The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-21
GIVES SATISFACTION.
Britain and Germany Merely Follow
ing the Lead of the United States.

ing the Lead of the United states.
WASHINGTON, Oct 2O-The State De-
partment here has not yet been advised
officially of the terms of the alliance re-
ported from London to have been reached
between Great Britain and Germany to
maintain the territorial integrity of China
and to keep ports open. While the move
gives general satisfaction here. the officials
say that 1t probably is misnomer to call
it an alliance. What probably has hap
pened, they say, has been reaffirmation
of principles already agreed on, not only
between England and Germany, but be-
tween all the great powers. Again the
officials point to the note of Secretary Hay
of Sept. 3, defining the position of the
United States and declaring it to be its
policy. among other things, to preserve
Chinese territorial and administrative en-
tity, protect all rights guaranteed to friend
ly powers by treaty and international law
and safeguard for the world the principle
of equal and impartial trade with all parts
of the Chinese empire
The records show that all the great pow
ers accepted the principle OF this guarantee
of territorial integrity. Their expressions
on the point of commercial freedom were
not quite as explicit as in the case of ter
ritorial integrity and it appears from a
study of the British-German agreement
above referred to that particular care has
now been taken to clear up any doubt on
this point. Probably Germany was the first
TO engage with England on this point be-
cause of her anxiety to preserve for Ger
man trade the important commerce she
has built up on the Yang-Tse river which
might fall to England In a division. The
special reference made in the agreement
to river commerce bears out this infer
ence The United States will promptly adj
agreement, as il is directly in the line of
our aspirations. If Russia can be brought
to accept it's terms as binding on herself
there can be no doubt, according to the
official view here that a substantial move
nent will have been achieved towards a
final settlement of the Chinese trouble.
The so-called alliance attracted much at
tention in diplomatic circles and was the
chief subject of discussion at the various
legations. The Franco-RusSian view was
that the agreement did not add materially
TO the declarations made by Russia and
France concerning the preservation of
China's territorial integrity. AT the French
embassy Ii was regarded as step in the
right direction, and the officials said no
doubt it would commend itself to the
Japanese government and receive approval
there. The German charge daffaires, Count
De Quadt, had not been advised of the ar
rangement and under the circumstances
was not disposed to discuss ii.
The Chinese minister read the terms of
the alliance with the keenest interest, and
then said This is most important
movement, and / hope 1t will lead to q
complete settlement The agreement is ex-
actly in line with the American position
laid down in Secretary Hays note, to
which all of the governments gave their
adherence. But coming at this time from
two such powerful nations, the agreement
ought to exert a strong influence towards
a settlement. In fact, the United States,
France, Russia and Japan having taken
the same position, favorable TO the terri
tcrial integrity of China, there appears to
be nothing in the way of a complete ac-
ceptance of this principle. The second
declaration of the agreement is particular
ly important, and, having gone that far.
l wish that the two parties to the agree
ment had proceeded on the same lines.
If not to prevent, at least to deter other
nations from using the present complica-
tons as means of securing territorial
extension. Still, even in it's present FORM
the agreement is most satisfactory de-
velopment in the situation, and now that
the nations are agreed on these principles
let them act them out