The suburban citizen., 1900-01-06
CHINA'S OPEN DOOR.
Scope of this COuntry's Diplomatic
Nchievement-PreS China's In
tegrity and Freedom of Trade.

Scope of this Country's Diplomatic
AchieYement-PreS China's In
tegrity and Freedom of Trade.
Washington, Especial. AN international
concert Of the most comprehensive char
acter for maintaining freedom Of trade in
China will be disclosed when all the facts re-
garding recent diplomatic correspondence
are communicated by President Mckinley to
Congress. The announcement that assur.
snces have already been received from all
tho powers is slightly premature, but there
Is no doubt that they will be received ana
that they will finally be given definite
written form.
The scope Of the proposals Of the United
States, the results which have followed, and
their effect upon international obligations in
China can now be set forth for the first time
with much greater precision and detail than
mas yet been done. All that has thus far
occurred on the subject has been preliminary
to n formal exchange OF written notes. When
these notes are exchanged they will not only
bind all the powers exchanging them to re-
spect the treaty rights of the United States
in China, but they will bind each power &c
respect the rights of all the others. In other
words, the United States has not merely pro.
tected its own interests by the proposal to
guarantee the commercial integrity OF China,
but 1t has bound each power to respect with.
in its sphere Of influence the existing rights
OF all the others 50 that transgression by
any one power will be violation Of pledges
TO all the powers. and not simply OF those
given to the single one whose citizens or
public interests may be directly affected.
haFa A a., Nla
field OF Eastern diplomacy has been marked
therefore, by one Of the most notable agree
uents ever reached by diplomatic consuta-
tion.
Success of American Diplomacy.
While 1t is proposed that the desired
pledges shall be put in definite written form
the victory for American diplomacy will be
practically achieved when assurances that
they are ready to exchange such notes have
been given by each and all of the powers.
The Russian government has not yet given
these assurances In the form desired, but it
Is believed at the State Department that they
will soon be forthcoming
The negotiations on the subject have been
carried on through correspondence with
foreign courts by the American representa-
tiyos there rather than by the State Depart
ment with foreign ministers and ambassa-
dors at Washington This is in accordance
with the regular diplomatic usage that new
propositions snall be submitted directly to
the governments involved rather than to
their representatives abroad
The response of Germany was the first to
be reported to Washington, not England. as
has been stated, and was the basis Of the an
nouncement that the German Imperial Gov
ernment was much more friendly to the open
door and to the interests OF the liberal pow
crs than had been believed. The response
Of France however was OF Il character to
dispel any doubt Of the earnestness of her
wish for freedom OF trade in the Chinese
Empire. France intimated that she not only
favored the open door in all parts Of China
still under Chinese sovereignty, but that she
was opposed to the creation Of exclusive
spheres Of influence, and that she was ready
TO maintain freedom Of trade relations in
the provinces over which she is about ac.
quiring influence.
The response Of Great Britain was some.
what delayed. but was sufficiently clear,
Ambassador Choate was advised by the I'M
der Secretary for Foreign Affairs that Great
Britain would cooperate with the United
States in every measure looking toward free
dom of commercial intercourse.