Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-01-21
Chinese sign NOTE
AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT
OF AGREEMENT TO TERMS
This Action Settles Preliminary Stage
Of the Negotiations Proposal Of
United States is With
drawn.

Paris, Jan. 1O.-As a result of in
quiries in authoritative quarters. the
Associated Press is given the following
statement in regard to the Chinese sit
uation: THE Chinese plenipotentiaries
signed the joint note yesterday. thus
concluding the preliminary stage of the
negotiations"
1t was added that this important step
was In .lilcant compared with the
difficulties to be met with between the
Powers themselves. whose clashing in
terests will have full play in the COM
ing discussions. The United States pro-
posals to shift the seat of the negotia-
tions find no favor In the European
chancellories. Three reasons are CIV
en- for this opposition:
First-It is considered n great mis-
take to transfer the negotiations from
China where all the information is at
hand respecting the situation. and the
feeling among the Chinese themselves.
and more especially regarding the con-
ditions Of trade and commerce at which
the negotiations will be chiefly con-
cerned.
Second-The United States commerce
with China is comparatively small
when compared with that of several
other countries. Therefore the United
States is not entitled to expect the ne
gotiations to be carried on at Wash
ington.
The third and most delicate reason
advanced is that the European powers
have not felt sufficient confidence that
the United States Government might
not find itself Influenced In the nego-
tiations at Washington by the pressure
OF interests, having an eye to the ex.
ploitation Of China. The attitude Of
some OF the Powers. moreover, Ia
swayed by other motives in approach.
ing the United States proposal. Great
Britain, for example, which seems to
be the most strongly antagonistic, mas
probably taken into consideration the
United States attitude toward the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty.
The feeling here favors Shanghai, il
any change is made. as 1t is pointed out
that Shanghai Is the most important
trade center in China, and moreover.
that the southern viceroys who are "a.
vorable to foreigners and anxious to
further trade, could make their In
| fluence felt. The enormous British in
terests are in favor of the choice Of
! London, but II Is improbable that the
, other Powers will agree to this.
! There is no reason to suppose that
! Russia will withdraw from the join ne
gotiations. The treaty she has con-
cluded with China concerns her special
interests in regions contiguous to her
territories, but she has great political
interests to defend and. further. in thu
joint conference. which will bristle
with obstacles to speedy settlement
Russia aims chiefly at wide eXpan'
sion of her political influence. Great
Britain wants to roughly open the Chi
nese empire to her commerce and Al
the same time strengthen her politica
foothold. The United States apparent
ly will be devoted to securing CONNER
cial advantage, while France and Ger
many will desire to increase thei!
trade generally, and, and their politici
influence in certain provinces.
The struggle between these conflict
ing designs will be bitter, and in an!
case will greatly protract the negota
tons.
One thing which Great Britain ans
the United States wish to secure is thu
raising OF the prohibition which nov
exists In China against foreigners &C
quiring landed interests.
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