
preposterous.
This is about the most refreshing
suggestion we have had of late re
marked Mr.. WI. Can it be seriou
~, f53nf oh I,
formally drawn up concerning inter
ests in China, and China shall not b
party to it? It cannot have ESCAPED
attention that China is sovereign ma
ton, and when it comes to writing
treaties concerning her interests ant
territory the sovereign nation is quit
likely to have. considerable to say OF
the subject. I hardly think any Of tn
great self-respecting powers would Civ
countenance to a plan such as is out
lined 1t is as though party of you
neighbors met and agreed how the.
would occupy your house. One woul'
take the front door, another would Sc
lect the side door, others would appro
pirate certain rooms, and all this with
out consulting you, the owner of tn
house Such course by individual
would seem strange indeed, and
would amount to the same thing anon
nations. Of course, all things are pos
Side, ana IL is QlIHcull 10 say HOW Id
a plan, once entered upon, may Pre-
coed. While the individual may b
quite secure in his residence, it is G
course always within the bounds c
possibility that band of robbers ma
arrange to enter the house and carr
away the belongings. For that reaso
it is the part of wisdom for the ind
vidual to be on the outlook against sue
moves. But it is not to be suppose
that nation stands in any such dar
ger, as the great nations would nc
countenance any such course. So tina
the suggestions Of a treaty of this char
acter appear to me to be entirely Wis
ionary."
At one of the embassies it was point
ed out that the United States was HARD
Iy likely to become a party to treat
defining the spheres of influence of 9th
er powers, while at the same time n
sphere of American influence was de
hned, and UP to the present time
has been definitely understood that tn
United States did not seek any spher
of influence. but merely untrammele
entrance to all Chinese ports. AS t
the other powers, the view prevaile