Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-23
France and United States for
Territorial Integrity of
China.
CORRESPONDENCE is OUT
Notes Which Have Recently Passed
Between the Two Nations Made
Puhlic-Attitude Resembles That of
Germany and Great Britain.

Washington, Oct. 22.-The state de.
partment today made public the cor
respondence which has taken place be-
tween itself and the French govern
ment since the original French note
respecting China, which LAID down the
terms suggested by France as the ba-
sis of negotiations for a settlement.
This last correspondence consists Of
two notes exchanged between Secre-
tary Hay and M. Thiebaut last week,
putting in formal shape certain verbal
statements of Importance respecting
the negotiations.
Resembles German-Rritish Scheme.
An interesting and important feat
ure is the United States suggestion
that the powers bind themselves
again to preserve Chinese territorial
integrity, and to maintain ''the open
door," exactly the objects aimed at
in the British-German agreement or al
lance which was made public last
week. While the note by Secretary
Hay bears the date of October 10
and the British-German agreement is
assigned the date of the 18th, the ac-
ton of this government was taken in
ignorance of the agreement and it is
entirely possible it may have been the
means of bringing about the disclosure
of it's purpose.
May Join the Alliance.
Our suggestion indicates favorable
response by the United States govern
ment to the invitation to join with
Great Britain and Germany in the OBJ
jects specified. Secretary Hays re-
ply to the communication was handed
him October l by the French charge
d'affaires, and which contained the
notification of adherence to the essen
tial principle of the French note by all
the interested powers and suggesting
that the Chinese plenipotentiarys be
notified that the powers are ready to
negotiate thru the ministers of the
powers at Peking follows.
Secretary Hays Reply.
"The government of the United
States is gratified to learn that all the
interested powers have adhered to the
essential principles of the French note
of October IA, and trusts that such
reservations as they have suggested
will, like those mentioned in the reply
OF the United States, prove no embar-
rassment to the progress of negotia-
tions in the course of which they can
be frankly discussed with a view to
common agreement.
Holding, as it does, in accord with
the French government, that the es-
sential thing now is to prove to the
| Chinese government that the powers
full negotiation and are united in their
repeatedly declared decision with re-
spect to the integrity of China and the
independence of its government, while
equally united in the resolve to obtain
rightful satisfaction for the great
wrongs they and their nationals have
suffered, this government has instruct
ed its ministers in Peking to concur
in presenting to the Chinese plenipo-
tentiaries the points upon which we
have agreed as the initial step towards
negotiations and towards the re-estab-
lishment of the effective power and au-
thority of the imperial government
The government of the United
States believes the happy influence up
on the determination of the Chinese
emperor and his government, which
the government of the French repub-
lie anticipates that the result of this
step would be still further induced II
the powers We're to include as a part
of their initial declaration and il col
lective manifestation of their determin.
alton to preserve the territorial integ-
rity and administrative entirety OF
China, and to secure for the Chinese
nation and for themselves the benefits
Of open equal commercial intercourse
between the Chinese empire and the
world at large"
|