The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-28
United States Treaty Rights to
Be Regarded.

Washington, March 81. Secretary Hay
today submitted to Congress the CORE
spondenoe had with the governments OF
other nations respecting the maintenance
of an "Open Door" In China
The correspondence extended over Q
period Of time from Ssptem Der 9th last to
the Goth inst, the last date making the
suocsssful completion OF the undertak-
ing. The nations addressed on this sub
iect by the United States were Great
Britain, France. Germany, Russia, Italy
and Japan. On September 9, the state
department. addressed TO our am bassadors
90 London, Berlin and st. Petersburg
copies of "formal declaration" setting
out the desires Of cur government in tine
matter OF the "open door," Italy and
Japan were similarly address, d about .
month later. While the "formal deola.
rations" sent to the ambassadors were
similar In each case, yet each Of the OH
GERS adopted q different phraseolosy In
add rsesipg themselves to the governments
10 which they were accredited. the dorm i.
inAnt note being set forth perhaps. in the
form Of conveyance chosen BY Ambassa-
dor Choate in . note to the British gov
ernment, which was as follows;
My Lord: am instru cited BY the SEQ
rotary of state to present. 10 your lord
ship q matter which the President regards
az; OF equally great Importance to Great
Britain and the United States in the
maintenance Of trade and commerce In
the east, in which the interest Of the
two nations differ, not in character, but
in degree only. and TO ask for action on
the part Of Her Msjesty's government.
which the President conceived TO be In
exaots::..saocord with its uniformly de-
clared policy and traditions, and which
will greatly promots the welfare Of COM
msros. He understands IL to be the sst-
tied policy and purpose of Great Britain
not to use privileges which may be grant
ed to 1t In China ~ . means Of exolud-
ing any commercial rivals, and that free
dom Of trade for 10 In that empire means
freedom of trade fer all the world alike.
While the government Of the United
States will In no way commit ITSELF to
any reception Of the exclusive rights
OF any power within or control over any
BoIb&uA Va buo S1tAO10 okApAEu1 11ook bdSh
agreements a. have been recently made,
1t cannot conceal its approximations that
there 10 danger OF complications arising
between the treaty powers which may
impsril ths:.rights insured to.ths United
States by Its treaties with China.
1t Ia the sincere desire Of my govern
ment that the interests Of Its citizens
may not 30 prejudloed through exclusive
treatment by any Of the controlling pow
ers within their respective "sphers Of In.
terests'' in China, andyit hopes to retain
there an open market for the worlds
commerce, remove dangerous sources
Of internal irritation and thereby hasten
united action OF the powers ct Pekin
to- promote administrative reforms 90
greatly needed for strengthening the i'm
perial government and maintaining the
integrity OF China, in which 10 believes
the whole western world IL alike CON.
ceEned. II believes that such . result
may be greatly aided and advanced by
declarations BY the various pewers claim
Ing spheres Of interest,"" in China. as
to their intsn tons In regard to the treat
ipsnt Of foreign trade and commercs
therein and that the present il q very "a
vorable MON emit for informing Her Ma
iesty's government Of the desire Of thu
United States to have IL make on It's own
part and to lend its powerful support In
the effort to obtain from each Of the va
rious powers claiming :"spheres Of inter
est" In China . declaration substantially
b. the following effect:
THAT 1t will in no wise interfere
with any treaty port or any vested inter-
est within any so-oallsd sphere OF inter-
est or leased territory 10 may have in
China.
e-That the Chinese treaty tariff of
the time bsiug shan apply to all msr-
chandise landed or shipped to all suoh
ports as are wishin suoh "spheres Of In
terests'' (unlsss they be free ports), no
matter to what nationality Ii may belong
and that duties 50 lsviable shall be COZ
Bseted BY the Chinese government