The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-28
THE OPEN DOOR IN Chin A
Correspondence Between Secretary
Hay and Foreign Powers.
Replies to the Proposals OF the
United states Regarding Trade in
the Oriental Empire Submitted TO
the Sennte-A General Willingness
to Enter Into the Agreement.

The President yesterday sent to the
House in answer to the resolution Of Mr..
Cummings, the correspondence between
the Secretary of State and foreign Gov
ernments concerning the arrangements for
the maintenance of the open door in
China. The result of the negotiations is
shown by the following copy OF instruc-
lions, sent mutatis mutantis to the United
States Ambassadors at London. Paris. Ber-
lin, st. Petersburg, and Rome, and to the
United States Minister at Tokyo:
Department of State,
Washington, March 20, 19o0.
Sir: The - Government having ac-
cepted the declaration suggested by the
United States concerning foreign trade in
! China, the terms OF which | transmitted
20 you in my instruction No -. of -,
md like action having been taken by all
The rious powers having leased terri
tory or so-called spheres of interest in
| the Chinese Empire. as shown by the
notes which l herewith transmit TO you,
you will please inform the Government
to which you are accredited that the con-
dition originally attached to its acceptance
| that all other powers concerned should
! likewise accept the proposals of the United
| States-having been complied with. this
Government will therefore consider the
assent given to il by - as final and
! defipitive.
You will also transmit to the Minister
| for Foreign Affairs copies of the present
| enclosures. and by the same occasion con-
| vey to him the expression of the sincere
| qualification which the President feels at
/ the successful termination of these ne
gotiations, in which he sees proof of the
! friendly spirit which animates the various
powers interested in the untrammelcd de-
velcpment of commerce and industry in
the Chinese Empire, and a source of vast
benefit to the whole commercial world.
Il am, etc, JOHN HAY"
The correspondence opened on Septem
Der 6. 1899, with a note from Secretary
Hay to Mr.. Vignaud United States Charge
d'Affaires at Paris. enclosing copies of in
structions to the United States Ambassa
doris at London, Berlin, and ST. Peters
burg, lin reference to the desire of this
Government that the Governments of
Great Britain, Germany, and Russia make
formal declaration of an open door policy
in the territories held by them in China
Submitted to France.
1t was Two months later that the open
door matter was brought to the attention
CT France. On November q Mr.. Hay telc-
graphed Ambassador Porter at Paris 10
submit informally TO the French Govern
ment the form of declaration outlined IN
Instructions sent to Nignaud on September
g. and TO ask whether France would join
On the return to Paris of NJ. Delcasse.
French Minister for Foreign Affairs, he
wrote this note TO Mr.. Porter, dated De
cember Is:
My Dear Ambassador: | find your not
awaiting me on my return. The declal..-
lions which | made in the Chamber on the
oath OF November last, and which | have
had occasion to recall TO you since then.
show clearly the sentiments of the Govern
ment of the Republic. 1t desires through
out the whole of China. and with the quite
natural reservation that all the powers
interested give an assurance of their viii
ingness to act likewise, is ready to apply
in the territories which are leased TO IT,
equal treatment to the citizens and sub
jects Of all nations especially in the mat
I Ter of customs duties and navigation dues.
as well as transportation tariffs on rail-
ways
Germany showed an equal willingness to
conform to the desires OF the United States
This is intimated in telegram TO Secre-
tary Hay from Mr. Jackson. Charge de
Affaires in Berlin, dated December 1
Il have just had a conversation with
Secretary CT State for Foreign Affairs. who
stated that the politics Of Germany in
the extreme Orient are de facto the politics
of thE open door and Germany proposes 20
main tain this principle in the future. Ger
many does not wish the question TO become
the subject of controversy between The
different powers engaged in China. She
thinks it would be advantageous for the
United States Government 10 confer with
other European Governments having inter-
ests In China. If the other Cabinets adhere
10 the proposal Of the United States Gov
eminent. Germany will raise no objection
and Germany is willing to have the Gov
eminent of the United States inform these
other Cabinets that no difficulty will come
from her if the other Cabinets agree"
Assurances From Salisbury.
On November so Lord Salisbury gave the
desired assurances in behalf Of England
not 10 be binding however unless all the
other powers interpellated gave like
assurances to the United States. ltaly was
willing also but somewhat late in giving
her answer. which is dated January Z.
1906 Japan gave a prompt assent 10 the
American proposal Russia's answer was
cautious. but gave assurances, under date
OF November 30, that custom duties would
be levied In territory that may hereafter
be acquired by Russia in China upon ell
foreign merchandise without distinction as
to nationality. The Russian note sets forth
that Russia has already demonstrated her
intention of maintaining the open door by
creating Talenwan an open pori.
h As the answers of all the foreign Govern
ments were contained in informal notes TO
the United States representatives at their
capitals. the Secretary Of State. in order
Ito make the assurances formal and bind
| ing directed the Ambassadors to the Eu-
! ropean powers and the Minister 10 Japan