The sun., 1900-01-01
A FREE ACCESS TO china
Communications to Great Powers
Evoke Some Favorable
Replies.
"OPEN DOOR" TO COMMERCE
Italy's Answer is the Only Tardy
One, and That Is Said to be In
Accord With the Others.
The Question is One of
Great Importance.

Washington, Dec. 31.-The negotia-
ions opened by Secretary Hay with the
great powers OF Europe and with Japan
toward securing n common understand
ne for a continued open door policy
throughout China have met with most
gratifying results. The state department |
3 unwilling at present to make public
he nature OF the replies received, as |
his information viii be embodied in |
.pecial message to congress. But in 9th |
.r quarters thoroughly reliable and in |
position to have trustworthy and ac- |
:urate information it is learned that IA |
sOrable responses have been made by |
Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan
and Russia, the Russian communication
coming Ms late as Friday. There Is no
loubt It is thought here, that Italy. the
-emaining country addressed, will make
favorable answer, II. indeed, it has not
llready done SO. The position OF Italy
| is felt to be assured by the favorable
curse adopted by the other four great
powers OF Europe.
| The Importance of this unanimous YER
iict by all the first class powers Of the
world-Grent Britain, Russia, Germany,
France. Italy and Japan, In conjunction
with the United States--can hardly be
,yerestimated so far as II relates TO the
future OF China and the commerce Of the
world In that empire.
The state department IL loath to dis
'uss the farreaching results TO be secur-
a when the agreement advances to the
stage of formal consummation, for each
Favorable response Is conditioned on the
Favorable action OF all the other parties.
80 that In each case the negotiations may
he regai ded as little short Of absolute
nality. But while the department Is 81
lent the details come from sources be-
llieyed to be fully conversant with what
has occurred.
British Reply First.
According to this information, the Brit
ish answer was the first TO be submitted
aud was exceptionally comprehensive and
|. Explicit in yieiding to every suggestion
, made b. the United States relative to
maintaining the freest entry 10 the ports
Il China. The British answer is said
: TO emphasize she concurrence with the
United states by adopting word for
: word much OF the phraseology employed
: ~ Secretary Hay when he addressed his
! original note to Great Britain and the
y Jther powers. The wording is such as
10 make plain that the British govern
nent concurs for the present and here
lfter without limitation in a policy OF
! ,roe access TO China.
Although much secrecy was observed
the transmission of the British an
= wer, its general purport Soon became
Il .nown at the other European capitals
i nd there was not little irritation at
q that was regarded as precipitate re-
n p0nse purposely designed to embarrass
:. ne continental powers by showing
y treat Britain and the United States act
! ng in concert, while the rest OF the
. World held al0Of. But this situation was
: nade much more satisfactory TO the con
4 5inental powers by their determination
II 0 act for themselves. Germany Is said
\. o have been the next power 10 answer in
n he affirmative. According TO the infOr
nation already referred to. the German
answer was rather more vague than the
]. he which had preceded it, but its gen
N ral tendency was favorable, the only
II pnlition being that any agreement az
h. 20 free access to China should be uni
=. rersal and assentod to by all the powers
RI The French answer is understood Il
A. have come next, and the circumstance:
le attending it were rather peculiar and no
IL n the nature OF a direct answer, although
re the result was regarded as most satisfac
ir tory. Secretary Hays note had beei
III orwar,lcd to General Horace Porter, th'
IN Jnited Stntes ambassador to France
who promptly called upon NJ. Delcasse
minister Of foreign affairs in the Frencl
.abinet. General Porter made know
mis- mission, whereupon M. Delcass
l. showed the most sympathetic spirit ant
stated that he had already made ampl
le answer to just such a communication
ID although at the time he had not intendeI
IL il as an answer to the American note.
it, Answered In a speech.
IS This answer, NJ. Delcasse explained
Of was given in a speech made by him o.
r. Nov. "a in the French chamber. Th
n main point Of that speech In its refer
IS, ences 10 China was that France desire
ry the most ample freedom of commerce
e. NJ. Deleasse referred General Porter {
this speech and told him that it full
on gave the assurance which the Unite
en- States desired.
ne The Russian negotiations have prC
ez ceeded less briskly, so that it seemed fc
IT. time that Russia's attitude might nc
mt be favorable. This was dissipated, how
Is ever, by the Russian ambassador, Cour
ne Cassini. in the course Of interviews wit
lor Secretary Hay. On these occasion
Up, Count Cassini pointed out that hurrie
answer was Og nv lheahS ehS Ot"e g
hs lence OF a favorable attitude toward Il
=. American proposition, but that Russ
les lss was proceeding with due deliberation
elu order to arrive at some solid ground Il
iae permanent understanding. The Ru
+. sian portion, 1t is understood, is simil'
"a to those preceding it, with the same CO.
- - lition that Russia alone shall not
y" bound, but that all of the interests
Icountries shall join In the agreement
keep tho ports of China forever open.
lv In what order in the negotiations j
ni,' rams favorable attitude was made know
AZ .annot bc stnted, but it suiiices that j
IN. lpan made her position unnistakable
oot favor OF the American proposition, wi
70 the same reservation as in all the 9th
in. cases, that unan,nity should be reache
Of Although Italy is yet TO be heard frc
har definitely, no doubt is enterrained tn
isn that country also viii be favorable tn
ans making complete the satisfactory
mo-. .ponses OF all the great powers.
RebuiSe For Captain Rees.
a,,s Washington. Dec. 3l.-Captain Thon,
XII, II. Recs. corps OF engineers, who was
49, q