The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-02
FAVORABLE REPLIES OF EUROPEAN
POWERS AND JAPAN.
PROPOSAL OF SECRETARY HAY
Toward Securing an Understanding 8
to Continuance of the Open-D oor
Policy in China - England Assents
Promptly Answers of the Other
Powers More Tardy, and Some a
Little Vague-Itaiy's Reply Not Yet
Received.

Washington, December 30-The nego-
tiations opened by Secretary Hay with
the great powers of Europe and with
japan, towards securing a common
understanding for a continued open
door policy throughout China have mat
with most gratifying results. The state
department is unwilling at present TO
make public the nature of the replies
received, as this information Will be
embodied in a special message TO con-
gTess; but in other quarters, thorough
1y reliable and in a position
to have trustworthy and and ac-
curate information, it is learn
ed that favorable responses have been
made by Great Britain, Germany,
France, Russia, the Russian commu-
nication coming as late as yesterday,
and Japan. There is no doubt, it is
thought here, that ITALY, the remain
ing country addressed, will make favor
able answer, if indeed it has not al
ready done so. The position of Europe
is felt to be assured by the favorable
course adopted by the other great
powers of Europe.
The Importance of this unanimous
verdict by an the first class powers of
the world-Great Britain, Russia, G
many, France, Italy and Japan, in con-
junction with the United States-can
hardly be over-eStimated, so far as it
pelates to the future of China, and the
commerce of the world in that empire.
The state department. is loath to discuss
the far-reaching results to be secured
when the agreement advances to the
stage of formal consummation, for each
favorable action of all other parties,
so that in each case the negotiations
many be regarded as short of absolute
finalfty.
While the department. is silent the
"details come from sources believed to
be fully conversanIt with what has oc-
CURED.
ENGLAND'S PROMPT REPLY.
According to this information, the
British answer was the first to be sub
n1itted, and was exceptionally conn
prehensive and explicit in yielding to
every suggestion made by the United
States relative to maintaining the freest
entry to the ports of China. The Britt
ish answer is said to emphasize the
concurrence with the United States by
adopting, word for word, much of the
phraseology employed bySecretary Hay
when he addressed his original note to
Great Britain and the other powers.
The wording is such as to make plain
that the British government concurs,
for the present and hereafter, withoug
limitation, in a policy of free access to
China.
Although much secrecy was observ
ed in the TRANSMISSION of the British
answer, ITS general purport soon became
known at the other European capitals
and there was not a little irritation at
what was regarded as precfpitate
response, purposely designed to embar-
rass the continental powers by show
ing Great Britain and the United
States acting in concert, while the rest
of the world held aloof; but this situa-
ton was made much more satisfactory
10 the continental powers by their de-
termination TO act for themselves.
GERMANY RATHER VAGUE.
Germany is said to have been the
nett power to answer in the affirmative.
According to the information already
referred to, the German answer was
rather more vague than the one which
had preceded it, but it's general tend
ency was Favorable, the only condition
being that any. ,rr ',1.:, n 1t as 20 free
access to China should E universal
and assented to by all IF the Lowers
THE FRENCH ANSWER.
The French answer is understood TO
have come next, and the circumstances
attending it were rather peculiar, and
not in the nature of a direct answer,
although the result was regarded as
most satisfactory. Secretary Hays
note had been forwarded TO General
Horace Porter. the United States am
baSsador to France who promptly CALL
ed upon M Delcasse, minister OF for
eign affairs in the French cabinet.
General Porter made known his mis-
sion, whereupon NJ. Delcasse showed
the most sympathetic spirit, and stated
that he had already made ample answer
to just such a communication, althoug
at the time, he had not intended it as
an answer to the American note. This
answer, NJ. Delcasse explained, was
given in a speech made by him ON No
vmber 24ht in the French chamber.
The main point of that speech. in its
references to China, was that France
desire the most ample freedom Of COM
merceN NJ. Delcasse referred General
Porter to this speech, and todd him it
fully gave the assurance which the
United States desired. It is said that
the meeting was gratifying on both
sides and that the results were consid-
cred to be favorable acceptance from
France
RUSSIA'S GUARDED ANSWER
The Russian negotiations have pro-
ceeded less briskdy, so that 1t seemed
for time that Russia's attitude might
not be favorable. This was dissipated,
however, by the Russian ambassador.
Count cassini, in the course OF inter
views with Secretary Hay. On these
occasions, Count Cassini pointed out
that a hurried answer was by NO means
the best evidence OF favorable atti-
fude toward the American propQsHfsn.
bpt THAI Russia was proceeding Elth
due delibera1ion IN order to arrive a..
some soiid ground fer a per1naneEk