Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01
AWAITING RESPONSES
Powers Exchanging Views Regarding
the Chinese Situation.
PURPOSES OF THIS GOVERNMENT
Designed to Obtain Agreement for
Liberal Trade Policy.
TO SECURE THE OPEN DOOR


States is concerned. The powers are in
dulging in a rapid exchange Of views by
telegraph and cable respecting the Russo
American propositions. AS our note was
designed to call out a straight expression
of policy from the various powers respect
ing the proposed withdrawal from Pekin, 1t
is understood that its effect has been TO
bring about these consultations between the
various groups among the powers, with the
purpose OF gaining strength by combined
action in their responses.
Important developments are not expected
within the next day or two, at least that
period time being regarded necessary in
order for the various elements to merge.
Meanwhile it is declared positively by the
State Department that there will be no fur
ther authorized publication of any of the
notes now in process of exchange until
complete accord has been reached. or at
least until the subject under consideration
may be regarded disposed of finally
This attitude has been assumed because
the very free discussions in the press that
have been in progress, based In some in
stances. according to the State Department
officials. upon erroneous conceptions of the
meaning of certain notes officially pub
lished and on misleading conjecture as to
the nature of other unpublished notes,
threatens to retard the development of the
negotiations
For a Liberal Trade Policy.
The letter of Acting Secretary Adee in
reply to the Russian communication dis
closes somewhat broader policy on the
part Of this government with respect to
China than has been understood. While
1t is proposed to maintain the territorial
and administrative integrity of China. 1t
|fc bat cban no
mite agreement, binding alike upon China
and the powers, which shall fix a liberal
trade policy on the part of China equally
toward all the powers, together with pro
lection and safeguard to all foreign inter
ests; and shall bind the powers each 10
respect the rights of all in the matter of
an open door to trade. and also to respect
the sovereignty of China over all the ter
ritory of the empire. That is we propose
to avail ourselves OF this occasion to put
In the form of binding international
treaty the committal of the powers to the
open door, which up 10 this time has gone
no further than expression on the part
OF each of a purpose favorable to the open
door. Moreover, the Chinese government
not being IN position at this time to main
tain order and execute a policy which
recognized international obligations. the op-
portunity appears TO be presented for the
re-establishment OF a government which
shall be bound by treaty to a policy which
shall be just and liberal to foreign inter
ests and which shall be sustained by the
bowers Jointly in the firm establishment of
national policy consistent with the preser-
Taton of foreign interests.
Joint Occupation of Pelxin.
Meanwhile, until this is accomplished, 1t
Is the judgment of this government, as
rleary disclosed in the reply to Russia,
that there should be joint occupation of
Pekin under definite agreement between
he powers. which would amount to a tenn
porary joint protectorate. This would place
china in somewhat the attitude toward all
The powers that Cuba IS In toward the
United States. The duration of this joint
occupation would depend upon the course
II the Chinese themselves and their ab-
ty to establish governmental authority
which could maintain its treaty obligations.
This government is not placed in accord
with Russia in the policy of Withdrawing
he troops, but the purpose is expressed
reluctantly 10 follow that course if 1t is
rendered necessary by the breaking up Of
he concert of the powers at Pekin through
he withdrawal of Russia. This determina-
ion, too, is based, not on desire to CO.
operate especially with Russia, but on the
grounds that if Russia should withdraw
her troops she could then proceed in her
bwn way to deal with China, while the rest
bf the powers might be bound together by
heir mutual agreement, which would give
hem less freedom of action than that en-
Dyed by the powers acting independently.
In Case One Power Breaks Away.
1t is therefore announced that if one
power is going to break away from the
alliance and follow independent and
perhaps selfish policy the United States
TiI, in self-defense. be impe.led to free
herself from an incomplete alliance which,
bnder such conditions, might provoke con-
tict and afford her less freedom of action
han that enjoyed by the free lance operat-
ng on independent lines.
With one exception the policy indicated
ppears more in harmony with that of the
ther powers than with Russia The ex-
eption is that our policy contemplates all
he powers binding themselves to observe
he open door and to respect the territory
II China while the other powers appear
% prefer their liberty to depart from that
olicy at any time in the future 1T may suit
heir purpose so TO do, though they are
viliing to declare the policy for the time
being.
Status of Ii Hung Chang.
The question Of Ii Hung Chang's creden-
pointed out that all OF the governments
Involved I'm the Chinese troubles unit
ccording to their official declarations, in
heir willingness TO negotiate with the Chi
hese government as soon as some respon-
ibe representatives of that government
an be met.
When such government is again in
tailed 1t can itself dispose of the question
4 Ii Hung Chang's credentials and IL is
aid to be idle 20 raise objections now to
heir sufficIency in advance of any meeting
u plenipotentiaries. The other matter rel
tive to Ii Hung Changs threatened re-
ention by the foreign admiras has also lost
ignlficance and point. i'he State Depart
nent which never doubted that Ii Hung
Chang was at Shanghai, is confirmed in
his belief by a press dispatch of apparent
uthenfcity published this morning. 1t is
hot believed that Earl Ii will go to Taku or
rien Tsin, where the foreign admrais may
be, IL there - the least danger. in his opin-