The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-19
SMOOTHED OYER.
State Department Denies Nearly
Every Report Regarding China.


New York, March ia special to the
Herald from Washington says:
Secretary Long expects to receive a
dispatch shortly from Rear Admiral
Watson, announcing the name of the
vessel he has ordered TO Takd China, TO
protect American interests.
Admiral Watson he said, was in
structed to send a vessel to Taku to
provide protection for American in
terests- We have been informed that
there is some little trouble IN Shantung
providence, and that American mission
aries are in danger. The vessel to go,
probably gunboat, will take all proper
measures to protect American citizens
The secretary said further that there
was no thought of sending squadron
to China. 1t is the expectation of the
department that Rear Admiral Watson
viii select a gunboat, perhaps the Cas-
tine, which is at Shanghai, or the York
town, or the Bennington. These vessels
are suitable as to draft. Each has q
sufficient force on board to land a de-
tachment to protect missionaries who
may reside at a short distance from
where the vessel is stationed.
Secretary Long expects that the trou-
BILE just reported Will be suppressed, and
the vessel at TalIn Will then be directed
to return TO her proper station.
Official mail service received from
Pekin in a diplomatic quarter here dis
countenance the statement contained in
a dispatch from Shanghai that a reign
or terror prevails IN emma.
A diplomat who talked relative TO the
situation said that his advices showed
that the diplomatic pressure is still be-
ing applied to the Tsung- Lily amen
The emperor is still on the throne,
though the empress dOWager is govern
ing the empire and is actively taking
measures to put China or a strong de-
fensive basis. So far as the report that
the empress dowager has objected to
the "Open door" policy is concerned, the
diplomat who discussed the Chinese
situation agreed with administration
officials that she has nothing whatever
to do with the matter.
THE open door arrangement has
been concluded by the United States
with European powers, not with CHINA,
he observed Consequently the empress
dOWager can have nothing to say about
it. AS mark of friendship for your
country, the European powers agreed to
respect, in the spheres of influence they
had acquired, the trade rights granted
by your treaties with the Chinese en-
pire That is the open door arrange
ment which has been agreed to, and
China can not object to it
Two weeks is fixed by the administra-
ton as the limit of time wnen the notes
relative to the "open door, arrange
ment will be made public. 1t was report
ed that this government had succeeded
in obtaining identical notes on the sub
1ect but this is incorrect. Great Brit
ain has agreed to the American pro-
vision provided the other nations COM
piled with its provision; Russia has
pointed to her action in opening Talien
Wan as an indication of what she pro-
poses to do; Germany declares that
Kiau-Chou is now open to the trade OF
the world and viii remain so, and
France asserts that she does not recog-
nize the term sphere of influence"
Italy and Japan have expressed their
approval of freedom of trade in China.