Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-01-11
SIGNATURES NOT CONFIRMED.
Btate Department Has no Confrma-
tion of PARTS Report From Peisin.

ton of Paris Report From Pelsin.
Washington, Jan. I-The state de-
rartment was unable to give official
confirmation today to the report that
the Chinese peace treaty had been
signed by the Chinese ENJOYS.
Paris, Jan. 11.--As the result of in-
quiries in authoritive quarters the
Associated Press is given the following
statement regarding the Chinese sit
uation
The Chinese plenipotentiaries
signed the joint note Wednesday,, thus
concluding the preliminary stages of
the negotiations. "
1t was added that the importan. step
was insignificant compared with the
difficulties to be met with among the
powers themselves, whose clashing in
rerests will have full play in the COM
ing dig sussions. The United States
pro? sal to shift the seat of the ncgo-'
tist ms finds no favor in the European
cyA. AllorieS. Three reaeons are given
fir this opposition:
& IfFirEte-It is considered a great mis-
ke to transfer the negotiations from
sstna. where all the information is at
At,hd respecting the situation and the
feeling among The Chinese thems elves
and more especially regarding the COM
dtftions OF trade and commerce with
which the negotiations will be chiefly
concerned.
Second-The United States commerce
with China Is comparatively small
when compared with that of several
countrtee Therefore the United States
Is not ynsttaed to Iexpect me negotia-
4iona 70 be carFied on at Washington.
The third and most delicate reason
advanced liz that the European powers
have rot felt suffcient confidsnce that
the United States government might
not find itself Influenced in the negotia-
tion6 at Washington by the pressure Of
interests having an eye to the exploit
ation cf China. The attitude of some
OF the powers, moreover. is swaycd by
other motives in opposing the United
States proposal. Great Britain, for
example, which eeems to be the most
strongly antagonistic, has probably
taken into consideration the United
States attitude toward the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
The feeling here favors Shanghai If
any change is made. and. it Is pointed
out that Shanghai is the most import
ant trade center in China, and, more
over, that the southern viceroys who
are favorable to foreigners and anxious
to further trade could make their influ-
ence felt. Failing Shanghai. Berlin or
Paris are more likely to be chosen. The
enormous British interests are In favor
of Lorrcpn. but 1T is improbable that the
other powers Will agree ITO this.
There is no reason to suppose that
Ruseia Will Withdraw from the joint
negotiations. 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 the.
joint conference whlcn Will bristle
with obstacles to speedy settlement.
RuSsia aims chiefly, al q wide expansion
OF her political Influence. Great Britt
ain wants to, roughly, open the Chinese
empire 10 her commerce and al the
same time strength her political foot
hold. The United States efforts. ap-.
parently, will be devoted TO securing
commercial advantages. while France
and Germany viii desire to increase.
their trade generally and their poiftical
influence in certain provinces. The
struggle between these designs will be
BITTER and in any case will greatly pro-
tract the negotiations.
Ono thing which Great Britain and
the United States wish secured is the
raising OF the prohibition which now
exists in China against foreigners ac-
quirng landed interests, considerable
extension IL commerce being thereby
anticipated.
The ministers of the powers will be
s}ssisted in the negotiations by COM
3nercial advisers, while Prince Ching
hnd Ii II lung Chang will continue to act
For the Chinese government.