The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-30
Doubt Cast on It's Genuincncss BE.
cause Consul GoodnOw Has Said
Nothing About 1t.
TEXT OF ALLEGED AGREEMENT
NINE ARTICLES PROVIDING FOR
PROTECTION OF FOREIGNERS.
The Powers Reported to Have Agreed
on a Plan for Maintaining the
Status Quo in China.

WASHINGTON, June 29.-The State De-
partment was to-day made acquainted with
the terms of the agreement between the
consuls and the viceroys looking TO the
protection of foreign interests in the South
ern province in China. The first step to
this end was indicated in Secretary Hays
cablegram of last Wednesday TO the Ameri-
can consuls in China asking them to take
direct action instead of waiting on possible
communications with Minister Conger.
Thus authorized Consul General Goodnow
at Shanghai. and probably several others in
the south began negotiations with the
Viceroys and taotais of their respective
districts. The outcome was the nine arti-
oies of agreement. The text is withheld
fere from publication. but it is understood
that its general purpose is to make neutral
the Chinese treaty ports at Marking and
Han-Kow. The naturalization would in
volve the withdrawal of foreign men-of-
war from the treaty ports and also of any
foreign troops or sailors, leaving to the
Chinese authorities and the residents of
shanghai and the other ports the preserva-
ton of order. At Shanghai. the foreign
settlements have organized very effec-
he much safer as a refuge for foreigners
than any other in that part of China. in
the event that the naturalization scheme is
rut into effect.
The agreement is believed to have come
TO the State Department through Mr. WI,
the Chinese minister here. and is proesby
one of a number of identical notes adj
dressed to the European powers and the
United States. Before it can become ef-
fective it must receive the formal approval
OF the government here and to that end
the matter laid before the Cabinet at
to-day's session. AS already stated there
Is precedent for the naturalization of treaty
ports in time of war, but the conditions
were ever quite similar to those now pro-
posed.
The Cabinet failed to ratify the agree
ment at to-day's meeting. In fact the
document, in its inception and various
stages of development, regarded as
properly open TO such doubt as to warrant
the belief that the foreign consuls. as a
body, certainly never entered into the
agreement In addition to the subjects
above mentioned forming part of the
agreement, it appears that the consuls
DOunu themselves 10 aCQuft tnS CnlneSS
government Of any responsibility for riot
ing, murder and pillage in the treaty ports
If any foreign warship should enter such
port in violation of the agreement No
safeguard was even interposed to secure
| the exemption Of warships whose com.
rianders might be unaware of the state of
affairs in the treaty ports and the prohibit
| fion against their entry. There was ap.
| Sarent conflict between some of the pro-
| visions. and in fact the whole reputed
| agreement bore the appearance of rough
| memorandum, which the Cabinet concluded
| could never have received the assent of all
| cf the foreign consuls. even supposing that
some of them might have become fright
| ened into acquicsence. Therefore no steps
| were taken even to ascertain by direct
| inquiry of Consul General Goodnow
whether the agreement was authentic, AMI
| he had signed 1t. 1t was simply assumed
| that if he had done so he would have
acquainted the department, being in ready
cable communication. So the matter was
| dropped.