, 1900-05-03

$50 fhu NudIESS over lines
butt, controlled or operated within its
sphere on merchandise belonging to
citizens or subjects of other ~nationali-
ties transported through such sphere
than shall be levied on similar mer-
belonging to its own nation
atty transported over equal dis
tances."
On Nov. 80, 1899, a month after the
date of the note. a formal answer was
received from the British
addressed to United States Minister
Choate in the following language:
L have much pleasure in informing
your excellency that her majesty's gov
ernment will be prepared 20 make a
declaration in the sense desired by
your government in regard to the
leased territory of Wei-hai-Wei. and
all territory in China which may here
after be acquired by Great Britain. 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"
Some opposition was feared from
Germany, but after some preliminary
correspondence. on Feb. 10 the follow
ing most satisfactory answer was re-
ceived from that government:
Il have the honor to inform your
excellency, 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 government has.
from the beginning, not only asserted,
but also practically carried out to the
fullest extent. in its Chinese possess
sions. absolute equality of treatment
of all nations with regard to trade,
navigation and commerce. The impe-
rial government entertains no thought
of departing in the future from this
principle. which at onc excludes any
prejudicial or Instantaneous COM
mercial treatment of the citizens of the
United States of America, so long as
it is not forced to do so, on account of
considerations of reciprocity, by a di-
vergence from it by other governments.
II, therefore, the other powers inter-
ested in the industrial development of
the Chinese empire are willing to rec
ognize the same principles. this can
only be desired by the imperial govern
ment, which in this case upon being
requested will gladly be ready to par
ticipate with the United States of
America and the other powers in an
agreement made upon these lines, by
which the same rights are re%ciprocally
secured"
The answer from Russia recited the
fact that the settlement of the collec-
ton of customs belonged to China her
self. and hat the Russian government
had no intention of claiming privileges
for its subjects that were denied to for
eigners-this. however, being on the
understanding that other powers would
make a similar declaration. The Rus
sian note closed as follows:
with the conviction that this reply
is such as to satisfy the inquiry made
in the aforementioned note. the i'm
perial government is happy to have
complied with the wishes of the Amer
lean government. especially as it at
taches the highest value to anything
that may strengthen and consolidate
the traditional relations of friendship
existing between the two countries"
The French note was exceedingly
brief. 1t was received Dec. 16 last
from NJ. Delcasse. the minister for for
eign affairs. by Ambassador Porter,
and is as follows:
The declarations which I made in
the chamber on the oath of November
last, and which have had occasion to
recall to you since then, show clearly
the sentiments of the government OF
the republic.
1T desires throughout the whole of
China, and. with the quite natural
reservation that all the powers inter-
ested give an assurance of their will
ingness to act likewise. is ready to ap-
ply in the territories which are leased
to it, equal treatment to the citizens
and subjects of all nations. especially
in the matter of custom duties and
navigation dues. as well as transporta-
ton tariffs OF railways H..g
.