The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-27
OPENING THE DOOR.
How Negotiations Regarding China
Were Carried On.


Were Carried On.
Washington, March 27-Secretary Hay
today submitted to congress the CORE
spondence had with the governments of
other nations respecting the maintenance
of an "open door, in China The corre-
spondence extended over a period of time
from September 6 last to the goth inst,
the last date marking the successful COM
pletion of the undertaking. The nations
addressed on this subject by the United
States were Great Britain, France, Ger
many, Russia, Italy and Japan. To the
government of each of these countries
Secretary Hay addressed a note setting
forth the demands of this government.
In brief they are as follows:
"a That it will in no wise interfere
with any treaty port or any vested in
terest within any so-called sphere of in
terest or leased territory it may have
in China.
C) That the Chinese treaty tariff of
the time being shall apply to all mer-
chandise landed or shipped to all such
ports as are within such spheres of in
terest' (unlesS they be free ports),
matter to what nationality it may be-
long, and that duties SO levied shall be
collected by the Chinese government.
90 That 1t viii levy no higher harbor
dues on vessels of another nationality
frequenting any port in such spheres of
interests than shall be levied on yes
sells of its own nationality and no higher
railroad charges over lines built, con-
trOlled or operated within its sphere
on merchandise belonging to citizens or
subjects of other nationalities transported
through such sphere than shall be lev
led on similar merchandise belonging to
It's own nationaities transported over
equal distances.
Great Britain in reply ~ these demands
says: Her majesty's government will
be prepared to make a declaration in the
sense desired by your government in re-
gard to the leased territory of Wei-Hai-
Wei and all territory in China which may
by lease or otherwise, and all spheres
of interest now held or that may here
after be held by her in China, provided
that similar declaration is made by other
powers concerned
Germany in reply says: Germany does
not wish the open door question to be-
come the subject of controversy between
the different powers engaged in China
She thinks it would be advantageous for
the United States government to confer
with other European governments haV
ing interests in China. If the other cab
inets adhere to the proposal of the Unit
ed States government, Germany will
raise no objection and Germany is will
ing to have the government Of the Unit
ed States inform the other cabinets that
no difficulty will come from her if the
other cabinets agree"
Russia in her answer to the United
States says: 1t IS to be understood,
perial government is given upon condi
| tiOn that a similar declaration shall be
made by other powers having interests
The French note was exceedingly brief.
1t is as follows: With the quite nat
ural reservation that all the powers in
terested give an assurance of their will
ingness to act likewise France is ready
to apply in the territories which are
leased to it equal treatment to the citi-
zens and subjects of all nations. espe-
cially in the matter of custom duties, and
navigation dues, as well as transporta-
tiOn tariffs on railways"
1T desires throughout the whole of
ervation that all the powers interested
give an assurance of their Willingness to
act likewise, is ready to apply in the
territories which are leased to 1t equal
treatment to the citizens and subjects
of all nations. especially in the matter
of custom duties and navigation dues as
well as transportation tariffs on rail-
ways
Italy was addressed on the subject No
vember II. "in view of the important
and growing commercial interests of
Italy and eastern Asia" January z of the
present year after the Italian govern
ment had been duly informed that all
the other powers had given a favorable
reply, Count Nenosta pledged Italy in
Il take pleasure in saying that the gov
ernment of the king adhers willingly to
the proposals set forth in said note of
December 9.
up of two notes.-the invitation and the
The pledge as put by Minister of For
eign Affairs Siuzo is as follows:
I have the happy duty of assuring
ernment viii have no hesitation to give
their assent to so just and fair pro-
pOsal of the United States, provided that
all the powers concerned shall accept the
same"
The last act in the negotiations, that
which clinched the agreement, was the
dispatch to our diplomatic representatives
at the capitals of the several countries
concerned, of the confidential instruc-
tions, couched in the following terms:
Department of State.
Washington, March 20. 1900.
Sir. The - government having ac-
cepted the declaration suggested by the
United States concerning foreign trade in
China. the terms of which I transmitted
to You in my instruction No. Of -,
and like action having been taken by all
the various powers having leased terri
tory or so-called spheres of influence
in the Chinese empire. as shown by the
notes which [ herewith transmit to you.
you will please inform the government
to which you are credited that the con-
ditiOn originally attached to its accept
ance-that all other powers concerned
should likewise accept the proposal of
the United States-having been complied
slider the assent given to it by " as
final and definite
You will also transmit to the minister
enclosures, and by the same occasion
convey to him the expression of the sin
cere qualification which the president
feels at the successful termination of
these negotiations, in which he sees
proof of the friendly spirit which ami
mates the unanimous powers interested
in the untrammelling development of
| commerce and industry in the Chinese
empire, and source of vast benefit to
the whole commercial world.
1 am, etc, JOHN HAY.