The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-28
The Open DOOR
CORRESPONDENCE:
CONTINUED from First Page.)

their intentions in regard to the treat
ment of foreign trade and commeHss
therein, and that the present is very
Favorable moment FOR informing her
11ajesty's government OF the desire of the
Unsted States to have it make, on its.
part, and to lend its powerful support IN
the effort to obtain from each various
Powers claiming Spheres Of interest in
China, declaration substantially to the
following effect:
THE PROVISIONS.
"O) That it will in no wise interfere
with any treaty port or vested Interest
in any so-called sphere of interest Or
leased territory it may have in China.
"(2) That the Chinese treaty tariff OF
the time beir,s shall apply TO all mer-
chandise landed in such ports as are
within such spheres Of interest unless
they be free ports, no matter to what
nationality it may belong, and that duties
so lerinble shall be collected by the
Chinese Government.
''(3l That it will levy no higher harbor
dues on vessels OF another nationality
frequentins any port in such sphere
than shall be levied on vessels OF Its
own, nationality. and no higher railway
charges over lines built, controlled or
operated within its sphere on merchan-
|. disc belonging to citizens or subjects OF
other nationalities passing through such
sphere CAan SIlall De lSSiel Oli
merchandise belonging to Its own ma
tionality transported over equal dis
tances.
THE President has strong reason to
believe that the governments of both
Russia and Germany will cooperate in
such an understanding as here proposed
TIE note here refers to recent Ukase of
the Car. declaring Ta-Lien-Wan, where
Russia has leased, open to the world, and
~ Nk,-rN rre,<N
port, and other steps taken, including
oral assurances given the United States
as to the German sphere as indi-
eating that little opposition was expected
from those two powers Japan also Is
cited as doubtless favorable to the propo-
sition.
NIr. Choate's note concludes:
1.-The prompt and sympathetic cooper
alton of Her Majesty's Government with
the United States in this important mat
err will be very potent in promoting its
adoption by all the powers concerned.
SALISBURYsS ANSWER.
Lord salisbury's formal answer. dated
November 80 1899, follows:
'.I have much pleasure In informing
Your ExcellencJ that Her Majesty's
Government will be prepared to make
declaration in the sense desired by
your government in regard to the leased
territory OF w el-ftdl-S w zIClAA
tory in China which may hereafter be
acquired by Great Britain. by lease or
otherwise, and all Spheres Of interest
now held, or that may hereafter be held
by her in China, provided that similar
declaration is made by the other powers
concerned"
On February 18th Count vonBulow
submitted the formal answer of the
German Government: based upon a
promise that satisfactory written replies
had been made by other powers. Inc
German note foflows:=s
"I have the honor to inform Your Ex-
cellency. repeating the statements al.
ready made verbally, as follows.
LAS recognized by the government OF.
the United States OF America, according
to Your Excellency's note referred to
above, the Imperial Government has.
from the beginning, not only asserted,
but also practically carried out TO the
fullest extent, In it's Chinese possessions.
absolute quality OF treatment OF all ma
lions with regard to trade. navigation
and commerce. The Imperial Govern
ment entertains no thought OF departing
in the future from this principle when
at once excludes any pre1udiclai or o1s-
advantageous commercial treatment OF
the citizens of the United States OF
| America so long as it is not FORCED TO
! do on considerations Of reciprocity by q
divergence from it by other govern
| ments If, therefore. the other powers
| interested in the industrial development
OF the Chinese Empire are willing TO
| recognize the same principles these can
| only be desired by the Imperial Govern
ment, which In this case, which, upon
| being presented, will gladly be ready to
participate with the United States OF
| America and otker powers In an agree
ment made upon these lines by which
| the same rights are reclprocaly s under
| stood
RUSSIAN ANSWER.
! The russian answer recitins the prom
| ises to 3Dalny (Talien Wan, which 1t had
redeemed by opening that port, pledges
! itself in the following language:
"ss to the ports now opened, or mere.
after ia he cpeued to foreign commerce
iby the Chiness government, and WI, Gu Gu
| lie beyond the territory lea SEQ 70 tsus ~
the settlement OF the question OF CUSTOM
duties belongs to China hsrseil n'.u -
Iuperial government has no inEent.oh
.whateyer Of claiming any privileges iar
Fits own subjects to the exclusion OF 1o ZOE
feieners II is to be understood, however,
| that this assurance OF the lmpe rial GOV
lernment& Is given upon condition tnat Z
similar declaration shall be made BY
other Powers having interests IN .CnAna
with the conviction that llls rrH.y
is such as to satisfy the inquiry made N
the aforementioned note the lmpesSaI
lSxoyerument is happy 40 have complied
! viii, ti,e wishes CT the American govern
ment, especially as 1t attaches the h11n-
lest value to anything that may strengf-
Zen and consolidate the traditional IeIa-
I3Ions OF friendship existing between NE
two countries.
The French note. was submitted On 0e--
cember 18th by d. Desass e. 3iinists OF
fForeign Affairs. II follows:
THE TRENCH NOTE
.erha declaration n hieh 4 made In the
IGhamber ON the oath of November last.
and which, have had occasion TO recall
to you since then. show clearly the santi-
fsmerits OF the governmenssos shss rs n,uo-
Elc.s Il desires thrnug huuA the vi hole ol
China. and. Wit II che cutie atura y rssef-
walton that all Powers Interested eve