The San Francisco call., 1899-07-15
PROTECTION FOR
CONCESS|ONAR|ES
State Department Looks
Out for Americans.
WILL ACT INDEPENDENTLY
TROUBLES OF AMERICAN-CHIN
COMPANY.
Representatives Of the British Gov
ernment Will Not Be Con-
suited in the Mat
ter.
WILL ACT INDEPENDENTLY
TROUBLES OF AMERICAN-CH
COMPANY.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, July 1.-THE Herald S
Washington correspondent says: Prompt
action has been taken by the State De-
partment to protect concessions granted
to the American China Development Com
pany in the Celestial empire.
AS result of representations made TO
Secretary Hay to-day by w. B. Parsons,
representing the company, and discussion
of the matter by the President and the
Secretary of State, instructions have been
given to Minister Conger at Peking to use
his good offices in behalf of the company.
He will not act with the British repre-
sentative in any way.
Concerning the action taken by this
Government and it's views on the subject
of an alliance with the British Govern
ment to preserve the interest of private
companies an authoritative statement
was made to-day.
The American China Development COM
pany having represented to the Depart
ment of State that there was danger or
it's interests being damaged by interfer-
ence with its vested rights in China and
by violation of its contracts entered into
with the Chinese Government, the Amer
lean Minister in Peking has been instruct
eu to use his good offices in all proper
ways in behalf of the company and to
prevent its spoliation or injury to Its IN
terestS.
There is no foundation whatever for the
report that this action is taken in con-
currence with that of the British Gov
ernment. There has been no communica-
ton between the two governments In re-
gard to the matter and no joint action mas
been asked for by the company and none
has been recommended. The traditional
policy of the State Department has been
pursued in this as in other cases, the
American diplomatic representative being
charged to assist every American interest
in the countries to which they are ac-
credited. The American China Develop
ment Company is already indebted to the
State Department for assistance. When
Colonel DENLY was Minister to China he
received Instructions from Secretary Oh
ney, which were indorsed by the present
administration, stating that while he must
not assume, in the name or the Govern
ment, any responsibility for or guaranty
of any American commercial or industrial
enterprise trying to establish itself in
China. he should his personal and
official influence and lend all proper coun-
tenance to secure to reputable represen-
tativeS of such concerns the same facili-
ties for submitting proposals, tending
bids and obtaining contracts as are en-
joyed by any other foreign commercial
enterprise in the country.
Colonel DENLY thereupon made known
to the Yamen that while he was not au-
thoriZed to demand of the Chinese Gov
ernment contracts to build railroads or
do any other work, he felt 1t his duty
to see that the rights of his compatriots
should be protected.
The Minister went on to say that he
understood that the contract for building
the Hankow-Peking line had been actually
let to Americans-a preliminary contract
having been entered into with the Ameri-
can China Development Company, which
was composed of men worth several hum
dred million taels-but that now 1t had
been represented that the Chinese Gov
ernment was. not disposed to treat the
company fairly. He demanded that they
contract with the company for the con-
struction of the line. Secretary Sherman,
who soon afterward succeeded Olney, ap-
proved Colonel Denby's action, but di-
rected him to be cautious in giving what
might be understood this Government S
Endorsement of the financial standing of
persons seeking contracts with that of
China
"In the present case" he said, ut ap-
pears from your dispatch that you
told the Tsung Ii Yamen that the Ameri-
can China Development Company was
composed of men who were worth sew
eral hundred million taels. The depart
ment understands that the said company
is limited liability company, with very
small capital. The individual financial
standing of the various persons compos-
ing the company has consequently little
to do with the matter"