The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-23
GIGANTIC TRADE WITH CHINA.
,uI, COME AS A RESULT OF OUR
NEGOTIATIONS.

Ann O0Or-Important Announce
mont TO BE Made by the Govern
,,ent Within Thirty Days-Nothing
nm, a Test Case Is Now Needed.
Nov York, Feb. 22.-Two hundred MEM
bsrs Of the Southern Society of New York
n.sre resent tonight at the fourteenth
annual banquet given at the Waldorf-As
toria.
A. The guests table were John Barrett,
CORNER minister to Siam; John Foord, Ed
r-,r5 owen, commander of the Confeder
ate Veterans camp; Rev. DR.. E. H. Krans,
oresii mt of the Canadian Society; Angus
ms Van Wyck, George Gray Ward, pres
dani Of the ST. Georges Society," Jutaro
Konura. the Japanese minister, and Con-
sui lohida of Japan.
President Polk proposed a toast to the
memory OF George Washington, which was
drunk standing. Three rousng cheers
were given.
Minister Komura spoke on Japan, Her
Progressive and War-like People Are Our
Neighbors in the New West, and Our
Friends Always and Everywhere"
He made earnest reference to the al
vays amicable relations of the two coun-
tries
John Barrett late minister to Siam,
spoke on THE New South, in What Used
to Be the Ultimate East, But Is Now Our
Far Western Frontier" Ex-Minister Bar
rett said in part:
The most timely statement that 1 can
make TO you representative sons of a sec
lion which has vital interests at stake in
China. is one concerning our negotiations
with European Powers for the mainte-
ance of the open door, Having been es-
| pec,ally requested to discuss in the course
of my remarks the actual significance of
| these negotiations, l endeavored before
leaving Washington to ascertain their
status from those in charge of our Asiatic
policy that I should enable to comply
with your request.
1T can now be said on best authority
that within thirty days a most important
announcement will be made to the country
by the state department in the form of
communication from the Congress cover
ing in detail 'the exact terms
as well as the import and scope
Of the diplomatic notes exchanged
in this matter of paramount consequence
10 our leg innate comm rcial expansion and
growing moral influence in the Pacific.
The delay in making these full data pub
lie has been due, / am creditabfy informed
to a reasonable and natural desire of the
Secretary of State to settle all points, MI
nor as we'll as chief, and practically con-
clude negotiations ON permanent and sat
isfactory lines before giving that publicity
which might interfere with their success
ful consummation-
a Great Trade Achievement.
When presently this official statement
of diplomatic results accomplished and
the terms thereof are made public, the
whole country, irrespective of section and
party will approve even more generously
this peaceful and far-reaching achieve
ment than it did the first general state
ment of policy. Ii will show that, and just
how the United States, singlehanded, has
accomplished in few months what the
Powers in Europe, single or combined
failed to do in long years of diplomatic
Intercourse and strategy; that We have
of nations taking the strongest
action possible for the preservation of the
integrity of the Chinese empire; that we
have safeguarded our developing interests
whether China remains intact or is divid-
ed into spheres of influence (Which is a
sugar-coated diplomatic phrase for 'even-
tual areas of actual sovereignty without
in any way committing ourselves to the
recognition of such spheres or to the
rights of European nations to delimit
them; that each step has been taken with
due regard for the inalienable rights or
the Chinese government and with its
friendly consent and knowledge through
that while Great Britain and Japan have
accepted without reservation Americas
Communications, Russia, Germany,
France and Italy have hesirated only on
the letter of the terms and not on the
principle involved. This means, then, that
1f 10 in q
old Tien Tsin treaties is guaranteed by
all the powers without discriminating du-
ties, freight rates, inland taxes, through
out all China including an area of four
million square miles or greater than all of
the United States, the population of which
is 100000 000 or five times that of the
United States and an annual foreign trade
which already, amounting TO S250'OOOOOo
Will, with her vast resources developed,
her interior opened and gridironed with
railways and more progressive govern
ment inaugurated, reach in the reasonable
future at the conservative rate of 50 per
head or less than that of Japan and only
one-fifth that of the United States, the
magnificent total of $1,000 100000.
There remains, however, one highly
strategic and effective move to be mace
on the chess board of diplomacy before
the United States and the world at large
will be Convinced that disguised EFFORTS 10
discriminate against our products will be
forever checkmated under those new agree
ments, and ] think the government a,
Washington has the point well in mind.
We must have a test case, and the sooner
the better. Not a defiant attitude or ef-
tort to embroil our country in war, but a
drm purpose prompted by an honest &C.
sire to uphold our rights by practical trial
Ike the test OF constitutionality of new
law that has just been enacted.
Stated in other and brief terms; We
must have precedent now to prove that
the door is open and cannot be closed. If
an effort Is made to shut it in our faces
either by a gradual movement. or slam,
despite these new negotiations. our gov
ernment supported by the country at large
must resist such movement and insist on
our rights with all the forces, moral and
material, at our command. Finally, that
we may have the strength and facilities
10 stand by our new Chinese policy and
protect our vast potential interests in