The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-28

between British and German subjects
1 within said area but that the interests
| of our citizens may also be jeopardized
thereby.
| Earnestly DESTROYS to remove any cause
of irritation and to ensure at the same
time to the commerce OF all nations in
/ China the undoubted benefits which should
accrue from n formal recognition by the
various powers claiming spheres of in
| terest that they shall enjoy perfect equal
! ity of treatment for their commerce and
navigation within such spheres, the Gov
| eminent of the United States would De
! pleased TO see His German Majesty's Gov
| eminent give formal assurances. and lend
| its cooperation in securing like assur-
ances from the other interested powers,
| that each within its respective sphere OF
! whatever influence
! ''First-Will in no way interfere with any
/ treaty port or any vested interest within
any so-called sphere OF interest or leased
territory it may have in China.
"Second-That the Chinese treaty tariff
I of the time being shall apply to all mer-
chandise landed or shipped to all such
ports as are within said sphere of interest
unless they be free ports0. no matter to
what nationality it may belong and that
duties so leviabe shall be collected by the
| Chinese Government
''Third-That il will levy no higher har-
Dor dues on vessels of another nationality
freQuenting any port in such sphere
than shall be levied on vessels of its own
nationality and no higher railroad charges
over lines built controlled. or operated
within its sphere on merchandise be-
longing 10 citizens or subjects of other ma
3 ipTQ
sphere than shall be levied on similar
merchandise belonging to its own ma
I tiorals transported over equal distances.
I he liberal policy pursued by His Impe-
rial German Majesty in declaring kiao-
! Chou free port and in aiding the Chinese
| Government in the establishment there o!
I a custom house are SO clearly in line with
/ the proposition which this Government Is
anxious to see recognized that II enter
! tains the strongest hope that Germany will
/ give its acceptance and hearty support.
THE commercial interests Of Great Brit
ain and Japan will be so clearly served by
I the desired declaration of intentions and
/ the views OF the Governments Of these
| countries as 10 the desirability of the adop-
! Ton of measures ensuring the benefits Of
| equality Of treatment of all foreign trade
! throughout China are so similar to those
. entertained by the United States that their
4
( lined and their cooperation in advocating
/ their adoption by the other powers can be
| confidently expected l. enclose herewith
! copy OF the instruction which | have sent
/ 10 Mr.. choate on the subject
In view OF the present Favorable ccudi-
/ tons you are instructed To submit the
/ above considerations 10 His Imperial Maj
esty's Minister for Foreign Affairs and 10
request his early consideration Of the sub
/ iect." ,f.s
/ The answer of Germany was the follow
| ing note to Ambassador White, from
| Count Won Buelow, MinsteF,of Foreign AZ
/ fairs:
Foreign Office.
| Berlin February 10. 1900.
MIR. Ambassador: Your excellency in
! formed me. in a memorandum presented
| on the 24th OF last month. that the Gov
eminent Of the United States Of America
| had received satisfactory written replies
( from all he powers TO which an enquiry
J had been addressed similar to that con-
/ tanned in your excellency's note OF Sep
| TENDER % last in regard TO the policy of
! the open door in China. While referring
4 TO this. your eXcellency thereupCn eX-
pressed the wish that the Imperial Gov
eminent would now also give its answer
IN writing.
| Gladly complying with this wish.
= >
! repeating the statements already made
verbally, as follows: As recognized by
| the Government OF the United States Of
| America, according to your eXcellency s
! note referred TO above the Imperial Gov
eminent has from the beginning. not only
\ asserted but also practically carried out
TO the fullest extent in its Chinese pos
sessions absolute equality OF treatment OF
/ all nations with regard to trade. naviga-
ton and commerce. The Imperial Gov
eminent entertains no thought OF depart
Z ing in the future from this principle. which
I at once excludes any prejudicial or disad-
outrageous commercial treatment Of the
| citizens Of the United States of America,
| so long as II is not forced TO do so, on ac-
| count OF considerations of reciprocity. by
| a divergence from il by other Govern
ments. If. therefore the other powers in
terested in the industrial development of
| the Chinese Empire are willing to recog-
nize the same principles. this can only be
! desired by the Imperial Government, which
! in this case, upon being requested will
gladly be ready TO participate with the
United States of America and the other
powers in an agreement made uron these
lines. by which the same rights are reel
procally secured.
Il avail myself. etc, BuELOW."
! In the correspondence given with Great
! Britain. the hTst communication is a
/ note from Ambassador Choate to Lord
| Salisbury. II is the longest communica-
ton in The series. This note follows:
/ Embassy of the United States.
London. Sept. % 1899
/ My Lord: | am instructed by the Sec
rotary Of State to present to your lord
, ship matter which the President regards
as of great and equal 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 differs. not IN tchaEacter. but in
degree only-and to ask for faction ON the
part of Her Majesty's Government which
the President conceives to be in exact ac-
cord with its uniformly declared policy
and traditions. and which will greatly
promote the welfare OF commerce
He understands It to be the settled
policy and purpose of Great Britain not
to use any privileges which may be grant
| ed to II In China as a means OF excluding
any commercial rivals. and that free
J dom of trade for II in that Empire means
/ freedom OF trade for all the world alike.
Her Majesty's Government, while conced-
| ing by formal agreements with Germany
and Russia the possession of spheres of
influence or interest in China, in which
they are TO enjoy especial rights and
| privileges, particularly in respect to rail-