The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-28
LEADING NATIONS IN ACCORD
ALL HAVE AGREED NOT TO CLOSE
THEIR SPHERES TO COMMERCE.
Ambassador ChOate's Note to Sails
bury and the Latter's Reply
Germany's Declaration.

of an "open door, in China. The corre-
spondence extended over a period of time
from Sept. 6 last to the Goth inst, the last
date marking the successful completion of
the undertaking. The nations addressed
on this subject by the United States were
Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia,
Italy and Japan. On Sept. 6 the State De-
partment addressed to our ambassadors
at London, Berlin and st. Petersburg
copies of a formal declaration" setting
out the desires of our government in the
matter of the "open door" Italy and Japan
were similarly addressed about a month
later While the formal declarations
sent to the ambassadors were similar in
each case, yet each of the officers adopted
a different phraseology i'm addressing them
selves to the governments to which they
are accredited, the dominant note being
best set forth perhaps in the form of con-
veyance chosen by Ambassador Choate in
his note to the British government which
was as follows:
my Lord-I am instructed by the secre-
tary of state to present to your Lordship
a matter which the President regards as of
great and equal Importance to Great
Britain and the United States in the main
tenance of trade and commerce in the East,
in which the interest of the two nations
differ not in character, but i'm degree only
and to ask for action on the part of her
Majesty's government which the President
conceives to be i'm exact accord with its
uniformly declared policy and tradition and
which will greatly promote the welfare of
commerce.
He understands ii to be the settled
policy and purpose of Great Britain not to
use any privileges which may be granted
to ii in China as means of excluding any
commercial rivals. and that freedom of
trade for 1t i'm that empire means freedom
of trade for all the world alike. Her
Majesty's government, while conceding by
formal agreements with Germany and
Russia the possession of spheres of in
fluence or interest in China, in which they
are to enjoy special rights and privileges
particularly in respect to railroads and
mining enterprises. has at the same time
sought to maintain what is commonly
called the open door policy, to secure &c
the commerce and navigation of all nations
equality of treatment within such spheres.
The maintenance of this policy is alike
urgently demanded by the commercial
communities of our two nations, as il is
justly held by them to be the only one
which will improve existing conditions
enable them to maintain their positions in
the markets of China, and extend Their
future operations.
DANGER OF COMPLICATIONS.
"While the government of the United
recognition of the exclusive rights of any
power within or control over any portion
of the Chinese empire, under such agree
ments as have been recently made. il can
not conceal its apprehensions that there i:
danger of complications arising between
the treaty powers which may imperil tn,
rights insured to the United States by it.
treaties with China.
1T is the sincere desire of my govern
| ment that the interests of it's citizens may
not be prejudiced through exclusive treat
| ment by any of the controlling power:
| within their respective spheres of inter
| est in China, and it hopes to retain there
| an open market for all the worlds com
merce, remove dangerous sources of inter
| national irritation, and thereby haster
| united action of the powers at Picking Il
| promote administrative reforms so great,
| needed for strengthening the imperia
] government and maintaining the integrit,
| of China, in which it believes the Who'll,
| Western world is alike concerned. 1t be
| lieves that such result may be great.
| aided and advanced by declarations by tn,
| various powers claiming spheres of inter
| est in China as to their intentions i'm re
| gard to the treatment of foreign trade an,
| commerce therein, and that the present Il
| a very favorable moment for informin,
her Majesty's government Of the desire o
| the United States to have it make on it
| own part and to lend it's powerful supper
| In the effort to obtain from each of tn
| various powers claiming spheres of inter
| est in China, a declaration substantial,
| to the following effect:
| "First-That it will I'm no wise interior
| with any treaty port or any vested inter
| est within any so-called sphere of inter
| est or leased territory it may have il
/ China.
| "Second-That the Chinese treaty tarit
of the time being shall apply to all mer
I,l,o. Ian a6 chi oil
ports as are within such spheres of inter
| est (unless they be free ports) no mat
| ter to what nationality it may belong, an
that duties so leviabe shall be collected b
the Chinese government.
| ''Third-That IL will levy no higher har
| Dor duties on vessels of another rationale
| frequenting any port in such sphere tina
| shall be levied on vessels of its own ma
| tionality and no higher railroad charge
over lines built. controlled or operate
| within it's sphere on merchandise belong
| ing to citizens or subjects of other nation
| alities transported through such sphere
than shall be levied on similar merchandise
| belonging to it's own nationals transporte
| over equal distances.
THE OTHER POWERS.
'The President has strong reason to be
lieve that the governments of both Russi
and Germany will cooperate in an under
standing as is here proposed. The recer
ukase of his Majesty, the Emperor of Rus
STA, declaring the port of Ta-Lien-Wa
open to the merchant ships Of all nation
during the whole term of the lease unde
which il is to be held by Russia remove
all uncertainty as 10 the liberal and cor
ciliatory policy of that power, and justifie
the expectation that his Majesty woul
accede to the similar request of the Unite
States now being presented to him, an
make the desired declaration.
1.-The recent action OF Germany in decla
| ing the port of Kiao-Chou a free port ar
the aid which its government has give
China in establishing there a Chinese GU
tom house. coupled with oral assuran,
| given the United States by Germany tn;
| citizens within its sphere would in
wise be affected by it's occupation of tn
| portion of the province of Shan-Tung el
| courage the belief that little opposition
| TO be anticipated to the Presidents reque
| for a similar declaration from that powe
1T is needless also to add that Japa
| the mower next most largely interested
| the trade of China. must be in entire syn
| pathy with the views here expressed al
that its interests will be largely served l
| the proposed arrangement; and the de
|, larations of its statesmen within the la
| year are so entirely I'm line with IL that Il
| cooperation Of that power Is confident
relied on
.Tt Is. therefore. with the greatest plea
ure that present this matter to yo'
lordship's attention and urge Its prom
consideration by her Majesty's goverrmer
believing that the action Is In entire ha
mony with It's consistent theory and pu
pose. and that It will greatly rebound