Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-22
ATTITUDE OF POWERS
Adhere to Essential Principle Of the
French Note.
THE CORRESPONDENCE MADE PUBLIC
Maintenance of the Open Door
and Territorial Integrity.
ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT

The French Charge dAffaires to the Secre-
tary of State.
Handed to the Secretary of State by the
French Charge d'Affaires, Mr.. Thiebaut,
October Il, 1900
tTransationD
EMBASSY OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
To THE UNITED STATES.
WASHINGTON. October H. 1900.
The government of the republic has high
ly appreciated the response which the gov
ernment of the United States has made to
its note of the 4th of October; it has been
especially gratifying to it to observe the
sentiments of sympathy for France which
have evidently inspired that reply.
All the interested powers have adhered
to the essential principle of the French
note. In 50 far concerns the points
which have called forth comments on the
part of certain cabinets, they could il
would seem, be discussed among the pow
ers or between their diplomatic representa-
tives at Pekin in the course of the negotia-
tions and receive such notifications as
might be judged necessary in order to more
surely and speedily attain the common end.
The essential thing now is to show the
Chinese government. which has Qecla red
Itself ready to negotiate. that the powers
are animated by the same spirit; that they
are decided to respect the integrity of Chi
I'D anu ltlt independence OF Its govern
meut: but that they are none the less re-
solved to obtain the satisfaction to which
they have right.
In this regard 1t would seem that if the
proposition which has been accepted as the
basis Of negotiations Were communicated to
the Chinese plenipotentiaries by the minis
tiers Of the powers at Pekin, or in their
name by their dean, this step would be of
nature L. have happy influence upon
th" determinations of the Emperor of China
AMI OF his government
II goes without saying that this collective
step would in npwise interfere with the
examination of the points in the French
proposition to which the reservations made
by certain governments relate
The minister for foreign affairs would be
parucua uarly happy to learn that this is
ais the opinion of the President of the
United States and Of the honorable Secre-
tary of State, and that they have thought
II opp"rtune to send to the minister of the
United States in Pekin instructions in this
sense.
The Secretary of State to the French
charge d'affaires
tSent to Mr.. Thiebaut, October 10, 1.oO)
Memorandum in response to the memoran-
dunn in regard to the bases and conduct
OF negotiations for a settlement of pend
ing questions between the powers and
China delivered to the Secretary of State
by the French charge d'affaires October
IL 1900
The government of the United States is
gratitied to learn that all the interested
powers have adhered to the essential prin-
ciple Of the French note of October 4, and
trusts that such reservations as they have
suggested will. like those mentioned in the
reply of the United States, prove no en-
barrassment to the progress of the nego-
tatlOn. in the course of which they can be
frankly discussed with view to common
agreement.
Holding, it does in accord with the
French government, that the essential thing
now is 10 prove to the Chinese government
that the powers are ready to meet it in
the path of peaceful negotiation, and lat
they are united in their repeatedly declared
decision 10 respect the integrity of China
and the Independence of its government,
while equally united in the resolve to OBJ
tain rightful satisfaction for the great
wrongs they and their nationals have suf-
fered. this government has instructed its
minister in Pekin to concur in presenting
TO the Chinese plenipptentiaries the points
upon which We are agreed as the initial
step toward negotiations and toward the
re-esta ablishmeut of the effective power and
authority of the imperial government.
The government of the United States be-
lieves that the happy influence upon the
determinations of the Chinese emperor and
of his government which the government
of the French republic anticipates as the
result Of this step would be still further in
duced II the powers were to include as part
OF their initial declaration collective man
Hesitation OF their determination to pre-
serve the territorial integrity and the ad-
ministrative entirety of China, and to Sc
cure. for the Chinese nation and for them
selves the benefits of open and equal COM
nercial intercourse between the Chinese
empire and the world at large.
Department of State,
Washington, October 10, 1909.
To Maintain the "Open Door"
An interesting and important feature OF
the United States note is the closing sug-
gestion that the powers bind themselves
again TO preserve Chinese territorial in
tegrity and to maintain the open door"
exactly the objects aimed at in the British
German agreement or alliance which was
made public last week. 1t is true that this
note by Secretary Hay bears date of Octo-
ber IL. while the Anglo-Gorman agreement
is assigned the date of October Ii, but our
action was taken in ignorance of the agree
meUt. and IL is entirely possible that 1t may
have been the means of bringing about a
disclosure of its purposes. Certainly our
suggestion indicates favorable response
by the United States government TO the in
vitation to join with Great Britain and
Germany in the objects specified.
The AngIo-Gcrman Agreement.
The State Department has received a
copy of the AngIo-German agreement re-
gardiug China published in Saturdays
Star. 1t was sent to the department Sat
urday evening by Count de Quadt, the Ger
man charge daffaires. who earlier in the
day had received it by telegraph from
Count Won Ruelow. the German chancellor
at Berlin. The official version is Identical
in terms with that already published, and
il WAS communicated to our government
with only II formal letter of transmission.
Count &c Quadt is much gratified over the
agreement between the two powers, and
believes il augurs well for the prompt be-
ginning OF peace negotiations in China
Preliminary Negotiations.
II is said at the State Department that
Minister Conger requires further in
structions in order to enter into prelim-
mary peace negotiations with Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching. his general in
structions being ample to cover all ques-
tions which ii is expected will be raised at
the beginning. As is understood here, the
initial meeting will relate mainly to the
verification of the credentials of the Chi
nese plenipotentiaries, and If these be sat
isfactory the base will be laid for future
conferences Both Ii Hung Cnang and
Prince Ching are in Pekin. but the two
great southern viceroys are supposed 70 be