The Globe-republican., 1900-05-10

Herewith any treaty port or any vested
interest within any so-called sphere of
interest or leased territory it may
have in China
.-(2) That the Chinese treaty tarin
of the time being shall apply to all
merchandise landed or shipped to all
such ports are within such spheres
OF interest (unless they be free
portsO, matter to what nationality
1T may belong, and that duties so levi
government
..(3) That it will levy no higher har-
Dor dues on vessels of another nation
atty freQuenting any port in such
sphere than shall be levied on yes
sells of its own nationality, and no
higher railroad charges over lines
built, controlled or operated within its
sphere on merchandise belonging to
citizens or subjects OF other nationali-
ties transported through such sphere
than shall be levied similar mer-
chandise belonging to it's own nation
atty transported over equal dis
tances''
On Nov 80. 1899. a month after the
date of the note. a formal answer was
received from the British government.
addressed to United States Minister
Choate in the following language:
Il have much pleasure in informing
your exee11ency that her majesty's gov
eminent will be prepared TO make a
declaration in the sense desired by
your government in regard to the
leased territory of Wei-hai-Wei, and
all territory in China which may here
after be acquired by Great Britain, by
lease or otherwise, and all spheres OF
interest now held that may here
after be held by her in China. provided
that similar declaration is made by
other powers concerned
Some opposition was feared from
correspondence. on Feb 10 the follow
ing most satisfactory answer was re-
ceived from that government:
81 have the honor to inform your
excellency, repeating the statements
already made verbally. as follows: AS
recognized by the government OF the
United States of America, according to
your exceI1ency's note referred to
above, the imperial government has,
from the beginning, not only asserted,
but also practically carried out to the
fullest extent, in its Chinese posses
sions, absolute equality of treatment
of all nations with regard to trade,
navigation and commerce. The impe-
rial government entertainS no thought
of departing in the future from this
principle, which at once excludes any
prejudicia1 or disadvantageous COM
mercia1 treatment of the citizens of the
United States of America, so long as
it is not forced to do so, account of
considerations of reciprocity, by a di-
vergence from it by other governments
If, therefore, the other powers inter-
ested in the industrial development of
the Chinese empire are willing to rec
OgniZe the same principles, this can
only be desired by the imperial govern
ment, which in this case upon being
requested will gladly be ready to par
ticipate with the United States of
America and the other powers in an
!
which the same rights are reciprocally
secured
The answer from Russia recited the
fact that the settlement of the col1ec-
ton of customs belonged to China her
self, and that the Russian governm emit
had no intention of claiming privileges
for its subjects that were denied to for
eigners-this, however, being the
understanding that other powers would
make a similar declaration. The Rus
sian note closed as follows:
with the conviction that this reply
is such to satisfy the inquiry made
in the aforementioned note, the i'm
perial government is happy to have
complied with the wishes of the Amer
lean government, especially as it at
| taches the highest value to anything
that may strengthen and consolidate
| the traditional relations of friends hi d
| existing between the two Countries
The French note was exceedingly
| brief. It was received Dec 16 last
| from NJ. Delcasse. the minister for for
/ eign affairs, by Ambassador Porter,
| and is as follows:
THE declarations which I made in
the chamber on the oath of November
/ last, and which 1 have had occasion to
recall to you since then, show clearly
the sentiments of the government of
/ the republic.
/ 1T desires throughout the whole of
!
| reservation that all the powers inter-
| ested give an assurance of their will
| ingness to act likewise, is ready to APP
ply in the territories which are leased
| to 1t, equal treatment to the citizens
| and subjects of all nations, especially
| in the matter of custom duties and
| navigation dues, well transporta-
| ton tariffs on railways
The DeIexate.