The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-03-27
OUR WARNING
TO CHINA.

washington, March 26.-1ne cflSlS IN
the Chinese question brought about
through the expiration Of the period al
lowed for the signature by China OF
the Mllchura 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 consumnlatiOn
of this arrangement, and to make clear
10 the public the complete diSapproval
which is entertained by the United
States government for this sort of So
crct treaty making ii was deemed
proper TO give out for publication thc
following memorandum;
1clceiaphic instructions sjni to the representa-
tiyrs OF tho United States in Berlin, Vienna
rdis, London, Rome, Tokyo and ST. Petersburg:
n&NnTGr>r OF Srlrr, WASHINGTON March l.
The following mcmorandum. which was handed
to the thiurs" minister on Feb. H. is transmitted
to son for your information aud ronnuni, alton
10 the government to which you are accredited:
The preservation Of the territorial integrity OF
China having been recognized by all the powers
engaged in joint negotiation concerning the
injuries recently inflicted upon their ministers
and nationals by certain Officials and subjects of
the Chinese empire, il is evidently advantageous
10 China 10 continue the present International un-
drrstandng upon this subject 1t would be.
therefore, unWsr and dangerous in The extreme
for China TO makr any arrangement or to con.
slider any proposition uf private nature lnyols.
ing the surrender Of TERRITORY financial ohligL'
tions by convention with any particular power,
and the government of the United States, aiming
solely at toe prrsrrvat ion Ui China from tic dan
ger indicated and the conservation OF the largest
and most beneficial relations between the empire
and other countries in accordance with the prin.
rpc SIT forth IN its circular note Of July 3, 1900,
and in purely friendly spirit toward tho Chinese
empire and all the powers now interested in the
negotiations, desires to express its sense of the
illproprrly, inex xpedicncy aud even extreme dan.
ger to the i,ttcrt>ts Of hjna Of considering any
private territorial or financial arrangements, at
least without tie full knowledge and approval ot
all the powers nov CugaErd in negotiation.
Hay.
The Open Door Policy.
Assuming that the arrangement is TO
br carried out il is still the contention
of the state department that nothing
has occurred 10 change the sia,us of
the United States toward the open
door as applied 10 any part Of China,
including Manchu!ia. AS far rs writ,
ten pledges can commit Il power, RuS'
sia stands pledged to accord to the
United States the open door il she
takes control of Manchuria either di-
rectly by annexation or indirectly. but
quite as dffcctually. by the means pro.
posed in this RuSso-C Chinese agreement.
That is the view Of the state depart.
mrnt, and that view is indorsed by the
entire cabinet.
The administration believes that the
secret agreement between Russia and
China is in 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.
lncnt Is prepared to use all its moral
S,lasion and influence to prevent its
conSlmmation. Further than that, how
ever, the government is not prepared
to 20.
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 its railroad concession in
Mnnchuria, but not to The extent which
it is understood the cars government
is to obtain by the secret treaty. This
government has information regard
ing this treaty, and while there is no
indication of the exact nature or source
of this information it is considered ac-
clIratu and definite.
The president and cabinet, 1t is un-
derstood, have no direct information
concerning the imminent rupture be-
tween Russia aud Japan or its extent,
but the developments are being watch
ed with eager interest. Generally it
is not believed here that there will be
Il collision between the two powers. as
there is a stronger impression that ia
pan would not undertake a war with
Russia single handed, aud there is no
indication that she would he joined by
another power.