The San Francisco call., 1899-11-27
PARTITION OF
CHINA ROBBERY
Consul WI Expresses
His Opinions.
HIS COUNTRY NOT CONSULTED
STORY OF AGREEMENT GENER.
ALLY DIsCREDITED.
Representatives Of Russia, England
HIS COUNTRY NOT CONSULTED
Representatives of Russia, England
and Germany Say That the Only
Plans of Their Countries
Are for the Open Door.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-In official and
diplomatic quarters much interest was
manifested to-day in the plan put forward
In London cables of a treaty among the
great powers defining spheres OF influence
in China. That anything in the shape of
formal treaty is TO be made between the
powers interested in the future of China
as the outcome OF the negotiations now
In progress is not believed here though
an understanding OF less formal nature
is possible. These negotiations, following
the frank request OF Secretary Hay upon
some of the governments which had AL
ready given him verbal and informal as
surances or the continuation OF all our
treaty rights in Chinese territory TO have
these agreements reduced TO form. II is
not regarded as necessary TO 20 beyond
that point, and although il frequently
happens as the result OF initiating nego-
uations that the scope OF them is broad
ened far beyond anything originally IN
contemplation, II is believed that such
will not be the case now, and that there
will be no necessity for general and
formal treaty.
any such convention so as to secure the
approval OF the United States without a
protracted struggle, that might disclose
disagreeable weaknesses in the govern
ment policies. and. besides, the effort
would be sure 10 arouse opposition from
the considerable In the United States
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 joining n a
treaty covering foreign rights in China
provided there was nothing in the agree
ment obnoxious TO our Just and proper
claims. on the whole, having in view the
highly satisfactory utterances in the
French Chamber yesterday OF NJ del Cas-
Sc, the French Minister OF Foreign Az
fairs, respecting the maintenance OF the
open door" in China, there is felt In Of
fetal quarters to be reason for expecting
q successful outcome OF the negotiations
on this subject opened by the United
States.
At some OF the foreign establishments
the proposition was considered q "feeler,"
resulting from the recent inquiries made
by the American Government TO the atti-
tude OF the great powers. Other influen-
tial members OF the diplomatic corps
pointed out that the plan was the logical
consummation of the scheme initiated be-
spheres Of influence would be defined The
Chinese legation views the proposition a 3
purely conlectural, and the Chinese Mn
lister, Mu Ting Fang, when his attention
was directed 10 the matter, regarded IL as
prepoSterous.
This is about the most refreshing sug-
gestion We have had of late" remarked
Mr.. Wu. What, can II be serious they
proposed that document shall be for
mally drawn up concerning interests in
China and China shall not be a party TO
1t? 1t cannot have escaped attention that
China is a sovereign nation, and when IL
comes 10 writing treaties concerning her
interests and territory this sovereign ma
ton Is quite likely TO have considerable
TO say on the subject. / hardly think any
OF the great self-respecting powers would
give countenance TO a plan such as is out
lined. 1t is as though a party of yo.lr
neighbors met and agreed how they would
occupy your house. One would take the
front door. another would select the side
door, others would appropriate certain
rooms. And all this without consulting
you. the owner of the house. Sucn a
course by individuals would seem strange
indeed, and II would amount to the same
thing among nations OF course. all things
are possible. and II is difficult TO say how
far plan once entered upon may pro-
eeed. While the individual may be quite
secure in his residence, IL is. of course.
always within the bounds of possibility
that a band OF robbers NAV arrange TO
enter the house and carry away the be-
longings. For that reason II is the part
OF wisdom for the individual to be on the
lookout against such moves. But IL is not
TO be supposed that a nation stands IN
any such danger. as the great nations
would not countenance such a course SO
that the suggestions OF treaty OF this
character appear to me to be entirely WIS.,
ionary."
At one OF the embassies It was pointed
out that the United States was hardly
likely 10 become party to a treaty defin-
lIlg IHe spheres Oh lIluenCe or other DOW
ers, while at the same time no sphere OF
American influence was defined and up 10
the present time IL has been definitely un-
derstood that the United States did not
seek any sphere OF influence, but merely
untrammeled entrance to all Chinese
ports. AS TO the other powers the view
prevailed that they would be quite likely
TO favor such a comprehensive treaty as
the one outlined in the London advices. as
II carried forward the arrangement be-
tween Great Britain and Russia, by which
the former secured n sphere OF influence
in the Yang-Tse Valley and Russia direct
ed her activities to Northeast China
Since returning from abroad the Ger
man ambassador. DIR. Won Holleben, has
stated that the German policy in Kino-
chau was distinctly that OF the "open
door" and Count Cassni. the Russian
ambassador. has stated the same policy
as TO the Russian port OF Talien Wan.
The British position favorable to omen
ports is well known. and since Lord
Pauncefote's return occasion has been
taken to reterate II. Beyond this. how
ever. there has been nothing from any OF
the foreign representatives concerning the
future OF China, and without exception
the representatives OF powers having in
terests in China state positively that NJ
instructions have been received as to
treating with reference to China This
applies also to the Japanese Minister and
the French Charge d'Affaires, who, while
they have made inquiries OF the State
Department as to the basis for current
reports. have no instructions 10 act re-
specting China