Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-04
What China Has Promised.

Under the provisions OF the joint note
of December. 1900. China has agreed to re-
wise the treaties of commerce and naViEa-
ton and TO take such other steps FOR the
purpose of facilitating foreign trade as
the foreign powers may decide y be
needed.
The Chinese government has agreed to
participate financially in the work of bet
tering the water approaches to Shanghai
and to TientSin, the centerS of foreign
trade in central and northern China, and
an international conservancy board. in
which the Chinese government is largely
represented, has been provided for the
Improvement of the Shanghai river and
the control of its navigation. In the same
line of commercial advantages a revision
of the present tariff on imports has been
assented to for the purpose of substitut-
ing specific for ad valOrcm duties. and an
expert has been sent abroad on the part
of the United States to assist In this
work A list ot articles to remain free Of
duty. including -four cereals and rice
gold and silver coin and bullion, has also
been agreed upon in the settlement.
During these troubles our government
has uaSwervingly advocated moderation
and has materially aided in bringing
about an adjustment which tends TO en-
hance the welfare Of China and TO lead
to a more beneficial intercourse between
in the critical period of revolt and mas
sacrs we did our full share in safeguard
ing life and property, restoring order ana
indicating the national interest ana non
or 1t behooveS Us to continue IN theSe
paths. doing what lies in our power 70
foster feelings of good Will and leaving no
effort untried to work out the great policy
Of fuIl and fair Intercourse between China
and the nations on a footing OF equal
rights and advantages to all. We adFo-
cate the open door" with all that II I'M
niles. not merely the procurement OF en-
larccd commercial opportunities on the
coasts. but access to the interior Dy 'he
waterways with which China has been 50
extraordinarily favored. Only by bringinS
the people of China into peaceful and
friendly community of trade with all the
noonlas of the earth can the work now
ausoicjouslv begun be carried to fruiton.
In the attainment of this purpose we nee
essariIy claim parity of treatment uhoer
th, conventions throughout the empire Tor
o,,r trade and our citizens with those Oh
all other powers.
We view with lively interest ana Keen
homes of beneficial results the proceedings
Of the pan-American congress conNokeo
1t the invitation of Mexico anu no" 81
ting at the Mexican capitai. ne ueie
gates of the United States are ''hoef tiIe
with their colleagues in all matters prom ,
ising advantage to the great family OF OF
a,ericon commonwealths. as Wen III
th.ir relations among themselves as IN
their domestic advancement anu III '''ei'
intercourse with the world at large,
Nv predecessor communicated TO me
oo,,srs,,. tho fact that the Well and La
Abra awards against Mexico have e oegi. e9r
adjudged by the highest courts a4. oa gu,
conntrv TO have been obtained througii
fraud fraud and perjury on the part of the
claimants and that in accordance llnsa,' WIN ro
;,i,,a =, tho hands of the secretary OF
state on these awards has been returned .sa
to Mexico A considerable portion on ot tbeae eie
money received from Mexico on .nese
ararIs a,,v had been paid by this government
to the claimants before the decision saont ., ;,
the courts was rendered. My 1udsment -
~. -, aongrass should return to Mexico
an rA amount moi equal to tho sums thus already
paid to the claimants. o,..d ~.
The death of Queen Victoria caused me
onia ~ the United States deep and
ba.rtfo,t sorrow. to which the government