Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-01-17
CHINESE SITUATION |
JEALOUSY OF THE POWERS COM.
PllCATES 1T.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Proposal to Change the Scene of Ne.
gotiations From Pekin not Received
With Favor, Though Shanghai Is
Being Considered as Well as Other
Places.

Paris Jan. 1l.--As a result OF in
quiries in authoritative quarters the
Associated PRESS is given the follow
ing statement in regard to the Chinese
situation: The Chinese plenipoten-
tiaries signed the joint note yesterday,
thus concluding the prenminary stage
Of the negotiations"
1t was added that this important
| step was Insignificant compared with
| the difficulties to be met with between
the powers themselves, whose clash
| ing interests will have full play in the
| coming discussions. The United
States proposal to shift the seat of ne.
gotiations finds no favor in European
chancellories. Three reasons are Civ
en- for this opposition:
| First-It is considered great mis-.
take to transfer negotiations from
| China where all the Information is at
| hand respecting the situation and the
feeling among the Chinese themselves
regarding the conditions of trade and
commerce with which the negotiations
will be cnleny concerned.
Second-The United States com
merce with China is comparatively
small when compared with that of sew
eral other countries, therefore the
United States is not entitled to expect
the negotiations TO be carried on at
Washington.
| Third-The' most delicate reason adj
vanced Is that the European powers
have not felt sufficient confidence that
the United States government might
not find Itself Influenced in the nego-
tiatrons at Washington by the pres.
sure of interests having an eye to the
exploitation of China
The attitude of some cc the powers
moreover, is swayed by other motives
in opposing the United States pro
posal. Great Britain, for example,
which seems to be most strongly
antagonist, has probably taken into
consideration the United States atti
tude towards the Clayton Bulw ar
treaty. The feeling here favors
Shanghai, if any change is made, as it
is pointed out that Shanghai is the
most important trade center in China
moreover and that the southern vice
roys who are favorable to the foreign.
crs and anxious to further trade could
make their influence felt. Failing
Shanghai, Berlin or Paris is more like
ly to be chosen. The enormous Brit
ish interests are in favor of the choice
of London, but it is improbable that
the other powers will agree to this.
There is no reason To suppose that
Russia viii withdraw from the Joint
negotiations. The treaty ii has con
cluded with China concerns it's special
interests in the regions contiguous to
its territories but il has great political
interests to defend and further in the
| joint conference which viii! biistlc
with obstacles TO speedy settlement
/ Russia aims chiefly at a wide eXpan.
| sion of its political influences. Great
| Britain wants the Chinese empire to
| be favorable to commerce and at the
same time strengthen its political foot
| hold. The United States efforts ap.
| parently will be devoted to securing
and Germany will desire to increase
| their trade generally and their polIti-
cal influence in certain provinces.
| The struggle between these conflicting
| designs will be bitter and in any case
will greatly protract the negotiations.
One thing Great Britain and the Omit
ed States wish to secure Is the raising
Of the prohibition which now exists in
| China against foreigners acquiring
| landed interests.
Wthdraws Proposition.
Washington, Jan. las some Of
the foreign powers do not look Ith
favor upon tho proposition of tie
! United States 10 transfer certain
features Of Chinese negotiations from
Pekin to Washington, the president
has deemed it advisable TO withdraw
the offer and has directed tire diplo.
matte representatives OF the United
States 10 so inform the different gov
ernments.