The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-28

Ing any port 10 euon -epneFe bnan eneu
be levied on vessels OF Its own nationality
ana no higher railroad charges over
iinss bnilt, controlled or operated witAin
its "sphsrs" on merchandise belonging
TO citizens or subjects OF other natioDali-
ties transported BY suoh "adhers" than
shall be levied on similar merchandise
belonging to Its own nation transported
over equal distances.
A month later came the formal answer
OF the British government under dats Of
November 30, 1sg9.in the following lang
uage addressed to Mr.. Choate;
1 have much pleasure In informing
your exosllenoy, that Her Msjesty's gov
eminent viii be prepared to make
declaration In the ssnss desired BY your
government In regard 10 the lsased ter
ritory Of Wel-Hai-Wel and all territory
In China, whicn may hereafter be 40
quired BY Great Britain. by lease or 9TH
erwiss, and all spheres Of infusnce now
held or that may hereafter be held b. her
In China, provided that similar deciara-
ton Is made By other powers concerned.
In the case OF Germany while forward
tho naAu& 00DtuAnssOh - WV oee
mitted to the British government, the
phrassology was somewhat varied. In
this case Mr.. Hay refers 20 ASSURANCES
given by the Berlin government through
our ambassador wheL Germany released
Kiso Cho and adjacent territory In Shan
Tung, that our treaty privileges con-
ferred by China would noe be infringsd
or impaired. The German government is
reminded that the Emperor Of Russia has
made declaration Of his purpose TO open
Talien Wan and the cooperation Of Great
Britain and Japan Is confidently sx-
peoted.
Under date OF December 4. Charge
jackson ct Berlin oabled the first Ger
man response ~ follows:
81 have Just had . conversation with
Secretary Of Stats for foreign Affairs who
stated that the politics Of Germany In sx-
treme Orient are De faoto the politics OF
the open door and Germany proposes to
maintain this principle in the future. II
the other cabinets adhere TO the proposal
OF the Upited States government, Ger
many will raise no objection and Gar
many IL willing to have the government
of the United States inform these other
cabinets that no difficulty will come from
her II the other cabinets agree"
1t was February 10, before the formal
answer Of German government based up
on q promiss that Satisfactory written re-
plies had been received by the govern
ment Of che United States was received
from all the other powers addressed.
Complying with the wish to give its an
swer In writing, Count Won Buslow
wrote as follows:
"I have the honor to inform your ex-
osllenoy repeating the statements already
made verbally as follows;
"As recognized by the government OF
the United States Of America, according
to your excelIency's note referred to
above, the commercial government has
from the beginning not only asserted but
also practically carried out to the fullest
extent, in its Chinese possessions. abso-
luts equality of tTss tment OF all nations
with regard to trade. navigation. and
commerce. The imperial government en-
tertAins NO thought OF departing in the
future from this principle. II the other
powers are willing 20 recognize the same
principles, the imperial government will
gladly be ready to participate with the
United States Of America and the othsr
powers In an agre ement made upon these
lines, by which the same rights are re-
ciprocally secursd.'
The invitation to Russia to subscribe to
the agreement was prsfaced by recital
Of the Russian assurance that Americas
interests in that part Of China would not
be affected by the lease Of Port Arthur,
Talien Wan and adjacent territory, and o
statement that however gratifying such
an assurance might be, the business
world of the United States request much
further, clearer and more formal deflni-
tions
The Russian answer pledged itself In
the following Languages
"As to the ports now opened or hereaf-
ter to be opened to foreign commerce by
the Chinese government, and which lie
beyond the territory leased to Russia, the
settlement of the question Of custom
duties belongs to China herself and the
Imperial government has no intention
whatever OF claiming any privileges for
Its own subjects to the exclusion of for
signers. 1t 10 to be understood, however.
that this assurance Of the imperial gov
eminent 10 given upon condition that
similAr declaration shall be made BY
other powers having interest in China.
"With the conviction that this reply Is
such a. to satisfy the Inquiry made in
the aforementioned note, the imperial
government 10 happy TO have compiled
with the wishes Of the American govern
ment."
The French note was exceedingly brief.
10 desires throughout the whole Of China,
and, with the natural reservation that
all the powers Interested give an Assur-
anoe OF their willingness to act likewise,
10 ready to apply in the territories which
are leased 30 IL, equal treatment to the
citizens and subjects Of all nations, es-
peoiAlly In the matter of customs duties
and navigation duties. ns we'll 81 trans
narration tArifYa ON rAilWAva