Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-20
TO KEEP OPEN PORTS
Germany and England Form Alliance
in Regard to China.
: TEE OTHER POWERS NOTIFIED
Hint That They viii Oppose Land
Grabbing.
TENT OF THE TREATY
TEXT OF THE TREATY

LONDON, October 20-Germany and
England have formed an alliance to main
>tain territorial integrity of China and to
keep ports open.
The terms of this agreement, which was
arrived at October 16 between Lord Sails
bury and Count Won Hatzfeidt, German
ambassador to England, are officially given
out follows:
THE German government and her British
majesty's government, being des!rous 10
maintain their interests in China and their
rights under existing treaties, have agreed
to observe the following principles regard
ing mutual policy in China:
"Firstly-It is a matter of joint perma-
nent international interest that the ports on
the rivers and Iittoral of China should re-
main free and open to trade and to every
other legitimate form of economic activity
for the psop.es of all countries without dis
tinction. and the two governments agree on
their part to uphold the same Tor all
Chinese territory as far as they can eX'
ercise influence.
To ,.reserve the Status Quo.
"Secondiy-Both governments agree that
-they will not on their part make use OF the
present complication to obtain for them-
selves any territorial advantage in Chinese
: dominion and will direct their policy to
ward maintaining undiminished the terri
toriaI condition Of the Chinese empire
.,Thirdly-In case of another power max,
inc use of the complications in China IN
order to obtain under any form WhaleVei
such territorial advantages the TWO co.,, tho
tracing parties reserve TO txss,n theniselxes "a.
right TO come TO preliminary underslahu-
ing regarding the eventual step 10 pe taheh
for the protection of their own interests III
China. .. ,,n,
communicate this agreement to the othei
powers Interested, especially Austria Hun m
gary. France, Italy Japan, Russia ana lne
United States, and invite them 10 accep'
the principles recorded in it,
Our State Department has not yet been
advised officially of the terms OF the ABOVE
aercernent hut of course such notice must
come shortly in accordance with the last
article Of the document itself Whie lne
agreement gives general satlslac, ION heie
the officials say that it is probably mis-
norner to call 1t alliance. What mas
probably happened has been rea1hrma-
ton Of principles already agreed upon not
only between England and Germany, out
between all of the great powers interested
In China. Again the officials point to the
note of Secretary Hay of July j. defining
the position OF the United States ana ae-
claring it to be its policy, among other
things to "preserve Chinese territorial ana
administrative entity, protect all rights
guaranteed to friendly powers by treaty
the world the principle of equal and impair
tialtrade with all parts of the Chinese en-
pire"
The records show that each and every
one of the great powers accepted the prln-
ciple of that guarantee of territorial integ-
rity Their expressions on the point of
commercial freedom were not quite as ex-
plicit as in the of territorial integrity,
and it appears from a study of the British
German agreement above printed, that par
ticular care has now been taken to clear up
any doubt on that point. Probably Ger
many was the first to engage with England
on that point, because of her anxiety to
preserve for German trade the important
commerce she has built up on the 4angtse
river which might fall to England on di-
vision. The special reference made in the
agreement to river commerce bears out
that inference
OF course the United States will prompt
ly> adhere to the principles contained in the
agreement. 1t is directly in the line of
aspirations. If Russia can be brought
to accept its terms as binding upon herself,
there can be no doubt, according to the
official view here, that substantial move
ment will have been achieved toward
final settlement of the Chinese trouble.
Interest in Diplomatic Quarters.
The British-German alliance attracted
much interest in diplomatic quarters and
was the chief subject of discussion at the
various embassies and legations today. The
Franco-Russian view was that the agree
ment QlG not adC materially TO the ueciara-
tions already made by Russia and France
con, erHing the preservation of ChinaS ter
ritorial integrity. The Japanese minister
looked upon the agreement step in the
right direction. and said he had no doubt
1t would commend itself to the Japanese
government and receive approval there.
The German charge daffaires, Count de
Quadt, had not been advised of the agree
ment, ant: under the circumstances not
disposed to dis it.
The Chinese minister read the terms of
the agreement with the keenest interest
and then said:
This is most important movement and
i hope ii will lead to a complete settle
ment- The agreement is exactly in line
the governments gave their adherence. But
coming al this time from two such power
full nations the agreement ought to exert
strong influence toward a settlement In
fact. the United States Russia France and
Japan. having taken the same position IA
vorable to the territorial integrity of China
why. there appears to be nothing In the
way OF a complete acceptance of this prin-
ciple- The second declaration Sf the agree
nent is particularly important, and having
gone taat far l wish that the two parties
had pro eeded, If not to prevent, at least to
deter, other nations from using the present
complications as a means of securing terri
torial extension. STILL even in its present
sform. the agreement is a most satisfactory
development in the situation. And now
that the nations are agreed on these prin-
ciples, let them act them out"
JONES REPLIES TO ROOSEVELT