The sun., 1901-03-27
OUR WARMING
TO CHINA
Uncle Sam Expresses Disapproval
Of Secret Treaty Making.
TEXT OF NOTE HANDED WI
Administration Believes Eanchuria
Agreement Violates Spirit of I'm
derstanding Subscribed to by
the Powers Last Summer.

Washington, March 25.-The crisis in
the Chinese question brought about
through the expiration of the period al
lowed for the signature by China of
the Manchnria agreement was the
principal topic before the cabinet. The
conviction obtained that the United
States had done all that it properly
could do to prevent the consummation
of this arrangement, and to make clear
to the public the complete disapproval
which is entertained by the United
States government for this sort of Sc
cret treaty making it was deemed
proper to give out for publication the
following memorandum:
Telegraphic instructions sent to the representa-
tives Of the United States in Berlin, Vienna,
Paris, London, Rome, Tokyo and st. Petersburg:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, March /.
The following memorandum, which was handed
to the Chinese minister on Feb. 10, is transmitted
TO you for your information and communication
to the government to which you are accredited:
The preservation Of the territorial integrity OF
China having been recognized by all the powers
now engaged in joint negotiation concerning the
injuries recently inflicted upon their ministers
the Chinese empire, it is evidently advantageous
10 China to continue the present international
derstanding upon this subject II would be,
therefore, unwise and dangerous in the extreme
for China TO make any arrangement to con-
slider any proposition of private nature nvolv-
ing the surrender of territory financial obliga-
tions by convention with any particular power,
and the government Of the United States, aiming
solely at the preservation Of China from the dan
ger indicated and the conservation Of the largest
and most beneficial relations between the empire
and other countries in accordance with the prin-
ciple set forth in its circular note Of July B. 1900
and in purely friendly spirit toward the Chinese
empire and all the powers now interested in the
negotiations, desires to express its Of the
improperly, inexpediency and even extreme dam
ger to the interests of China Of considering any
private territorial financial arrangements, at
least without the full knowledge and approval Of
all the powers now engaged in negotiation.
The Open Door Policy.
| of the state department tnat notnihS
has occurred to change the status OF
| the United States toward the 'open
| door, as applied to any part of China,
including Manchuria, AS far ms writ
| ten pledges can commit power, Rus
| sia stands pledged to accord to the
| United States the ''open door" If she
| takes control of Manchuria either di-
| rectly by annexation or indirectly, but
quite as effectually. by the means pro-
posed in this Russo Chinese agreement.
That is the view of the state depart
ment and that view is indorsed by the
entire cabinet
The administration believes that the
secret agreement between Russia and
China is i'm violation of the spirit If not
the letter of the general understanding
to which all the powers subscribed last
summer, and the United States govern
inent is prepared to use all its moral
suasion and influence to prevent its
consummaton. Further than that. how
ever, the government is not prepared
to go.
The president and members of the
cabinet believe it is conceivable that
Russia is entitled perhaps to some sep
arate guarantees from China for the
protection of it's railroad concession ir
AIanchuria, but not to the extent which
it is understood the czar's government
is to obtain by the secret treaty. Thi'
j., government has information regard
{ ing this treaty, and while there is M
indication of the exact nature or source
g of this information it is considered ac
d curate and definite.
= The president and cabinet. it is un
e derstood have no direct information
$ concerning the imminent rupture be
g tween Russia and Japan or its extent
i hut the developments are being watch
ed with eager interest. Generally
., is not believed here that there will b
20 a collision between the two powers a
20 there is a stronger impression that il
pan would not undertake war wit
Russia single handed, and there is II
indication that she would be Joined b
at another power.