New-York tribune., 1899-12-31
FREE ACCESS TO CHINA.
ASSURANCES GIVEN BY FIVE
GREAT POWERS.
GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, FRANCE'
RUSSIA AND JAPAN RESPOND FAVOR
ABLY TO SECRETARY HAYS NOTE
-ITALY'S ASSENT ASSURED.

AbLI ~ STCNb lhhI iihi ~ ~
-ITAIY's ASSENT ASSURED.
Washington. Dec 3O-The negotiations opened
by Secretary Hay with the great Powers OF
Europe and with Japan TO secure common
understanding for a continued "open door pol
Icy throughout China have met with most
! gratifying results The State Department Is
unwilling at present to make public the nature
Of the replies received this information VIII
be embodied In a special message to Congress,
but in other quarters thoroughly trustworthy
and in a position to have accurate Information
II Is learned that favorable responses have been
made by Great Britain. Germany. France, Rus
sia-the Russian communication coming as late
as yesterday-and Japan. There is no doubt,
It is thought here. that Italy, the remaining
country addressed. will make favorable an
swer IT, indeed II has not already done So The
favorable course adopted by the other four
great Powers of Europe.
RESULTS OF VAST IMPORTANCE.
The importance Of this unanimous verdict by
Britain. Russia. Germany. France, Italy and
Japan. in conjunction with the United States
can hardly be overestimated so far as It relates
to the future Of China and the commerce Of the
world In that empire.
The State Department is unwilling to discuss
the far-reaching results to be secured when the
agreement advances to the stage Of formal con-
summation. for each favorable response Is con-
ditioned on the favorable action OF all the other
countries. that in each the negotiations
may be regarded short OF absolute hnality.
But. while the Department is silent. the details
come from sources believed to be fully con-
versant with what has occurred.
BRITISH REPLY CAME FIRST.
According TO this information the British
answer the first to be submitted, and was
| exceptionally comprehensive and explicit In
yielding to every suggestion made by the United
| States relative to maintaining the freest entry
| to the ports OF China The British answer is
said to emphasize concurrence with the United
States by adopting word for word much Of the
! phraseology employed by Secretary Hay when he
| addressed his original note to Great Britain and
| the other Powers. The wording is such as TO
make It plain that the British Government con-
! ours. for the present and hereafter, without
! limitation. In policy Of free access to China.
Although much secrecy was observed in the
! transmission OF the British answer, its general
| purport soon became known at the other Euro
! pean capitals and there was not a little irrita-
tion at what was regarded as a preciptate re-
| sponse, purposely designed to embarrass the
! Continental Powers by showing Great Britain
! and the United States acting in concert while
| the rest OF the world held aloof But this stu
alton made much more satisfactory to the
| Continental Powers by their determination 10
| act for themselves
GERMANY IN LINE.
| Germany Is said TO have been the next Power
to answer in the Affirmative According to the
| information already referred to. the German an
swer was rather more vague than the one which
had preceded It. but It's general tendency was
favorable, the only condition being that any
arrangement as to free access 20 China should
be universal and assented to by all the Powers
THE FRENCH RESPONSE
The French answer is understood to have come
next, and the circumstances attending II were
rather peculiar and not in the nature OF direct
| answer. although the result was regarded as
most satisfactory. Secretary Hays note had
been forwarded TO General Horace Porter the
United States Ambassador to France who
promptly called upon NJ. Decasse Minister for
Foreign Affairs in the French Cabinet General
Porter made known his mission. whereupon NJ
Decasse showed the most sympathetic spirit
and said that he had already made ample an
swer to just such communication although at
the time he had not intended It as an answer to
the American note.
This answer, NJ. Delcasse explained. given
in a speech made by him on November "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 General Porter to
this speech. and told him that 1t fully gave the
assurance which the United States desired. 1t
is said that the meeting gratifying on both
sides and that the results considered to be
an acceptance from France.
RUssIA's FRIENDLY ATTITUDE.
The Russian negotiations proceeded less brisk
ly. and It seemed for a time that Russia's atti-
tude might not be favorable. This fear was dis
sipated. however by the Russian Ambassador,
Count Cassini. in the course Of interviews with
Secretary Hay. On these occasions Count Cas-
sni pointed out that hurried answer by no
means the best evidence OF favorable attitude
toward the American proposition, but that Rus
sia was proceeding with due deliberation In order
10 arrive at some solid ground for permanent
understanding. The Russians were desirous OF
weighing the many incidental questions involved !
such as the effect OF the understanding on the |
territory known as spheres of influence" as
well as on the territory actually leased to the !
foreign Powers. such as Talien-W Wan. Kiau-Chau
and the British and French ports
Besides giving these assurances. Count Cas-
SIM showed personally the most friendly spirit
toward the American proposition. we'll as be- !
ing des.rous OF giving answer In this
which would be another instance Of the friendly |
corporation long observed between Russia and /
the United States. The Russian position, It Is ,
nnderstood is similar 70 that Of the other !