Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-10-26
OPEN DOOR ALLIANCE.
England and Germany Plan for Pres
ervatlOn Of ChIna's Integrity.

Ports OF China are 90 be Kept open 10
the Trade OF the WorId---Any Power
Wishing More Territory Must Con
suit Interests OF These Powers.
Announcement was made Saturday that
Germany and England had formed an al
lance to maintain the territorial integrity
of China and to keep her ports open. The
terms, which we're signed by Lord Sails
bury and Count Won Hatfield, German
ambassador to England, are as follows:
Firsty-It is a matter of joint perma-
nent international interest that the ports
on the rivers and littoral of China should
remain free and open to trade and to every
other legitimate form of economic activity
for the peoples of all countries without dis
tinction; and the two governments agree
on their part to uphold the same for all
Chinese territory as far as they can ex-
ercise influence.
Secondly-Both governments will not on
their part make use of the present com
plication to obtain for themselves any ter
ritorial advantage in Chinese dominion,
and will direct their policy towards main
tanning undiminished the territorial con-
dtion of the Chinese empire.
Thirdly-Iu case of another power max
ing use of the complications in China in
order to obtain under any form whatever
such territorial advantages, the two con-
tracing parties reserve to themselves the
right to come to a preliminary understand
ing regarding the eventual step to be taken
for the protection Of their own interests in
China.
Fourthly-The two governments will
communicate this agreement to the other
powers interested, especially Austria Hun
gary, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the
United States, and invite them to accept
the principles recorded in it,
Comment, both in Europe and America,
is favorable to the general propositions con-
tanned in the agreement, which in this
country, is considered a triumph of Ameri-
can diplomacy.
Last winter Secretary Hay secured from
all the great Powers pledges more or less
specific that they would not encroach on
the integrity of the Chinese empire. This
was before the Boxer disturbances in China
began. 1t also was made plain at an early
stage of the diplomatic correspondence over
the present crisis in China that our policy
regarding the open door and against the
partition of the empire was unchanged.
Most of the powers again agreed with our
! proposition. We have reiterated this pol
|
change of views since made with the Pow.
ers. We did not think it necessary tc
make the maintenance of the "open door
a subject of consultation with the Powers,
preliminary to the general peace negotia,
tions with China, but in all of our commun.
ications the integrity of China was insisted
upon.
just what effect this will have on Rus
sia's action remains to be seen. She al
ready is under pledge to evacuate Chinese
territory when order is restored. But a,
before stated it lies with Russia to say
when she considers order has been restored
in Manchuria, and, over and above all this
she has treaties with China regarding the
protection of her Siberian railroad, which
will make it difficult for the Powers to ask
her any questions about her presence in
North China. lingo papers in the differ
ent capitals try to make it appear that the
alliance is aimed at Russia, but it is doubt
full if this is the Gaze, for the reason STATED
above. The treaty virtually is an agree
ment for the protection of the trade of tn,
world-an instrument by which the com
mercial nations can protect themselves on,
from the other in their efforts to supply
the Chinese markets.